G-Drive Racing and Nathanael Berthon have parted company ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans later this month.
Berthon joined G-Drive for the full FIA World Endurance Championship season at the beginning of the year, aiding the team to a third place finish at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in April.
Berthon finished fifth at Spa last time out alongside Rene Rast and Roman Rusinov in the no. 26 ORECA-Nissan LMP2 car, but has now left the team with immediate effect.
"I would like to thanks Nathanael for his efforts with the team in 2016,” G-Drive Racing’s David Clark said in a statement.
“We achieved two solid results in the first races at Silverstone and Spa and he showed he can be part of a front running team and we wish him every success in the future."
Berthon had been listed on the entry list for Le Mans, and was due to take part in the first test day ahead of the race on Sunday.
In a subsequent statement, G-Drive confirmed that ex-Formula 1 driver Will Stevens will race in place of Berthon at Le Mans after being drafted in from Manor.
"“The offer to join G-Drive specifically for Le Mans and share the car with Rene and Roman was compelling," Stevens said.
"My partnership with Rene at WRT Audi is working well and with his and Roman’s experience in this race, it offered me a race winning opportunity which I’m pleased to accept.
"I’m grateful to the Manor WEC Team for releasing me for this occasion and we will continue to work together for the remainder of their first season in endurance racing.
"I’m very much looking forward to my first 24-hour race within this line-up and am very grateful to G-Drive for the opportunity. I’m enjoying the whole endurance racing scene and no doubt my first Le Mans will be a special event in my career."
Manor has drafted in Roberto Merhi to replace Stevens, having only entered one car to Le Mans despite running two for the remainder of the WEC season. He will race alongside Matt Rao and Tor Graves.
"I am very excited to be taking part in this great race that has so much history," Merhi said.
"I am really looking forward to racing with Matt and Tor and seeing what we can achieve together. I would like to thank the team for this amazing opportunity."
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