Antonio Felix Da Costa has confirmed his step away from the FIA World Endurance Championship for the 2024 season in a social media statement.

Former WEC LMP2 champion and JOTA Hypercar driver Da Costa will not return to the WEC next year.

The Portuguese driver has competed in the last five consecutive seasons, including this year when the JOTA Sport team made their step into the Hypercar class as a Porsche 963 customer team.

Having won the WEC LMP2 championship title in 2022, whereby he also won the Le Mans 24 Hours, Da Costa made the announcement via his Instagram social media.

“It’s with great sadness that I won’t be competing in the World Endurance Championship in 2024,” he said.

“I remember when I first started in endurance and thinking ’24-hour races?’.

“Today [it] is one of my biggest passions. Having had the pleasure to work with a amazing teams, brands, manufacturers, and especially teammates.

“Team JOTA, thank you so much for all that you did in the my life and career, best time I’ve had on a race track.

“This is not a goodbye, just a see-you-later.”

The 2019-20 Formula E champion made his WEC debut during the Super-Season of 2018-19 for BMW Team MTEK in GTE-Pro, which aligned with his responsibilities as a BMW factory driver with a BMW Andretti Formula E drive as well.

In the following season, he drove for JOTA Sport for the first time in their Oreca 07 Gibson LMP2 and gained his first WEC win at the 4 Hours of Shanghai, one of five podium appearances during the 2019-20 campaign including a P2 (LMP2) finish at Le Mans.

With teammates Roberto Gonzalez and Will Stevens, the trio won Le Mans in LMP2 last year and rounded up the championship as class-title winners.

As a Porsche Formula E driver, his 2024 commitments are expected to sway towards the upcoming season after pre-season testing last week.

Meanwhile, JOTA has submitted a yet-to-be-approved application to run two drivers for two races in 2024, a year which will see just Hypercar and LMGT3 make up the full-season WEC package.

Da Costa’s final race before his 2024 WEC step-away will be this Saturday’s 8 Hours of Bahrain in the JOTA Hypercar, after claiming an equal-best finish of sixth position at the previous Fuji race.

Inter Europol Competition driver Fabio Scherer spoke to Motorsport Week in-depth about the Centenary Le Mans 24 Hours, nursing an injured foot en route to the LMP2 win, and more.

A tale of perseverance and resilience propelled Scherer and Inter Europol Competition to become Centenary Le Mans winners and title-contenders for the final World Endurance Championship LMP2 title.

Scherer joined the Inter Europol Competition team in 2022 across a select number of WEC races, the full European Le Mans Series campaigns, and Le Mans inbetween.

His FIA silver licence was uprated to gold by the end of 2021, which meant that he could not continue with the WEC United Autosports team he was part of during his debut sportscar season.

This year has been the most successful for the Polish bakery privateer, most notably winning in a highly competitive LMP2 category at the Centenary Le Mans 24 Hours.

With an injured foot, Scherer won the race with Jakub ‘Kuba’ Smiechowski and Albert Costa in the team’s WEC #34 Oreca 07 LMP2 car.

“Working with Albert and Kuba has been great,” said Scherer.

“Albert is a quick driver, and Kuba has been a great silver because he doesn’t make any mistakes.” 

“I have seen a massive improvement from the whole team since last year.”

Scherer has competed in both European Le Mans Series and WEC campaigns for IE Competition, most notably at the 2022 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps when the team charged from last on the grid to second place.

Earlier this year at the 6 Hours of Spa, Inter Europol finished on their first WEC podium after a rain-soaked race, and without tyre warmers.

One of the highlights, for both Scherer and the Inter Europol team, has been the Centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans, which marked 100 years since the inception of the famed endurance race at La Sarthe.

Costa qualified the car in 13th position in LMP2, after his best attempts were unable to get the team through to the Hyperpole session.

Scherer, meanwhile, took the race start again this year in one of two Inter Europol Oreca 07s.

