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Maldonado tipped for WEC debut with Manor in Mexico

Pastor Maldonado could compete in the World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Mexico next month, according to confirmed driver Alfonso Toledano.

Pastor Maldonado

Pastor Maldonado

XPB Images

#44 Manor Oreca 05 - Nissan: Tor Graves, Antonio Pizzonia, Matthew Howson
#44 Manor Oreca 05 - Nissan: Tor Graves, Antonio Pizzonia, Matthew Howson
#44 Manor Oreca 05 - Nissan: Tor Graves, Antonio Pizzonia, Matthew Howson
#45 Manor Oreca 05 - Nissan: Matthew Rao, Richard Bradley, Roberto Merhi
#44 Manor Oreca 05 - Nissan: Tor Graves, Antonio Pizzonia, Matthew Howson

During the presentation of the event to be held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexican driver Toledano, who joins Tor Graves in the #44 Manor Oreca 05-Nissan, said ex-Formula 1 driver Maldonado may be the car's third driver.

"We are waiting to confirm the third driver," said Toledano, who will be making his WEC debut. "Pastor Maldonado could be. Now, the team does not have a decision so we need to wait."

Maldonado lost his Renault F1 ride for 2016 after difficulties with sponsors, and has been looking at options in various series.

The winner of the 2012 Spanish GP was initially linked to the Andretti-Herta IndyCar seat that was eventually claimed by fellow F1 outcast Alexander Rossi, and more recently, Maldonado visited the Iowa IndyCar race as guest of KV Racing.

For his part, Ricardo Gonzalez, promoter of the event and owner/driver of RGR Sport team in the LMP2 division, confirmed that there is a seat available to race in Mexico.

"We know there is still a place in the team," said Gonzalez. "We do not know who will occupy it, but we've heard that it can be an experienced driver from Formula 1."

The other option for Manor is Antonio Pizzonia, who raced for Manor at the Nurburgring along with Matt Howson.

The Brazilian, who raced in F1 from 2003 to ’05 for Jaguar and Williams, also competed at the previous iteration of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, while racing in Champ Car for Rocketsports in 2006.

The #45 Manor will be driven by the usual line-up of Matt Rao, Roberto Merhi and Richard Bradley.

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