Lotterer replaces Sargeant for 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours

Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Andre Lotterer will return to the French enduro for his 14th participation on the wheel of an LMP2 ORECA run by IDEC Sport.

The 43-year-old German, who will race the brand new Genesis LMDh within the World Endurance Championship in 2026, has been referred to as as much as be a part of what the South Korean producer is asking its ‘trajectory programme’ for Le Mans on 14-15 June.

He’ll be a part of Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert within the #18 ORECA-Gibson 07 fielded on the 24 Hours and the total European Le Mans Sequence as a lead-in to Genesis’s WEC entry.

The chance for Lotterer to race at Le Mans this yr has come after ex-Method 1 driver Logan Sargeant dropped out of the programme run by IDEC and the Hyundai Motorsport organisation masterminding the Genesis LMDh mission.

Sargeant shall be changed within the ELMS by Chevrolet manufacturing unit driver Daniel Juncadella, who shall be unavailable at Le Mans as a result of he’s contesting the total WEC aboard at TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R.

Hyundai Motorsport boss Cyril Abiteboul described drafting in Lotterer as “the logical selection”.

“This participation permits him to get conversant in the group, engineers and mechanics this yr whereas bringing his invaluable experience from Le Mans,” he defined.

Lotterer stated: “This chance was mentioned from the start of our collaboration, however the precedence was at all times the drivers from the trajectory programme.

“Logan’s withdrawal provides me the prospect to return to Le Mans and produce my expertise to this younger group.

“Racing at Le Mans is at all times particular, and this expertise may even assist me keep sharp for the remainder of the season.”

Juncadella is “the proper match” for the ELMS programme, in line with Abiteboul. “He enhances Mathys and Jamie completely, giving us a really balanced group,” he added.

Former Mercedes manufacturing unit driver Juncadella has raced an LMP2 beforehand: he made a one-off on the 2018 Daytona 24 Hours in an ORECA run by the Jota group underneath the Jackie Chan DC Racing banner.

The trajectory programme has been devised to coach drivers, engineers and mechanics forward of the arrival of the Genesis GMR 001 Hypercar co-developed with ORECA within the WEC subsequent season.

Genesis Magma Racing could have a base on a know-how park constructed by the guardian firm of IDEC Sport adjoining to the Paul Ricard circuit.