Vector Sport has chosen Renger Van der Zande to replace Nico Müller once the Swiss driver has been confirmed by Peugeot for the 8 Hours of Bahrain. The formation already made this same move in Fuji.
The domino pieces fall in perfect sequence to make the puzzle pieces fit together. James Rossiter’s decision to hang up his helmet effective immediately to focus on his new role as Maserati Formula E team principal has precipitated Nico Müller’s debut on the Peugeot 9X8 with number #94. And the new status of the Swiss driver in the lion brand has left a vacancy in Vector Sport.
It should be remembered that Nico Müller has combined this DTM season with resistance and in the case of the WEC it has been LMP2 Vector Sport team driver, as long as his program in the German series has allowed it. In this regard, Mueller could no longer be at the controls of the ORECA 07-Gibson of the British team in the 6 Hours of Fuji for his coincidence with the appointment of the DTM in Spa-Francorchamps.
Gary Holland: “We are very happy to have Renger Van der Zande with us for the last round of the season”
On the occasion of the Japanese appointment, Vector Sport opted for Renger Van der Zande, a pilot with a renowned track record and great experience who already had a connection with Sébastien Bourdais for his cooperation in IMSA. Now that Müller is out of the game again and IMSA has already closed its season, the election is the same again. Van der Zande will repeat at the controls of the team’s Oreca #10, teaming up with Bourdais and Irishman Ryan Cullen.
Two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona He will thus replace Nico Müller for the second consecutive race and will do so on a circuit that he knows perfectly and where he can give the team an extra point. The good relationship that exists with Bourdais due to their status as co-workers on the Cadillac project at IMSA makes this step the natural one, once Cadillac and Chip Ganassi have given the green light to this substitution.
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consolidated crew
Gary Hollanddirector of Vector Sport, has reaffirmed the strength of the team’s new crew with his words: «We are very happy to have Renger Van der Zande with us for the last appointment of the season. As a driver he had a very positive impact on the team at Fuji. He is a fast, smart driver and his approach and attitude fit perfectly with the ideals of the team and the other pilots.
Along these lines, the skipper of the British team in the LMP2 category has added about his new driver for Bahrain: «Your previous knowledge of the Bahrain circuit will be a very important extra contribution for us on our debut on this track. We can’t wait to get there and show what we can do after not having the best of luck at Fuji.”
logical decision
As the crew of Van der Zande, Bourdais and Cullen tackle their second consecutive race together, the team can set more ambitious goals. After uniting again the drivers who already competed in Fuji, in a completely logical decision, Vector Sport will try to repeat its best result of the season, third place in the LMP2 category obtained at the 6 Hours of Monza.
It will not be an easy task against teams with more experience and a consolidated track record within the category such as JOTA, United Autosports, WRT or Prema, but Vector Sport hopes that the 8 Hours of Bahrain will serve to close the season with a good result and thus gain momentum for the next campaign, since Gary Holland’s team’s goal is to return to the WEC grid in 2023.
Photos: sport vector