In it to win it: IEC confirm 2023 drivers for the European Le Mans Series
23 March 2023
Having competed in the Asian Le Mans Series and challenged for the title, started the FIA World Endurance Championship in style at Sebring, Inter Europol Competition is pleased to confirm its two-car driver line-up for the forthcoming European Le Mans Series which gets underway next month in Barcelona.
The Polish-based squad will field the #43 LMP2 Oreca 07 for Jonathan Aberdein, Olli Caldwell, and Rui Andrade in what is a Gold, Gold, Silver combination. The #13 Ligier JS P320, so close to title success last year, will be raced by Miguel Cristovao, Wyatt Brichacek, and Kai Askey in a Bronze, Silver, Silver line-up.
Inter Europol Competition has an impressive record in the series, having won three races in succession last year to put in a championship challenge that went down to the wire at the season finale in Portimao. Having finished runner-up in the championship race on no less than three occasions, there remains only one target in the forthcoming six-round series.
Jonathan vaulted from title success in the United Arab Emirates Formula 4 in 2017 to endurance racing. He finished second in the European Le Mans Series in 2021 and secured two podium positions last year. Olli also had plenty of experience and comes from a single-seater background too, before moving to the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2021. Rui also races in the premiere category, and has plenty of experience, despite his young age, in the top level of endurance racing. It is a formidable driver line-up of three young drivers to go for the overall LMP2 title.
In LMP3, all three are well known, having competed, with us, last month in the Asian Le Mans Series. Miguel joined endurance racing in 2019, taking GT4 honours the same year in the South European Series. Wyatt has extensive Indy Pro 2000 experience before joining us in the Asian Le Mans Series, while Kai also raced in the UAE and enjoys a background in British F4 and has proven rapid in everything he has driven.
Both LMP2 and LMP3 cars have very strong driver line-ups, and we can’t wait to go racing. The season gets underway with pre-season testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on April 20th, followed by the opening Barcelona round on 23 April. Imola and Paul Ricard follow and then the new circuit for 2023, Aragon. Spa Francorchamps and Portimao conclude the season.
#43 LMP2 Jonathan Aberdein
“I’m thrilled to be driving in LMP2 with Inter Europol competition in the upcoming ELMS race in Barcelona (and beyond). I’m looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
#43 LMP2 Olli Caldwell
“I’m really looking forward to competing in European Le Mans Series this season with Inter Europol Competition. Having made the transition to sportscars this year, combining ELMS alongside my full-season campaign in World Endurance Championship provides me with the opportunity to get plenty of experience in my first full season in LMP2. I can’t wait to get started with the team as they have proven themselves to be a race-winning team and I’m confident that we can continue that success this season as we challenge for the ELMS title.”
#43 LMP2 Rui Andrade
“I’m mega excited about the season ahead, and I’m looking forward to racing with a team I have raced against a lot in the past. ELMS provides great competition; we race at some of the very best tracks and the cars – with full downforce – are amazing. Inter Europol Competition are a great team, I know [Technical Director] Andi well – he has worked with me in the past – and he’ll be looking into every detail to provide the ultimate performance. It’s going to be a great season and we will get strong results. I’m looking forward to Barcelona, it’s even faster there now with the removal of the chicane, and I can’t wait to get started.”
#13 LMP3 Kai Askey
“I am very happy to continue with Inter Europol Competition in the European Le Mans Series. We worked hard in the Asian Le Mans Series to get good data and mileage to prepare and I am confident we have the right line-up and the right team to fight for the top positions. Last year the team finished runner-up in the ELMS, so this year there is only one target: to go for the title! This is our focus and goal!”
#13 LMP3 Wyatt Brichacek
“I am very excited to be continuing my endurance racing journey with Inter Europol Competition for the 2023 ELMS season. The team has a very successful history in this series and with the pace shown throughout the Asian Le Mans Series, I’m confident we can fight for the championship. This will be my first time racing in Europe, and in a championship at this level, but I’m confident we are ready to fight. The whole team and I share the same determination and passion to win, and I can confidently say we will give it everything to make that happen.”