Jota Sport sign multi-year Aston Martin Racing agreement
The Kent-based squad, which was formed in 2008 as a new division of the highly established and successful British sportscar racing outfit, Team Jota, has successfully raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, SPEED Series and European VdeV Championships in recent seasons.
The team will take immediate delivery of an Aston Martin GT4, which it will race in this year’s Spa and Silverstone 24 Hours, and will then represent AMR in the GT2 category of the Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hours, subject to invitation by the ACO, with an Aston Martin Vantage GT2 in 2011.
Jota Sport will continue running GT2 and GT4 programs into 2012 and beyond under the terms of the agreement and, subject to Aston Martin Racing’s decision on its long term LMP1 strategy, potentially graduate to the LMP1 class.
The news is part of the team’s overall plan to create a ladder to top-level sportscar racing for members of ‘The Drivers Club’, its bespoke racing driver training program.
The Drivers Club ‘pupil’, Simon Dolan, who currently races with the team in the SPEED and VdeV series, will drive the GT4 and GT2 cars over the next three years and will be joined by official AMR Factory Driver Sam Hancock.
Sam Hignett, Team Principal, Jota Sport: “Everyone at Jota Sport is delighted to have become an AMR Official Partner Team and we’re looking forward to a long-term future working closely with Aston Martin Racing. Team Jota has vast experience of sportscar racing and at the Le Mans 24 Hours while Jota Sport has proved to be a race-winning outfit in every series it has entered. We believe that will continue in the coming years with AMR and we’re relishing the challenges ahead."
Sam Hancock, Co-owner, Jota Sport: “Since we formed Jota Sport two years ago our aim has been to build a team capable of running multiple international racing programs. We are now set to realize that ambition with one of the world’s most prestigious manufacturers, which is incredibly exciting news for the team. The agreement also gives us the chance to provide a route to pinnacle of sportscar racing for members of The Drivers Club."
Tony Schulp, Aston Martin Racing commercial director: “Jota is an up and coming team which has already proved its racing credentials. With their drive and ambition they are a perfect partner for Aston Martin Racing and will represent the marque professionally in race series across Europe."