However, early in the race a very localised rain shower affected the first sector, as a mixture of the 62 cars opted for slicks or wet compound tyres.

“Driving at Le Mans start on slicks, we decided to be cautious,” he said, with the car amidst a fiesty LMP2 field.

“The race is not won on the opening lap or the opening hours.”

Unlike at Spa-Francorchamps, the rain at the start decreased in intensity.

Ten minutes after the safety car was deployed for Jack Aitken’s opening-lap incident — which caused debris at the first chicane on the Mulsanne straight — the team changed to Kuba as a “tactical decision” to start fulfilling his drive time.

At such an early point, it was during this pit stop when Scherer’s left foot was run over by the Corvette. 

It was only after the race when the full details of the injury became apparent: ligament damage and an incomplete fracture, which had caused him to limp in and out of the car for the majority of the race.

Following intervention from the team’s physiotherapist, while still uncomfortable, Scherer was well aware of the speed in the package; his determination was stronger than ever to continue pushing, with the car in winning contention.

“The adrenaline helped mask the pain during the course of the race, plus my professional background in skiing helped me find ways of coping with the injury.

“I still braked with my left foot, but instead of turning the ankle, I pushed my left leg, having never braked with my right foot so I did not decide to do so.

By the sixth hour, the team’s #34 Oreca 07 climbed up into the lead of 22 LMP2 cars which were running.

“We were fighting for a potential Le Mans victory, and I did not think much about the injury — just our target to win.”

It was, however, not until the night phase arrived when the rain became more present, and caused several cars to go off the track as others steadily nursed their slicks back around to the pit box for wets.

“Surviving and keeping the lead during the heavy rain conditions in the night truly earned us the win.

“The long safety car period meant we couldn’t keep tyres up to temperature, but we just wanted to make it through the most critical phase.”

Kuba and Costa primarily interchanged driving duties during the early hours of the morning, until Scherer got back in the car at approximately 6.30 am local time.

A quadruple stint by Costa preceded Scherer’s final stint to lead Inter Europol towards their maiden victory, albeit with Swiss compatriot Louis Deletraz catching behind for Team WRT.

“I was not able to fulfil my best potential nursing the injury, but I was able to do enough to keep [Louis] Deletraz from catching me in the final stint.”

By the chequered flag, Scherer finished 21 seconds ahead of second-placed Deletraz of the #41 WRT.

The #34’s quickest race lap time was a 3:37.180 by the Swiss driver set on Lap 158, enough for the fifth-fastest race lap in the LMP2 category by the end.

“Taking the chequered flag was an unbelievable high, a memory I’ll never forget.

“After showing potential for the win last year and encountering an alternator failure, it felt like we completed something we started a long time ago.

“Our reliability was fine throughout the race, apart from a brief trip through a gravel trap.

“Compared to the start, the car felt dramatically different after various weather conditions, components like the clutch and brakes were worn in, and the track was rubbered in.”

The team won from 13th on the grid, a feat never achieved in the LMP2 category before, and Scherer described the podium view over a record-high attendance of fans.

“Wherever you looked, there were people.

“The atmosphere was incredible at the Centenary Le Mans.

“It was amazing to stand on the top step of the podium, and share the celebrations with the team — it was a crazy, emotional positive from a small team from Poland against big names like JOTA, WRT and United Autosports.”

“After the race, we saw and stopped by some fans on a roundabout and decided to share the champagne with them and show them the trophy.

“Hearing (car) horns as others joined in celebrations, it was amazing to see how much the win meant to everyone else as well as our own team.”

The injury took three weeks to recover through bespoke training, although the time passed quicker than expected, according to Scherer.

After securing the full 50 points from Le Mans, the #34 crew scored fourth place and 10 points at Monza just four weeks after Le Mans.

Their title rivals, the #41 WRT crew, won the 6 Hours of Fuji in LMP2 whilst the #34 IE Competition team managed ninth place and two points.

WRT’s #41 crew of Rui Andrade, Louis Deletraz and Robert Kubica lead the LMP2 standings on 135 points, as the #34 crew sit on 102.

