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Audi Confirms Vanthoor, Weerts Departures

Audi confirms Dries Vanthoor, Charles Weerts’ departure ahead of expected BMW deal…

Photo: Audi

Audi Sport has confirmed the departures of both Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts from its factory lineup, amid the expected news that the two drivers will be joining BMW M Motorsport and remaining with Team WRT in GT3 competition next year.

The development, which has been widely known in the paddock, was confirmed by Audi on Sunday following the FIA Motorsport Games, where Vanthoor drove to a third place finish in a Sainteloc Racing-run Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II.

Vanthoor and Weerts have been two of the most successful drivers in SRO competition, having claimed their third consecutive Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup title this year in a WRT Audi.

Both had expressed a desire to continue together as co-drivers next year, with WRT poised to field multiple BMW M4 GT3s in GTWC Europe and a likely Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli program ahead of its factory LMDh effort with the Bavarian manufacturer in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Weerts is the son of team co-owner Yves Werts, which would indicate that the 21-year-old Belgian will likely remain at the wheel of WRT-prepared machinery.

A statement from Audi read: “Thank you, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts: We’re saying farewell to the Belgian duo and wishing them all the best.”

Vanthoor and Weerts are the latest drivers to have parted ways with the manufacturer in recent months, following the exits of Rene Rast and Nico Mueller to BMW and Peugeot, respectively.

It has largely all stemmed from Audi’s decision to cancel its LMDh project, which WRT was set to operate in WEC.

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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