BMW downsizes line-ups for Spa

04/25/2025 09:26 AM

The IMSA/World Endurance Championship date clash next month between WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Spa-Francorchamps has prompted some shuffling of driving line-ups among WEC teams.

While Penske Porsche Motorsports is bringing in two new drivers for the Spa race, BMW M Team WRT has opted to compete with two drivers in its pair of M Hybrid V8 entries. Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde will race in California with RLL, leaving Kevin Magnussen and Raffaele Marciello to share the No. 15 and Robin Frijns and Rene Rast to steer the No. 20 in Belgium. Aston Martin Team THOR will also race with four drivers across its Valkyries once again.

In LMGT3, there are two changes of note. Esteban Masson, who filled in for injured Ben Barnicoat in the No. 78 AKKODIS ASP Lexus in Italy, will not race at Spa. In his place, former TGR Team SARD Super GT racer Yuichi Nakayama will make his WEC debut.

Christian Ried, who has taken the bronze seat in the No. 61 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG, is not listed. Currently, his place on the entry list is TBA.

The 6 Hours of Spa is set to take place on May 10.