Most crucially, Inter Europol must win in Bahrain to narrow down the gap, if not also to defend their P2 spot from the #22 United Autosports team situated one point behind.

After a difficult 6 Hours of Fuji, Scherer consolidated on the team’s expectations into the 8 Hours of Bahrain finale on 4 November.

“We want to finish the season on a high in Bahrain, and Fuji was our low and consistency was lacking a bit.

“Bahrain will be full-risk with no opportunity to waste if we want to become LMP2 champions from P2 in the standings.

“We should be very proud of our performance this year regardless of the result.”

Scherer shared the disappointment for LMP2’s WEC departure in regards to IE Competition’s recent progression, but points out the expectations of a growing Hypercar class.

As winners this year, Inter Europol are automatically invited to next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours which will still feature LMP2 competition, even if not in the full-season WEC package.

Above all, Scherer’s ardour to win the Centenary Le Mans was so intense, that even a foot injury did not overshadow his perseverance having spent much of the year preparing for one of the most decorated editions of Le Mans since 1923.

Lilou Wadoux and Robert Shwartzman will test a Le Mans-winning Ferrari 499P next month at the FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test, which will take place at Bahrain after the 8 Hours of Bahrain the day before.

Silver-rated Wadoux, and platinum-rated Shwartzman, have been associated with Ferrari for a few years, with Wadoux being the first female Ferrari factory driver. Shwartzman, meanwhile, has tested for the Ferrari F1 team this year, in addition to driving for AF Corse in the GT World Challenge Europe series.

In addition to Ferrari, young American Josh Pierson, plus Brits Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat, will test the Toyota GR010. The latter two won this year’s IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship’s GTD Pro class title in the Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3. They’ll be joined by Jose Maria Lopez, an existing GR010 race driver.

Porsche will test Thomas Preining in the Penske-run factory 963, who just last week won the DTM championship driving for Manthey, plus Pietro Fittipaldi in the JOTA-run Porsche 963, while Rene Binder and Julien Andlauer will test Proton’s 963.

Nico Varrone, who alongside Ben Keating and Nicky Catsburg won the WEC GTE drivers’ title this year, will test Cadillac’s V-Series.R. He’ll be joined by young Barbadian Kyffin Simpson, who has been making waves both in the European Le Mans Series and Indy Lights.

Over at Peugeot, current young driver for the French squad Malthe Jakobsen will test the 9X8, alongside 2024 race driver Stoffel Vandoorne. They’ll be joined by existing Peugeot race driver Mikkel Jensen.

And finally in Hypercar, Job van Uitert will test the Vanwall Vandervell 680, alongside current Vanwall driver Esteban Guerrieri.

In LMP2, PJ Hyett, Harry Tincknell, and Paul-Loup Chatin will test for Prema, with Daniel Schnieder in the United Autosports Oreca 07-Gibson, and Clement Novalak in the Inter Europol Competition machine.

Christoph Ulrich will test a Ferrari 488 GTE EVO for AF Corse, with Nicky Catsburg doing double duty as he’ll drive the Corvette C8.R he’s been racing this year, providing a benchmark for Antoine Doquin, who will also test the car. Nicola Marinangelli will test another AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, as well as Lorenzo Patrese. 

Akkodis ASP Team has confirmed a two-car Lexus RC F GT3 effort in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, which will be the first season for the LMGT3 category.

Next year, Jerome Policand’s team celebrates their 25th anniversary, and will take on the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time.

The championship itself has yet to feature a Lexus competitor, and so the new LMGT3 formula will enable two RC F GT3s to be represented.

In an online statement, ASP said: “The team will enter in the LMGT3 category, in a championship that they will be discovering, and notably with a new car, the LEXUS RC F GT3; this is a familiar approach for the Akkodis ASP Team, who is specialised in GT3 at the highest level.

“The Team intend to enter two cars in 2024 subject to the decision of the ACO/WEC selection process next month.

