Successful Jota Sport team to run ORECA 05 in 2016!
It is a new team, amongst the leaders in the LM P2 class, that has decided to go with the ORECA 05! After KCMG and Thiriet by TDS Racing in 2015, as well as Dragon Speed next year, JOTA Sport, 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours winner in LM P2 and current leader in the European Le Mans Series, has indeed opted for the prototype designed and manufactured by ORECA Technology. The ambitious British squad, founded by driver Simon Dolan, will enter the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship.
Created in 2007, JOTA Sport has become one of endurance’s key players, particularly in the LM P2 class. In addition to a success and a fifth place overall in the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours, JOTA Sport has also often stood out in the European Le Mans Series winning at Silverstone in 2013, at Imola in 2014 as well as at the Red Bull Ring this season. Runner-up last year – the English squad is currently leading the Team classification – it ranked second in Le Mans just behind… KCMG’s ORECA 05.
“Simon Dolan, Sam Hignett and David Clark have quickly established JOTA Sport as a reference in motorsport and so I’m very proud to announce that the team will run an ORECA 05 in 2016” says Hugues de Chaunac, Group ORECA’s President. “We know JOTA Sport’s strengths quite well since we’ve competed against them in the ELMS and Le Mans 24 Hours, including this season. It’s a strong, high quality team which is always fighting for victory. To work with such a squad, for us as a manufacturer, is very exciting. I’ve had discussions with JOTA in the past and I’m happy these have now turned into a great project. We’re looking forward to taking up interesting challenges together and I’m convinced that the JOTA Sport and ORECA 05 combination will impress.”
“I am obviously very excited for JOTA Sport to be competing in the 2016 WEC” adds Simon Dolan, Partner, JOTA Group. “We have proven over the last three years with our WEC wins at Le Mans and Spa that we will be immediately fighting for race wins while the LM P2 championship title is definitely our aim and within our grasp. We have been looking very closely at various chassis’ and I’m delighted to announce our partnership with ORECA. We have been very impressed with the 05 having raced against one all season in both WEC and ELMS races. It was quick straight out of the box and just as importantly, has shown remarkable reliability. I am confident that we have chosen the best chassis for 2016 and beyond in to the new regulations.”
Following on a first run early March, the new ORECA 05 LM P2 has quickly demonstrated its qualities, clinching its first win in May, at Imola, with the French team Thiriet by TDS Racing. On its first entry the car got both the pole position and a convincing success in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Hong-Kong-based team KCMG, first private Asian squad to win in La Sarthe. Recently, KCMG repeated that performance and won the 6 Hours of Nürburgring. Just like the American team Dragon Speed which has selected the ORECA 05 for its programme at the 12 Hours of Sebring and as part of the ELMS next year, JOTA Sport has gone for ORECA Technology’s prototype.
Competing in LM P2 since 2011, with a total of 26 wins, ORECA is one of the four manufacturers to have been selected by the FIA, ACO and IMSA to supply that class from 2017 to 2020.