FIA WEC return and Daytona debut for G-Drive Racing by APR in 2022

G-Drive Racing by Algarve Pro Racing will return to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2022, where it will challenge for the team’s second LMP2 world title.

However, the start of G-Drive Racing’s tenth season in endurance racing will also see the Russian-Portuguese team make its debut in the Daytona 24 Hours.

G-Drive Racing by APR will start the upcoming year in America with its first ever participation in the LMP2 class of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, held at the famous Daytona Motor Speedway.

The 60th running of the Daytona 24 Hours, first held in 1962, is scheduled to take place on 29-30 January, and it serves as the opening round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

G-Drive Racing’s participation in one of motorsport’s greatest events means the team will compete in all three parts of endurance racing’s ‘Triple Crown’, with marathon events at Le Mans and Sebring, both part of the FIA World Endurance Championship, completing the gruelling trifecta.

Following the Rolex 24 at Daytona, G-Drive Racing by APR will remain in Florida for the opening round of the 2022 FIA WEC – G-Drive Racing first competed in the WEC in 2013 and took the LMP2 world title in 2015 – as the world championship season officially kicks off in March with a 1000-mile race at the legendary Sebring International Raceway.

After that, the provisional FIA WEC calendar features another five rounds, including six-hour marathons at Spa-Francorchamps, Monza and Fuji, and an eight-hour championship finale in Bahrain.

However, motorsport’s crown jewel, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in the west of France, shines brightly as the focal point of the calendar, and the biggest motorsport event in the world will take place for the 90th time on 11-12 June and will see G-Drive Racing by APR start as one of the favourites for the LMP2 victory.

G-Drive Racing will once again turn to its technical partner Algarve Pro Racing for its assault on the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the FIA World Endurance Championship, continuing a successful partnership that has delivered two Asian Le Mans Series titles and one European Le Mans Series championship trophy since the two organisations started their collaboration in 2019.

Alexander Krylov, Head of G-Drive Racing, said: “The tenth season for G-Drive Racing in 2022 will be a very special one as it also includes our tenth participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We have competed in many events, winning races and titles and rewriting the LMP2 record books. G-Drive Racing has established itself as the most successful team in LMP2 history, but we do not intend to stop here and have begun our intense planning and preparations for the upcoming racing season. And with our plans, 2022 will perhaps be the most eventful year in the history of our team.”

Roman Rusinov, G-Drive Racing Team Principal, said: “The final programme is still being formed, but now we are announcing our return to the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as our first participation in the IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona. The process of selecting our drivers for the upcoming season is ongoing and we will announce our final line-up in due course. While these decisions take some time and are vital for the team’s success, I can only note that I myself am not planning to compete in the FIA WEC as a driver, but will concentrate on the management of the team as we challenge for even more title success. A large part of that challenge is continuing the partnership with Algarve Pro Racing, whose expertise and experience has helped G-Drive Racing to three titles in the last two seasons.”