Rast, Frijns Together as WRT Finalizes LMP2 Lineup

Former DTM and Formula E opponents Rene Rast and Robin Frijns will team up in the FIA World Endurance Championship this year, co-driving one of two WRT Oreca 07 Gibsons.

Reigning LMP2 champion Frijns will continue in the No. 31 WRT entry but with a pair of new driving partners in three-time DTM champion Rast and ex-JOTA driver Sean Gelael, who was named as the first signing in mid-January.

Another of WRT’s 2021 champions, Ferdinand Habsburg, will team up with Norman Nato and Rui Andrade in the No. 41 Oreca competing under the Realteam banner.

Rast is set for his first WEC campaign since 2016 when he piloted a previous-generation Oreca 05 Nissan for the JOTA-supported G-Drive Racing squad.

The German ace made his debut in the current ‘2017’ specification of LMP2 car last weekend in the Rolex 24 at Daytona with G-Drive and Algarve Pro Racing.

Both Rast and Frijns have previously represented WRT in Audi GT3 machinery and were also close title contenders in the final years of the DTM’s Class One era.

Rast will balance his WEC drive with a full season in the DTM driving an Abt Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo. Unlike last year, the German series’ calendar does not include a date clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

However, there is a conflict between the 6 Hours of Fuji and the DTM event at Spa.

“We are delighted to reveal our complete 2022 FIA WEC lineups and to add such heavy names; all drivers with great CVs, great skills and familiar with the team,” commented WRT team principal Vincent Vosse.

“We have a challenging task ahead of us, as repeating the success we had in our first FIA WEC campaign, won’t be easy.

“These strong lineups will be useful to face the anticipated strong competition, as the game is rising dramatically in the FIA WEC ahead of 2023.”

WRT’s additional entry for the 2022 season brings together drivers who raced for different LMP2 teams last year.

Ex-Rebellion Racing LMP1 team member Nato represented Realteam Racing in the Pro-Am classification when the team received support from TDS Racing, while Andrade won the European Le Mans Series Pro-Am title with G-Drive Racing and Algarve Pro.

“I know Norman Nato from driving with him in the WEC last year,” said Realteam Racing owner Esteban Garcia.

“I like his involvement in making motorsport more sustainable, especially through the Mission H24 hydrogen project. Ferdinand Habsburg is also very involved in sustainability.

“Supporting such drivers who allow our sport to evolve positively is an obvious choice for Realteam Racing.

“With them and Rui Andrade, we will have a very competitive team and we will live an exciting season with Realteam by WRT.”