Algarve Pro Racing confirms that Simon Trummer will be substituted by former Champion Andrea Pizzitola in the 2020 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) 4 Hours of Le Castellet (17-19 July).

Trummer was announced as part of Algarve Pro’s 2020 ELMS line-up on Tuesday (23 June) and was scheduled to join teammates John Falb and Gabriel Aubry in the #25 ORECA 07 LMP2 from the outset of the season at Circuit Paul Ricard.

However, a scheduling conflict has forced the French racer to temporarily step aside; Trummer signed up for a bi-continental programme encompassing the ELMS and United SportsCar Championship, and he is committed to the latter because series organiser IMSA was first to confirm its revised, post-COVID-19 calendar.

As a result, Pizzitola has been drafted in for the ELMS curtain-raiser in the South of France. The former ELMS Champion is something of an Algarve Pro stalwart, as he has contested three European seasons, a brace of Asian campaigns and two 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Portuguese team.

He notably helped Algarve Pro to the 2016-17 Asian Le Mans Series title and the runner-up spot in 2018-19, and he will return to the fold for a one-off outing in the opening round of the delayed and truncated 2020 ELMS season at Circuit Paul Ricard (17-19 July).

“I’m so happy to have an opportunity to get back into a racing car with Algarve Pro Racing,” said Pizzitola. “I know John (Falb) well, having competed alongside him last year, and I raced against Gabriel (Aubry) in formula cars. John is by far the quickest Am driver on the grid who made a huge improvement in 2019 – to be only one second off the Pros in an LMP2 car is amazing – and I know Gabriel has a lot of pace too. With this line-up we should be capable of a podium, and Algarve Pro Racing’s new technical partnership with Goodyear can only be positive.”

Algarve Pro Racing Team Principal, Stewart Cox, said: “We’re disappointed for Simon (Trummer), but are pleased to welcome Andrea (Pizzitola) back to Algarve Pro Racing, albeit for a one-off race in Le Castellet. He’s a known quantity and highly respected within the team, as his pace is incredible and he’s a safe pair of hands. With our technical partnership with Goodyear, our new association with B.R.M Chronographes and a top driver line-up, these are exciting times for Algarve Pro, and I think we have to realistically target the podium at Circuit Paul Ricard.”