“The crews will be announced in a few weeks.”

ASP won consecutive 2022 and 2023 Endurance Cup titles in GT World Challenge Europe, and led the charge on landing Mercedes’ first win in almost a decade at the 24 Hours of Spa.

Most recently in international sportscar racing, the Lexus has been represented in Vasser Sullivan’s GTD efforts in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, as Ben Barnicoat and Jack Hawksworth won the GTD Pro title in the RC F GT3 package.

This will mark the fifth automotive manufacturer ASP has collaborated with in their history, having ran with the likes of Renault, Porsche, Ferrari and Mercedes machinery.

As part of an ongoing two-day Goodyear tyre test at Portimao, ASP are running a Lexus RC F GT3 to gain data with their LMGT3 tyre manufacturer.

Next year’s WEC season will begin with a 10-hour event in Qatar in March, before traveling to Europe for the Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, and the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

In July, the WEC will return to Sao Paulo in Brazil having not raced there since 2014, and will then travel to the United States at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas venue for September.

A six-hour race in Fuji and an eight-hour race in November will conclude the 2024 WEC season.

The third test of the Alpine A424 LMDh took place last week at Jerez over three days, reaching up to 1200 km of testing mileage as Mick Schumacher got his maiden outing in a sportscar.

Alpine continued their testing programme as part of their preparations for the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship as a Hypercar team.

Three current Alpine LMP2 drivers took to the wheel of the A424: Charles Milesi, André Negrão and Nicolas Lapierre.

In addition, former Haas F1 driver Mick Schumacher drove his maiden laps in the Hypercar, which is powered by a heavily modified turbocharged variant of the V6 Mecachrome engine from the outgoing Formula 2 cars.

After testing at Circuit Paul Ricard and Motorland Aragon, the Signatech Alpine outfit tested at Jerez in Spain, from 17-19 October.

Philippe Sinault, Alpine Endurance team principal, summarised his thoughts in regards to the test, which introduced night and wet weather conditions for the A424.

“Overall, we are satisfied with our tests in Jerez.

“Despite the ever-changing weather conditions, we found the right running windows to optimise track time and keep improving the car.

“We made significant progress, particularly in aerodynamics, onboard systems, headlight settings and other essential lighting for night runs.

“These tests were also crucial for the teams, who have to learn to work together, and we were able to put in a little more practice in what were sometimes extremely challenging conditions over these three days.

“This is another step towards the forthcoming challenges, particularly in terms of regulations.

“The pressure is mounting by the minute, but we’re moving forward calmly, well aware of the road we still have to travel.”

Night testing at Jerez showcased the aesthetic of the A424 which will eventually take on next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, an endurance race which involves a full day-night cycle of racing at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

With the chassis designed by Oreca, Alpine were able to integrate their emblem into the rear lights as it appeared when they first announced the A424.

Nicolas Lapierre, development driver, said: “The Hypercars are quite powerful and robust cars that require us to adapt our driving style.

“We have several areas to focus on, specifically tyre reaction and the energy recovery system.

“These two factors have an influence on the car’s balance, and we need to take the time to understand and master them so that we can homologate the car within a good performance window.”

Their next private test will involve a return to Aragon for a crucial endurance test. This may be the first time the A424 is tested to a 24 hour duration, an important milestone in any endurance sportscar’s pre-racing life.

Following that, Alpine’s attention will be on their homologation deadline, which fixates the car’s major qualities like the internal combustion engine and the chassis, under a five year homologation period.

Bruno Famin, Vice President at Alpine Motorsport, concluded: “This session was a new step in the development of the car and this project.

“We improve with each run, and the good news is that there’s no bad surprise, but we still have a tremendous amount of work. 

“Everyone is working hard to be firmly ready for the next steps.

“The first race in Qatar is just around the corner, and this will be the beginning of our racing learning process throughout the 2024 season.”

