FIA WEC – AF Corse wins Lone Star Le Mans
The #83 Ferrari 499P fielded by AF Corse has tasted its first success of the season by winning Lone Star Le Mans, the sixth round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship.
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The Italian/French team has named the three drivers for the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans (12-16 June 2024) and its début FIA World Endurance Championship campaign in the Hypercar class.
The three drivers who will share the wheel of the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6-C for the FIA WEC season, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, have been confirmed. While Jean-Karl Vernay (36, one 24 Hours of Le Mans start) had already been announced, we now know that he will be supported by 19-year-old Carl Wattana Bennett and 21-year-old Antonio Serravalle. Isotta Fraschini has therefore opted for youth alongside a more experienced hand. “I am very curious to see how this mix of youth and experience will work in a really competitive championship like the FIA WEC,” said Claudio Berro, Motorsport Manager and Member of the Board of Isotta Fraschini Milano. “For Isotta Fraschini, these three drivers in the team are key since they're going to become ambassadors of the brand in Europe, North America, and Asia – three strategic areas from a commercial point of view,” Berro explained.
Having played a part in the development of the car since last season, Vernay will be the lead driver of the line-up. “Being involved in the project since the beginning, it's super exciting for me,” admitted the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans LMGTE Am class winner. “I think it’s fantastic news taking part in the FIA WEC 2024 season. Thank you to Isotta Fraschini and the Michelotto guys since the car is great, and thanks to Duqueine for the support. I can’t wait to be in Qatar. Of course, we're having some young guys with Antonio and Carl, but I think we have a strong line-up. It won't be easy because the people we are battling against are super-strong and with a lot of experience, that we don't have, but I'm looking forward to it, and... let's keep pushing!”
Thai-American teenage racer Wattana Bennett is a member of Fernando Alonso’s driver academy. He is currently competing in the Asian Le Mans Series with Duqueine. Canadian Serraville meanwhile comes to the FIA WEC with Indy Lights, F3 Americas and Indy Pro 2000 experience. In 2023, he competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona at the wheel of the Duqueine D08 LMP3-class prototype fielded by FastMD Racing.
The trio will start their season on 2 March at the Qatar 1812 km – the first round of the FIA WEC campaign. The Tipo 6-C will make its racing début in Qatar following preparation in the renowned Italian workshop of Michelotto Engineering. The Hypercar is powered by a turbocharged V6 3-litre engine with direct injection. Its maximum output is 700 hp while the hybrid system installed on the front axle develops 270 hp. The car will be operated by French outfit Duqueine. For the Tipo 6-C, homologated in its final form as recently as 26 January, the 2024 campaign will be very much a learning curve.