Pietro Fittipaldi, Haas Formula 1 reserve driver, will compete in his first full season of sportscars at the European Le Mans Series with the Inter Europol LMP2 team.
Emerson’s grandson will take part in the six-round series alongside Fabio Scherer, David Heinemeier Hansson and the Polish team’s ORECA–Gibson07.
Fittipaldi was due to compete in the ELMS last season with the G-Drive Racing team, but he opted out after the first round to concentrate on his oval-only IndyCar program with Dale Coyne Racing.
He was due to compete in two rounds of 2018/19 World Endurance Championship superseason with DragonSpeed’s Gibson-engined BR Engineering BR1LMP1 car.
After Fittipaldi suffered serious leg injuries during practice, the DragonSpeed car was unable to start at Spa’s WEC debut. He opted to skip his second appearance at Fuji and concentrate on his recovery.
Fittipaldi made his F1 debut in Bahrain at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. He was in place of Romain Grosjean.
“Together, Fabio and David, we have a solid line-up to fight at the front with a goal of winning the championship.
“I will continue to serve as reserve and test driver for Haas F1 Team, so it will be a busy season.”
Sascha Fassbender, Europol’s team manager, revealed that the squad hopes its ELMS car can join its WEC entry for Esteban Gutierrez and Alex Brundle at the Le Mans 24 Hours of June.
He said, “We would also love to participate in Le Mans with another car.”
“We will keep our fingers crossed.”
After its graduation from the WEC last spring, Europol has launched its first ELMS LMP2 campaign.
After a more than a year absence, Heinemeier Hansson will be making a comeback to the track. He last raced in the endurance rounds of 2020 IMSA SportsCar Championship as part of the Tower Motorsports LMP2 team.
The title-winning 2014 World Endurance Championship GTE Am winner was last in LMP2 during 2017, when he was part the Rebellion squad’s WEC assault.
Heinemeier Hansson said, “Thrilled to be back in LMP2 after some time off,” and claimed victory at the Sebring WEC round with Jackie Chan DC Racing team.
“After many years of driving IMSA and WEC season seasons, I’m excited about competing in a series in which we’ll be driving to win overall in the LMP2 category.”
Augusto Farfus, a veteran BMW factory driver, will make his prototype debut this season in the ELMS with the Anglo–Italian BHK Motorsport team.
Francesco Dracone, the team owner, will be sharing the BHK ORECA – Gibson 07 with the Brazilian.
After two years of racing LMP3 cars with United Autosports, Duncan Tappy, a British sportscar legend, is moving up to the LMP2 category of the ELMS.
The 37-year old will be sharing its lead ORECA/Gibson 07 position with 2020 series champion Phil Hanson, and Tom Gamble.
Tappy will make his LMP2 debut in March with United at Sebring 12 hours. He will be sharing the team’s sole IMSA entry alongside Guy Smith and Jim McGuire, 2003 Le Mans 24 winner.
Hanson will be replaced by him. He will focus on the Sebring 1000 miles WEC round at the Florida track.
Marco Sorensen, Aston Martin factory driver, will continue his WEC campaign for the TF Sport team by driving for the TF Sport team and will also be attacking the ELMS with British squad.
Together with Ahmad Al Harthy, Sam De Haan and a Dane, the Dane will be driving an Aston Vantage GTE under the Oman Racing banner.
