Sports Car Racing Industry News (comings and goings)

Lots of industry news from the world of sports car racing.  Truthfully, I am stumped.  I cannot remember the last time I compiled a blog entry on strictly industry news.  Nonetheless, here comes another one.  These are the stories from the sports car racing industry that have come out in the last month or so.  

Ferrari Unveils Track-Only 499P Modificata

https://sportscar365.com/industry/ferrari-unveils-track-only-499p-modificata/

Mid-Ohio Completes Track Repave

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/impc/mid-ohio-completes-track-repave/

Marciello Parts Ways with Mercedes-AMG

https://sportscar365.com/industry/marciello-parts-ways-with-mercedes-amg/

Marciello of course won the FIA GT Cup at Macau and now, he is off to become a factory affiliated driver at BMW.

Mies Parts Ways with Audi Sport

https://sportscar365.com/industry/mies-parts-ways-with-audi-sport/

Of course, Audi Sport have also ended their tenure in sports car racing on a factory and customer support level due to their intentions of entering Formula 1 in the next handful of years.

Loris Spinelli has signed a contract to be a full-on factory driver for Lamborghini.

Lamborghini Signs Spinelli to Factory Driver Contract

https://sportscar365.com/industry/lamborghini-signs-spinelli-to-factory-driver-contract/

Ghiretti Named 2024 Porsche Junior Driver

https://sportscar365.com/industry/ghiretti-named-2024-porsche-junior-driver/

Leutwiler Wins Porsche Cup

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/leutwiler-wins-porsche-cup/

We have spoken about this already, but longtime BMW driver John Edwards, is refocusing in life and stepping away from racing cars on land, to flying airplanes.  The two professions are extremely similar, and the skill sets transfer in several ways.

Edwards Stepping Away from Racing; Focuses on Pilot Career

https://sportscar365.com/industry/edwards-stepping-away-from-racing-focuses-on-pilot-career/

Christian Engelhart returns to Lamborghini as a factory GT3 driver.  He left Lamborghini in 2018 and went to race with Porsche for a while but is now back in the fold for The Raging Bull.

Engelhart Returns to Lambo Factory Driver Roster

https://sportscar365.com/industry/engelhart-returns-to-lamborghini-factory-driver-roster/

Olsen Parts Ways With Porsche

https://sportscar365.com/industry/olsen-parts-ways-with-porsche/

It is not clear, but I wonder if the Norwegian driver will continue driving race cars, or, if this is a time out on his driving career as well.

Cairoli, Ye Confirm Porsche Departures

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/cairoli-ye-confirm-porsche-departures/

Neither Matteo Cairoli nor Yifei Ye will return to Porsche in 2024 either.  I wonder where they will go.  Porsche and some of the other manufacturers are going through some major changes.  But motor racing is much like life itself because change is constant and sometimes continuity and a structured path, doesn't work out.