AF Corse is almost synonymous with GT racing all over the world, but they will be ramping up in LMP2 as well.
The change will happen towards their 2023 Hypercar programme, which they are going to run as a factory team for Ferrari.
The drivers for the first of two cars, which they plan to run in both the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the European Le Mans Series in 2022.
Francois Perrodo is the first driver to sign a deal with the team. The French Bronze rated driver will bring his two GTE Am teammates, Nicklas Nielsen and Alessio Rovera into the brand new ORECA 07 Gibson. Perrodo and Nielsen are the defending GTE Am champions in the FIA WEC, and they are currently leading the 2021 Championship prior to the final round.
Their biggest triumph – so far – for the three drivers is their victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in August this year.
Photo: JJ Media
Perrodo and Rovera have shared the Ferrari 488 GTE with Emmanuel Collard in the European Le Mans Series as well.
Perrodo has previously raced in LMP2 for two years, but that was for the TDS Racing outfit – following another GTE Am title in the FIA WEC in 2016.
AF Corse is not new to prototype racing. They have been running an LMP3 car on/off in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, plus running several LMP2 cars in the Asian Le Mans Series.
Their biggest task in regards to LMP2 running, was being the technical partner for Cetilar Racing in FIA WEC 2019/20, where they took over the job from Villorba Corse. That lead to Cetilar Racing moving to a GTE Am programme for 2021, where that outfit has taken a single victory so far during the 8 Hours of Portimao.
While Perrodo, Nielsen, Rovera and Collard has been sharing the car during 2021 in the FIA WEC and ELMS respectively, it will solely be Perrodo, Nielsen and Rovera running the new car in both championships. They will stick to their regular number #83 in both championships, despite running LMP2 Pro/Am instead of GTE (Am).
The FIA World Endurance Championship 2022 is scheduled to start at Sebring, Florida, while the European Le Mans Series will start a month later at Circuit Paul Ricard in France.
The 2021 FIA WEC titles will be decided next weekend, with an 8 hours race in Bahrain.
