6H Monza: Thursday Paddock Notes
Goodyear’s heritage branding
To celebrate 125 years as a company, Goodyear is using heritage iconography on its LMP2 tyres and circuit banners.
DSC got a first glimpse of it today after arriving in the paddock…
Proton’s 963 ready to go
Proton Competition’s brand-new Porsche 963 looks incredibly handsome in its WeatherTech livery. The car is ready to roll and present at Monza ahead of its first laps in anger tomorrow.
The team received its 963 just last week and therefore hasn’t had a chance to shake it down ahead of its arrival in Italy. Tomorrow will therefore be a hugely significant day for the team, as it gets up to speed with the car during the opening practice sessions.
DSC also ran into Proton’s three Hypercar drivers, Harry Tincknell, Gimmi Bruni and Neel Jani, who were all wearing their brand-new WeatherTech overalls. It’s safe to say they’re eager to get going!
Project 1 AO’s new colours
From bright green and dinosaur themed, to bright red with new BTR-Logistics branding, Project 1 AO’s Porsche 911 RSR 19 looks completely different this weekend.
Due to the clash with the IMSA race at CTMP, Gunnar Jeanette and PJ Hyett are unable to make the trip, meaning Matteo Cairoli will share the car with new teammates this weekend: Efrin Castro and Guilherme Moura de Oliveira.
Corvette on the verge of wrapping up the title
DSC spoke with Corvette Racing’s Nicky Catsburg and Nico Varonne in the paddock today. Both are fresh from competing at the Spa 24 Hours but already fully focused on the task at hand this weekend at Monza.
Along with Ben Keating, the duo can seal the GTE Am title with a pole position and third place, second place finish or a win.
Sealing the title in Italy would only add to the team’s astonishing run this season, which has seen it score three wins and a second-place finish so far.
DSC asked Varrone about what he did to celebrate after the team’s historic comeback victory at Le Mans.
The Argentinian jumped on a flight back home to see his family on the Monday after the race, and was greeted by a number of friends and family members at the airport upon landing, who cheered him out of the arrivals area “while banging drums”. He was then treated to a lengthy celebration and BBQ after his head-turning run at La Sarthe.
Weekend preview
A preview of the weekend has been uploaded to the WEC YouTube channel, with Alexa Rendell and Sam Smith reporting from the Autodrome Nazionale di Monza pit lane.
A jam-packed support paddock!
There is a busy support package for the FIA WEC at Monza this weekend.
The all-female F1 Academy single-seater series is present. There are also races for a beautiful field of Alfa Romeo GT and touring cars, and a varied selection of historic F3 cars.
The F3 entry includes examples from March, Ralt, Martini and Chevron, with a variety of cars from famous former drivers. This includes an ex-Philippe Alliot car and a March previously campaigned by Pier Carlo Ghinzani.
The latter brings a returning WEC driver back to the paddock in Paul Daniels, the owner-driver of 2012 GTE Am team JWA-Avila. Daniels is on his second consecutive race weekend after campaigning his 1970s Porsche 911 RSR at the Le Mans Classic last week.
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