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