Van Eerd to Drive Nederland Oreca in Shanghai

Frits van Eerd will compete for Racing Team Nederland in the 4 Hours of Shanghai, after initially opting out of the third FIA World Endurance Championship round of the 2019-20 season.

Van Eerd, who helped steer the Nederland squad’s No. 29 Oreca 07 Gibson to its maiden victory in last weekend’s race at Fuji, will partner Nyck de Vries and Giedo van der Garde.

Reigning European Le Mans Series LMP3 champion Job van Uitert was initially selected to fill in for the team’s owner/driver at Shanghai, with Van Eerd’s business commitments taking priority that weekend.

But Van Eerd confirmed to Sportscar365 that those commitments were negated and that a decision was made in late September to have him behind the wheel in China.

It effectively means Van Eerd, who last weekend became the first-ever Bronze-rated driver to win a WEC LMP2 race, can now complete the full 2019-20 season.

Having filled in for De Vries at the 4 Hours of Silverstone, Van Uitert is expected to keep in contact with the TDS-run team about future driving opportunities.

Recently-confirmed FIA Formula 2 champion De Vries is soon to make his ABB FIA Formula E Championship debut with Mercedes, and faces a clash between the Sanya E-Prix and the 1000 Miles of Sebring in March next year.