Robert Kubica expressed his belief that team bosses in the FIA World Endurance Championship should investigate the use of two-driver teams. This comes after several Hypercar teams have chosen this approach for the 6 Hours of Spa. Kubica stated that there are advantages and disadvantages to this strategy, and it depends on the team and other factors.
Peugeot and Proton Competition have decided to use two drivers in each car for the race, instead of the usual three. Cadillac has already been using two-driver teams for shorter 6-hour races this year. These teams will bring in additional drivers for longer races, such as veteran Sebastien Bourdais and IndyCar champion Alex Palou.
Alex Lynn, one of the Cadillac drivers in the WEC, mentioned that the change didn’t make much of a difference to him. He noted that there is a bit more driving time in the races and practice sessions, but lap times are still achieved quickly. Lynn also mentioned that they will go back to having three drivers for the next race, so the transition has been smooth so far.
Peugeot and Proton had to adjust their teams due to conflicts with other racing series. Some of Peugeot’s regular drivers, Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne, also compete in Formula E. As a result, cars #93 and #94 will have only two drivers for this weekend’s race. Proton will have Julien Andlauer and Neel Jani in the car, while Harry Tincknell fulfills his factory contract with Ford in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship.
Loic Duval, one of the remaining Peugeot drivers, shared similar feelings to Lynn. He stated that the six-hour race is not physically demanding, and mentally could have been challenging if the conditions were tougher. However, with the conditions being relatively easy and dry, Duval believes it is the best situation. He also mentioned that having only two drivers makes race preparation easier, as there is less time spent in sessions.
Traditionally, shorter sports car races used to have two drivers, with an additional driver added for longer endurance events. However, with the introduction of the WEC, the main class has switched to a three-driver team. Now, there is a possibility that this tradition could change.
