Bullet Athlete Rui Andrade will fly the Angolan flag in the FIA World Endurance Championship, extending his contract for one more year with Team WRT.
Rui debuted in the FIA WEC in 2021 for a partial campaign. For the 2022 season, he joined Team WRT for a full-season entry, and it was a great success.
He started the season with a podium finish at Sebring, followed by another podium at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps, but the absolute highlight of the season came in Monza, where Rui scored his maiden FIA WEC victory, becoming the first Angolan to win a race at World Championship level.
The 2023 FIA WEC season will see the start of a new golden era in sports car history, with some of the biggest and most renowned car manufacturers joining the championship with their Hypercars, including Ferrari, Porsche, Peugeot and Cadillac, while BMW, Lamborghini and Alpine are set to join in 2024.
The season will commence on March 11-12 with the official Pre-Season test at Sebring (USA) followed by the season opener thousand-mile race on March 17. Then the championship moves to Europe, visiting some of the most iconic tracks in the world, including Le Mans in June, for the centenary of the greatest motor race in the world. The final leg of the season will take place on the Asian continent.
Rui Andrade:
“If it ain’t broke, why fix it? I really enjoyed my first season with WRT, and I am extremely happy to continue the work we started last year. They are more than a team, they are like a family, and we enjoyed some amazing moments together. We have everything we need to be at the front, and I am really excited to return to Le Mans. I am grateful to my partners, Sonangol, WRS and to Bullet, for their continuous support, allowing me to follow my dreams. I can’t wait to get going!”
Jamie Campbell-Walter, Managing Director, Bullet Sports Management:
“We are delighted to continue our work together with Team WRT for another season. They are one of the most successful teams in the paddock, providing Rui with the perfect environment to learn and grow. His first year with them went exceptionally well, so it was a no-brainer to stay for 2023, aiming for even better results, building on the experience he gained.”
2023 FIA WEC Calendar:
17 March – 1000 Miles of Sebring (USA)
16 April – 6 Hours of Portimão (POR)
29 April – 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)
10-11 June – 24 – 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA)
9 July – 6 Hours of Monza (ITA)
10 September – 6 Hours of Fuji (JPN)
4 November – 8 Hours of Bahrain (BAH)