– WRT team principal Vincent Vosse appeals to the manufacturers in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) to put the welfare of the series above their own interests during the convergence talks for the 2030 season. After some manufacturers have already drawn red lines, the Belgian warns: The welfare of the WEC is at stake.
Read more Ford Ranger Super Duty (2026): That really hauls
Fresh from the big win at the 6 Hours of Spa in the World Endurance Championship, Vosse talks about the status of various projects and the upcoming highlights.
Question: It has been a busy year for you – how is it going?
Vincent Vosse: “Great! That’s exactly what we set out to do, so we’re happy!”
Question: Finally the first WEC win at Spa-Francorchamps – how did you experience it?
Vosse: “It was brilliant, with an excellent strategy. After qualifying we were very disappointed, but in the end we knew we had a strong car for the race.”
“When car number 20 came into the pits, we took a risk because we didn’t have as many laps left as the others to finish strong. But everything worked perfectly and number 15 was also able to fight its way forward. By finishing second, it was even able to shield number 20, which saved fuel and energy to make it to the finish without another stop.”
Question: How important is the IMSA program for information exchange?
Vosse: “The flow of information couldn’t be better. The staff are also a huge help, such as the technical director who is the same for both programs. With two teams we have more data, but there are also people working on both projects, which helps to link everything optimally.”
Question: Does that also help you improve now that you are using the EVO version of the M Hybrid V8?
Vosse: “In certain situations definitely yes, although we feel that we have lost a bit in qualifying in terms of pace and drivability. In any case, I think we are in a good position, and that’s exactly what we wanted to achieve.”
Question: Have you already looked at new joker EVO options?
Vosse: “At the moment I would say no. But I am not part of BMW’s technical staff, so I can’t answer that in detail.”
Question: What do you think of the soon-to-be-enforced new regulations regarding possible convergence?
Vosse: “BMW management is attending the relevant meetings; I focus on my own team. But I believe it is extremely important to achieve a good level of convergence: The potential is there, and it would make things easier for everyone. Currently there are two categories, LMDh and LMH, we are all aware of that.”
“In the future it would be better for everyone if these merged into a single class. Today Ferrari is the winning car; I know what they would like and what would be best for everyone else. I simply say that convergence is in the best interest of the championship and everyone should work towards it without only thinking about their own advantage.”
Read more Audi boss: A new R8 would be a «good idea»
Question: Is the convergence problem also related to the cost discrepancy?
Vosse: “I think it is up to the WEC, the FIA and the ACO to find the best way to align the costs of LMDh and LMH so that it is acceptable for everyone. The welfare of the championship and the sport is at stake.”
“Look at the success of GT3: These cars have been on track for 20 years and are in great shape. Sometimes risks were taken, but the platform is exceptional. And we should do the same with the hypercars.”
Question: Are you worried?
Vosse: “The championship is currently extremely strong. But when you operate at such a high level, the risk of things going wrong or falling apart increases. We have to be very careful. Everyone has seen what happened when Porsche and Alpine withdrew back then. McLaren and Ford are joining, Genesis joined this year, but we have to act cautiously.”
Question: To return to GT3: The 24 Hours of Spa are approaching – a race WRT hasn’t won for a while…
Vosse: “In general, it is the most important race for us. It is our home race and very close to our hearts. We won it under immense pressure on our second and fourth attempts. In many editions we were leading without securing the result at the end.”
“I don’t believe there is such a thing as the perfect race at Spa. Of course, I would love to win, but I remember 2021: We weren’t the fastest, but made every decision perfectly and finished second. Honestly, I prefer that result to a win by a lap because it fills me with pride and I love pure racing.”
Question: Do you think there is a chance to win this year?
Vosse: “I hope to have a car with which we can fight for the win. I don’t know if the situation will be better than last year, and I also don’t think the test results are conclusive enough yet to understand what scenario we will be in. We on our part have prepared well. We have a strong driver lineup and a strong car capable of winning. We will see the rest when we are on site.”
Question: But first there is Le Mans…
Vosse: “We know very well that we have to stay out of trouble and finish with a strong car. Let’s wait and see how the battle between LMH and LMDh develops. My personal opinion is that it is time for an LMDh car to take a win.”
“The most important thing is that it will be a great spectacle for everyone, just like we saw at Spa. It was a close fight with different strategies but a similar performance level. At Le Mans, in my opinion, it will be difficult to see something similar over the entire race, but we all know what kind of event the 24 Hours are.”
- Formula 1Formula 1 technology: Mercedes’ unique diffuser design
- Formula 1Formula 1 back on RTL: “This is a taste”
- MotoGPMugello turnaround for Toprak? “I rode a completely different bike”
- MotoGPRins fights to stay in MotoGP: “I’m waiting for an answer”
Question: The goal will also be victory in LMGT3…
Vosse: “Of course, we always want to win. We have already done that in LMP2 and are now continuing that in the hypercar and GT classes. It will be a fiercely contested challenge!”
Read more How Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto saved their careers
