Vector Sport Joins LMP2 Grid; Nico Mueller to Drive

A new U.K.-based team named Vector Sport is set to join the FIA World Endurance Championship next year with an LMP2-class entry involving Audi ace Nico Mueller.

The operation will be led by Gary Holland, the team manager of Formula E squad Dragon/Penske Autosport who was also at the helm of a Risi Competizione-badged Oreca LMP2 entry for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Vector Sport has applied to enter a single Oreca 07 Gibson into the 2022 WEC, which starts at Sebring in March.

Its first confirmed driver is Mueller, who previously worked with Holland at Dragon/Penske and is also lined up to be an Audi LMDh pilot from 2023.

Sportscar365 understands that the team is set to race in the outright LMP2 class, rather than the Pro-Am division which requires a Bronze-rated driver in the crew.

“Thanks to the vision and innovative spirit of the ACO and the FIA, endurance racing is on the cusp of an incredibly exciting new era,” said Holland, who holds the role of team principal.

“LMH, LMDh and the new GT3 rules are moving the discipline into the spotlight and what we consider to be the right direction for the future, and this is why we have decided to launch our new team now.

“Our thanks must go to Audi Sport for allowing Nico to be with us for the 2022 season as his presence is an integral part of our plans.

“Our plans for our LMP2 entry include a really strong driver line up, an experienced and extremely capable engineering team and a proven technical package, but we also have ambitions to expand into different classes in the future.

“For now, however, we are fully committed to the intensely competitive LMP2 category and really want to be part of that in 2022.”

Mueller is poised for his first full season in the WEC, although he once got behind the wheel of an Oreca 07 Gibson at Shanghai International Circuit in 2017.

The Swiss driver competed in the GT3-based DTM this year with Audi customer Team Rosberg, alongside a partial season in Formula E.

“I’m very excited to be part of this new team, and confident and proud to be going into this new chapter of endurance racing with it,” said Mueller.

“Vector Sport may be a new name, but behind it there are quite a few people I know from different racing series who are all very capable. There’s a lot of motivation within the group and excitement about the project.

“Looking ahead, it’s a really great time to be part of the WEC and prototype endurance racing – very exciting and positive – and I’m thankful to Audi Sport for letting me have this opportunity to combine my work with them with this new project.

“We are very lucky to be in this privileged position to be able to participate in this era.

“With Vector Sport, I think it’s true to say for everyone that we have high goals but all agree that we are racing because we want to win.

“We hope to have a short and effective learning process so we can challenge for wins and we’re looking forward to getting out there and going after them.”

Vector Sport, which will base its program at Silverstone, intends to announce the rest of its driver lineup and commercial partnerships “in the coming weeks”.