Andrade had a stellar 2021 season, collecting 2 wins 9 podiums, and a European Championship title in his first year in sports cars. The 22-year-old also made his FIA WEC debut in the 6H of Spa and entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the first-ever Angolan.
In 2022, Andrade takes it up a notch, joining reigning FIA WEC LMP2 champions REALTEAM by WRT in the #41 Oreca 07 LMP2 car for the Belgian squad’s title defense in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the pinnacle of sports car racing.
Rui Andrade:
“I am extremely happy to join REALTEAM by WRT for the full 2022 FIA WEC season. Stepping up to World Championship level has been a dream of mine and what better way to do it than joining the reigning LMP2 Champions and Le Mans winners. I am proud to represent my home country, Angola, at the highest level of sports car racing.”
The news comes after the announcement regarding Rui’s full-season entry to the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, which means that the Angolan youngster will have to squeeze 110 hours worth of endurance racing into his 2022 calendar.
As a result of his double campaign, Rui will face the biggest challenge of his career so far, as he will race in two cars simultaneously during ‘’Super Sebring” having to split his attention between the 1000 Miles of Sebring and the 12H of Sebring.
“It’s an incredible opportunity, being able to run a campaign like this,” – Andrade said. “For sure, Sebring will be challenging as I have never experienced anything like this before, but I am more than ready for it. I am very grateful to my sponsors Sonangol and Banco BAI for their support. I can’t wait for the season to start.”
| The 2022 FIA WEC season gets underway on March 16-18 at the Sebring Raceway in the USA. |
