It’s been a busy week for some drivers to lock in plans – both long-term and somewhat more immediate – as the final two races of the 2017 WeatherTech Championship season approaches.
On Tuesday, Tequila Patrón ESM announced that Johannes van Overbeek would return to the cockpit of the team’s No. 22 Nissan DPi for the full 2018 season alongside Brazilian hotshot Pipo Derani, who inked his own full-season deal with the team last month.
Van Overbeek and Derani were the most recent winners in WeatherTech Championship Prototype competition, taking Nissan’s first DPi victory in the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America on Aug. 7.
“It’s hard to believe that next year will mark the ninth year that I’ve been with Tequila Patrón ESM,” van Overbeek said.
“Every year has had its challenges and its success. I’m sure next year will be no different. The team is as strong as it has ever been and I look forward to continuing my working relationship with the team and Pipo to deliver the results that are due Tequila Patrón ESM and its partners.”
Additionally, Porsche announced Thursday that factory drivers Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy are returning to WeatherTech Championship.
The winners of the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans will join the Porsche GT Team driver lineup in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) for the 2017 season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on Oct. 7.
Bamber will share the No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR with Gianmaria “Gimmi” Bruni and Laurens Vanthoor, while Tandy joins Patrick Pilet and Dirk Werner in the No. 911 RSR.
Tandy and Pilet also were part of the driver lineup that took the overall and GTLM class victory in the rain-shortened 2015 Petit Le Mans.
“Clinching the first overall victory for Porsche at Petit Le Mans in 2015 and the first-ever win for a GT car at this classic will always be one of the milestones of my career,” Tandy said.
“By returning with the new 911 RSR, I’ve now fulfilled one of my greatest wishes.”