In a World Motor Sport Council meeting, the FIA has approved an implementation for the World Endurance Championship to change the outgoing qualifying format to the ‘Hyperpole’ setup seen at Le Mans only.

From next year, a new qualifying procedure will host a 12-minute session for each of the Hypercar and the LMGT3 classes, followed by two 10-minute long Hyperpole sessions (for each of the classes).

Having only been utilised for the Le Mans 24 Hours, the top-10 competitors in each class from the first qualifying sessions will continue to Hyperpole to determine their grid positions.

The new style replaces the outgoing WEC qualifying arrangement which hosts 15-minute sessions for each of the three classes.

In 2024, with the absence of LMP2 apart from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the WEC will be made up of the expanding Hypercar field, and the new LMGT3 class.

Within the opening address by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, he mentioned the WEC’s upcoming Hypercar climate.

“… I also welcome the recent announcement of Aston Martin and their commitment to enter the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2025.

“This class is going from strength-to-strength with an impressive line-up of some of the world’s biggest manufacturers.”

LMGT3’s technical regulations, which are based around the existing FIA GT3 platform, was also approved in the meeting as they will replace the LMGTE formula used since the inaugural WEC season in 2012.

The new GT category “will focus on gentlemen drivers and private teams”, the FIA said in an online summarisation.

WEC-specific adaptations will feature on LMGT3 cars, such as luminescent number panels, leader lights and torque sensors.

Ryan Briscoe has completed the ByKolles-run Vanwall Hypercar team driver line-up for the final race on the 2023 World Endurance Championship season in Bahrain.

With Joao Paulo de Oliveira’s clash with the Super GT season finale in Motegi, one day after the WEC race, Vanwall has announced Ryan Briscoe to take his place.

The Australian-American driver has already competed in three WEC rounds this year – including the Centenary Le Mans – as part of Glickenhaus’ Hypercar efforts, having driven for them since their debut in 2021.

After the entry list for the 8 Hours of Bahrain was announced last month, Briscoe will join regulars Esteban Guerrieri and Tristan Vautier in the #4 Vanwall Vandervell 680.

Briscoe said: “I’m pleased to be joining the team for the final round of the 2023 World Endurance Championship.

“I’d like to thank Dr Colin Kolles for the opportunity and look forward to my first laps in the Vandervell 680.”

Vanwall Team Principal Dr. Colin Kolles added: “Ryan is an excellent driver with a lot of experience in Prototype Racing cars.

“With Esteban, Tristan and Ryan we have a strong line up for the last event of the 2023 FIA WEC season.”

After retiring thrice this season, the #4 Hypercar team are looking to surpass their best race finish of eighth undertaken at the 1000 Miles of Sebring opener.

At the most recent race in Fuji, they finished 11th out of 12 Hypercar entries.

The final round of the 2023 schedule will take place on 4 November, concluding the Vanwall’s first Hypercar season.

D’station Racing has selected Liam Talbot to replace Satoshi Hoshino at the World Endurance Championship 2023 season finale which will be the 8 Hours of Bahrain.

The Australian FIA bronze-rated driver will take over from Team Owner Hoshino to compete in the eight-hour Bahrain race.

In his WEC debut, Talbot will join Casper Stevenson and Tomonobu Fujii in the #777 Aston Martin Vantage GTE for the final race, both in the 2023 season and for the GTE category.

In an official statement, the team described the reason as “unavoidable schedule conflicts” for Hoshino, which has led them to select Talbot.

His sportscar campaigns this year have been in the Asian Le Mans Series, 24 Hours of Spa, and the GT World Challenge Australia, all of which were competed in Mercedes-AMG GT3 machinery. He currently leads the latter series’ championship, and took a Pro-Am win at the 12 Hours of Bathurst in February.

D’station Racing sit at the bottom in the standings with just four points, having endured a demanding WEC campaign this year.

The seventh and final race of the 2023 FIA WEC season will take place on 4 November in just over two weeks time.

Lamborghini conducted three days of testing earlier this week at the Circuito de Almería in Spain, as Romain Grosjean drove his first laps in the SC63 LMDh.

