Iron Lynx overhauls FIA WEC line-up for No. 60 Mercedes

Iron Lynx’s No. 60 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 EVO is set to race with an entirely new driver line-up in the FIA WEC from the Le Mans 24 Hours onwards.

This surprise re-shuffle ahead of race week at La Sarthe from the Italian team sees Andrew Gilbert and Lorcan Hanafin of Great Britain, and Fran Rueda of Spain, take up the reins in the car for their Le Mans and WEC debuts, replacing the previous line-up that was built around Claudio Schiavoni.

Schiavoni has been out of action since suffering a back injury before the second round of the European Le Mans Series season at Paul Ricard, and was scheduled to miss the upcoming WEC 6 Hours of Saõ Paulo.

In order to provide stability for the team and to allow for a full recovery, the 64-year-old Italian has elected to step out of the No. 60 Mercedes-AMG for the rest of the season. As a consequence, co-drivers Matteo Cressoni and Matteo Cairoli have also stepped aside.

"We want to welcome Andrew, Fran and Lorcan to our FIA WEC team,” said Iron Lynx team principal and CEO Andrea Piccini.

“We are looking forward to working with them at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and for the final part of the season. I think they will merge very quickly with the team, and we hope to give them the best Le Mans debut experience. 

"On the other hand, we are very grateful to Claudio for allowing us to seek stability for the final part of the year with a consistent driver line-up. We hope to see him return to the track as soon as possible and to have him supporting us in Le Mans. We think consistency will be beneficial both to end the season in a solid fashion, and to prepare for 2026."

All three new drivers for the No. 60 Mercedes-AMG have prior experience around the Circuit de la Sarthe, having driven in the Michelin Le Mans Cup Road to Le Mans events. They have also been racing in this year's European Le Mans Series LMGT3 category.

"It has always been my dream and goal to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and I cannot believe it is going to happen this year," said Gilbert, the new Bronze driver of the No. 60 Mercedes-AMG, who has spent this season driving in the ELMS for Kessel Racing. 

"It all happened really quickly. I am super excited to be joining the Iron Lynx team for the great race and to complete the FIA WEC season with them. It is also special that I get to do this with Fran, who has been with me since the start of my racing journey."

His co-driver Rueda added: "Joining Iron Lynx to compete in FIA WEC and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving the No. 60 Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Andrew Gilbert, is a dream come true for me. I have admired this team for years, and to now be part of this journey, fighting for one of the biggest races in the world, means everything to me. I’m ready to give it my all."

Hanafin, meanwhile, has already driven for Iron Lynx this season, sharing the ELMS No. 63 Mercedes-AMG with Martin Berry – who will drive the No. 61 car at Le Mans - and Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver, Fabian Schiller. The trio recently finished second at Paul Ricard.

"I am incredibly honored to be joining Iron Lynx for Le Mans and for the remainder of the 2025 WEC season," said the young English driver. "Alongside Andy and Fran, we are looking to build on the fantastic progress the team has already made from Qatar and keep aiming high!"