Dakar Rally News: Australian Ryan Briscoe Joins Floyd Vandervell Racing for WEC Season Finale
In a move that will excite Dakar Rally enthusiasts, Australian racing driver Ryan Briscoe has been announced as the latest addition to the Floyd Vandervell Racing team for the season-closing 8-hour race of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the Sakhir circuit on November 4th.
Briscoe, a seven-time race winner in the IndyCar series during his stint with Team Penske from 2008 to 2012, will pair up with Esteban Guerrieri and Tristan Vautier for the Dakar-inspired Vandervell 680 LMH car, becoming the sixth different driver to pilot the machine this season.
“I’m pleased to be joining the team for the final round of the 2023 World Endurance Championship,” said Briscoe. “I’d like to thank Dr Colin Kolles for the opportunity and look forward to my first laps in the Vandervell 680.”
The 42-year-old Australian replaces Joao Paulo de Oliveira, who is unavailable due to a clashing Super GT commitment at Motegi. De Oliveira had taken over the seat from Tom Dillmann at the Monza and Fuji rounds, while Vautier had previously replaced Jacques Villeneuve prior to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Team principal Colin Kolles expressed his confidence in the driver lineup, stating, “With Esteban, Tristan and Ryan we have a strong lineup for the last event of the 2023 FIA WEC season.”
Briscoe’s experience in prototype racing, including a Daytona 24 Hours victory and a Petit Le Mans win with Wayne Taylor Racing in 2020, as well as his previous appearances with the Glickenhaus Hypercar project in the WEC, will be invaluable assets as the Vandervell 680 aims to deliver a strong result in the season finale.
The upcoming WEC event at the Sakhir circuit will be a pivotal moment for Briscoe and the Floyd Vandervell Racing team, as they look to showcase the capabilities of the Vandervell 680 and leave a lasting impression on the Dakar Rally and GT racing enthusiasts.
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