He was joined by fellow Lamborghini factory driver Andrea Caldarelli, collectively driving nearly 2000 km of mileage at the 4.2 km circuit.

Technicians from Lamborghini and the Italian manufacturer’s team partner, Iron Lynx, were able to simulate full course yellow conditions and restart procedures, often implemented in endurance races to neutralise the race if there are safety concerns.

The team remain set to debut next year competitively at the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Qatar race, which will open the season in early March.

However, the team will not debut the car at the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January, instead waiting until later in the year for its first competitive outing on American soil.

Furthermore, Lamborghini will only race in select IMSA Endurance Cup rounds, which form part of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. 

Grosjean said: “It was a very intense three days, but I am very happy to have been able to work the team and the car on the track for the first time. 

“The car proved to be very good from the first laps and I can’t wait to put even more kilometres on it during the next tests.

“It felt really good, and I am happy to be in Almería with the whole team and discovering all the people and the work that has been going on behind the scenes. 

“So, I am very excited to be here, the car felt really good from the beginning but obviously we still have a bit of a journey [ahead of us].

“But the work that has been done prior to my arrival has been very good and I am looking forward to learning more about the car.”

The testing programme for the SC63 LMDh will continue in Europe next week.

Additionally, the Iron Lynx test team will move to the United States to continue the homologation process by IMSA, with a series of tests across North American circuits.

The Mission H24 project has unveiled details on a new prototype of their hydrogen-electric racer which aims to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the first ever zero-emission entry.

New images of the zero-emission hydrogen endurance racer has showcased a vastly different aerodynamic design language, as further technical details and future milestones have been outlined by H24.

It will utilise a 400 kW lithium battery, with the integration of a motor and drivetrain targeted at a maximum 872 hp output, plus two hydrogen fuel tanks which will collectively store 7.8 kg of hydrogen at 700 bars, for a total weight of around 100 kg.

The target weight will be 1300 kg and a top speed of 320 kph, on Michelin tyres, as the ongoing objective to match GT3 levels of pace remains.

President of the ACO and co-president of the H24 project, Pierre Fillon, said: “After introducing hydrogen to the racetrack, MissionH24 is now entering a new phase: bringing hydrogen to competitive racing.

“This new prototype clearly intends to rival the other forms of energy in the field. Hydrogen technology is safe, reliable and can perform.

“The ambition is now to provide the first zero-emission winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

Jean-Michel Bouresche, president of the H24 project, added: “MissionH24 begins a new chapter today: the design, building and development of a brand- new electric-hydrogen prototype in association with our technical partners TotalEnergies, Michelin, Symbio and Plastic Omnium.

Both H24 drivers Norman Nato and Stephane Richelmi also shared their thoughts on the announcement.

“I’m delighted to reach a new milestone in the development of this hydrogen prototype, said Nato.

“I joined the project five years ago and the technology has progressed. Each stage is a new leap forward.

“This new prototype will, I am sure, be another big step. I can’t wait to drive it.”

Richelmi, who drove the outgoing version for a demonstration lap around La Sarthe prior to the Centenary Le Mans start, said: “I’ve been fortunate to play a part in MissionH24’s continual progress since I joined in early 2021.

“As a driver, it’s a great opportunity to develop electric-hydrogen technology in racing and assist this transition towards more sustainable forms of energy.

“This new prototype is evidence that hydrogen is indeed one of tomorrow’s mobility solutions.”

The project has undergone progression since its inception in 2018, including track outings in the Michelin Le Mans Cup – including all four events in 2022 – composed of GT3 and LMP3 cars.

The general design will be finalised in March 2024, followed by a mock-up for June 2024, which will be the month hosting the 101st edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

From October 2024, power unit assembly and bench-testing will take place for the drivetrain and motor components, as January 2025 will mark the car’s assembly and its maiden track tests.

In the meantime, H24 have said the name will be shared via their social media on 13 November.