Photo by: Christopher Grey
James Walker has been signed up to race Ferrari's brand new GT car, the Ferrari 458, in the 2011 Le Mans Series. He will line-up with double Le Mans Series GT2 Champion, Rob Bell, in the JMW Motorsport Ferrari when the season kicks off at Paul Ricard in France on 3rd April.
The Le Mans Series is a season of five 1000km sportscar races. The competition is fierce and there is a lot at stake as the top finishers receive an automatic entry into the following year's Le Mans 24 Hours.
"I can't wait for the 2011 season to start now," said James. "The switch to sportscars has come at a great time for me. I had a taste of it at Daytona and I know it's the direction I want my career to take. This switch opens up a whole new world of racing that ultimately will include big events like the Le Mans 24 Hours and I'm hugely excited about it all."
James will be racing in the LM GTE Pro class. This is the top GT class where Ferraris go head to head with Porsches and Aston Martins and big name drivers, including ex-F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella. JMW Motorsport is already a championship-winning team so James is in the best place for Le Mans Series success.
"I've followed JMW Motorsport's progress over the last few years and I am very impressed," said James. "It will be an honour to drive for them this year and also great to team up with Rob Bell. I got to know him a bit better at Daytona this year and I can already see that we will have a great working partnership."
"The new Ferrari 458 will be a fantastic car to drive and I can't wait until I get to drive it for the first time," he continued. "This is going to be a very important year for me, as I know we will have the package at JMW Motorsport, along with Ferrari and Dunlop, to challenge for the Le Mans Series championship."
The first race of the 2011 Le Mans Series takes place at Paul Ricard on 3 April. This is followed by races at Spa in May, Imola in July, a UK round at Silverstone in September and then the season finale at Estoril later that month.
-source: james walker motorsport
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