WRT Set for Multi-Car Blancpain Return; IGTC Outings on Radar

WRT is set to enter multiple Audi R8 LMS Evos in the Blancpain GT Series endurance and sprint competitions this year.

The Belgian squad, which ran two Audis in Endurance Cup and four in Sprint Cup last year, plans to field a similar entry in 2019 despite launching a two-car DTM program in addition to its existing GT and TCR projects.

Endurance-info reported Friday that the Vincent Vosse-led operation has acquired five Evo kits, with its Endurance Cup presence set to increase to three cars.

Four Audis are also expected to feature in the renamed Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe sprint format, with driver lineups yet to be established.

“We will do Blancpain Endurance and Blancpain sprint with the same kind of numbers of cars [as 2018],” team principal Vosse told Sportscar365.

“The only new thing is the DTM, which is also big because we start from zero.

“We [have not] presented any program yet. WRT has different programs in WTCR, TCR Europe, the GT program with Blancpain and probably some Intercontinental and Macau [FIA GT World Cup], and then the DTM program.

“It is three different groups of people, and I am the only one who I will say is related to all those programs.”

Vosse explained that WRT is biding its time to formally announce its programs because of the scale of its multi-faceted 2019 venture.

All three of the team’s current operations in GT, DTM and TCR will be based under a single roof at WRT’s headquarters near Mons.

An announcement on its GT3 involvement, including driver lineups, is expected in late March, less than a month before the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Cup at Monza.

IGTC Return in the Works

Vosse added that the team is aiming to contest the remaining Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli rounds at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Suzuka, Kyalami and the Total 24 Hours of Spa, which is also part of the Endurance Cup.

WRT elected to miss the opening round of the globe-trotting GT3 series at Bathurst because of the logistical challenges associated with the race falling a week after the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“I will say it’s WRT’s goal to be in every Intercontinental [round after Bathurst],” said Vosse.

“It’s our goal and we probably will be there.”

The team’s first Daytona appearance, in association with Speedstar and Audi Canada, resulted in a third-place class finish for Kelvin van der Linde, Roman de Angelis, Ian James and Frederic Vervisch.

Vosse suggested that further races with Speedstar have not yet been considered, although he remains open to renewing the partnership in future.

“It might be we have already quite a heavy program in Europe with the R8 program,” he said.

“If we do something it is not something which will be prepared today. It is something which will be an opportunity for doing something together. But it’s not something which is planned today.”