Jota boss open to future LMP1 privateer move
Jota Sport hasn’t ruled out a move into the privateer LMP1 division of the Le Mans 24 Hours future, having made history by getting both of its LMP2 cars onto the overall podium in this year’s race.
Photo by: Tom Haapanen
British team Jota runs and operates the two Oreca 07s entered by Jackie Chan DC Racing in this year's FIA World Endurance Championship, which both finished on the overall podium at La Sarthe.
Its #38 car of Oliver Jarvis, Ho-Pin Tung and Thomas Laurent led much of the race overall after myriad problems hit the factory LMP1 field, and it eventually finished second overall – the highest ever finish for an LMP2 entrant.
The sister #37 car of Alex Brundle, David Cheng and Tristan Gommendy was elevated to third overall - and second in class - after the disqualification of the #13 Rebellion for a bodywork infringement.
While increasing speculation surrounds the future of the manufacturer-dominated LMP1-Hybrid category, the privateer division of the top class is set for a boost in numbers in 2018.
Potential WEC entries from Ginetta, BR Engineering/Dallara and PERRINN have all been announced to join the sole privateer LMP1 car currently entered in the series, the ByKolles ENSO CLM.
Jota boss Sam Hignett told Motorsport.com said he was watching the future growth of the class closely, but expressed scepticism about some of the promised entries materialising.
"We’re very interested in P1 as a privateer formula, but it needs to actually exist in the first instance," said Hignett. “There’s lots of talk so far.
"There’s BR and Dallara, but we’ve not seen much more than a photo of a handshake so far.
"Fair play to Ginetta and Lawrence [Tomlinson, owner] because they’re doing it and it’s real and it’s happening. And like he did with LMP3, that could be the catalyst that makes it all come together and work.
"But we are interested and we are watching with anticipation to see what happens.”
Jota last ran in the top class of the Le Mans 24 Hours when it operated the Charouz Racing Lola-Judd LMP1 entry in 2008 (pictured above), and has been a continuous presence in the LMP2 class since 2012.
It previously won its class in the 2014 edition (pictured below) before adding a second triumph this year.
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