JOTA Confirm 2023 WEC LMP2 Trio

2022 FIA World Endurance LMP2 Championship winners, JOTA have confirmed the driver line-up for their single car LMP2 title defence with the team set to field one ORECA 07 alongside the planned entry into Hypercar with a Porsche 963 as Hertz Team Jota.

Pietro Fittipaldi, Oliver Rasmussen and David Heinemeier Hansson will combine in JOTA’s #28 Oreca Gibson, a strong trio, all with high-level endurance racing success.

Pietro Fittipaldi has already accrued significant experience in almost every form of professional motorsport ranging from a variety of junior single-seater championships to Indycar and Formula One where he has tested and raced recently for the Haas team.

Fittipaldi partnered David Heinemeier Hansson in the European Le Mans Series last season where they finished the year strongly with a second place at Spa in the similar Oreca from Inter Europol Competition.

Heinemeier Hansson returns to JOTA after competing in some of the 2018-19 WEC season alongside then teammates Jordan King and Will Stevens. They scored a memorable class win at the 1000 Miles of Sebring and also featured strongly at the Spa round.

David, known almost universally to fans and paddock alike as ‘DHH’ took the WEC LMGTE Am title and Le Mans victory in 2014 with Aston Martin

Oliver Rasmussen made his sportscar debut last season in the #28 JOTA entry that he shared with Jonathan Aberdein and Ed Jones. Taking a fine third in LMP2 at Le Mans and the same position at the 6 Hours of Fuji, the Dane was one of the rookies of the season in 2023.

Prior to his sportscar career taking flight, Oliver was a multiple winner on the junior single- seater scene, winning five races in the 2020 Formula Regional European Championship.

JOTA’s 2022 WEC title triumph came when Antonio Felix da Costa, Roberto Gonzalez and Will Stevens took the crown after an incredibly successful campaign. It was one that reaped a win at Le Mans and then five podium finishes that saw the trio take the title by a conclusive 21 point margin.

The 2022 Le Mans class win was JOTA’s third victory in the world’s greatest race in nine years. It added to seven other podium visits in that time period.

The 2023 FIA WEC kick-off with the 1000 Miles of Sebring which will take place on Friday 17 March. The 100th anniversary running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is scheduled for 10-11 June.

Sam Hignett, David Clark – JOTA Owners

“We are thrilled to have David, Oliver and Pietro driving for us in our defence of the LMP2 Teams FIA Endurance Trophy.

“Oliver impressed us all year long last year with his speed and consistency, David is no stranger to the team and has proved his winning pace with us in 2019 and to have someone of Pietro’s talent completing the line-up is super exciting.

“We have a Championship to defend in 2023 and are confident with these 3 piloting the #28.”

Pietro Fittipaldi:

“I’m very happy for the opportunity to be racing with JOTA in the 2023 WEC season.

“They are an extremely successful team and have a lot of experience in endurance racing so it’s an amazing opportunity to be working with them.

“I’ll be racing alongside David, who I already know from the past season where we raced together in ELMS. We already have a lot of great racing chemistry together and having Oliver in the team means there is also some great additional and recent experience with the team. I think we’re going to be able to bond very quickly because of that and I can’t wait to get started very soon.”

David Heinemeier Hanson:

“It’s a treat to be back with JOTA for a full season of WEC.

“We won the WEC Sebring race together back in 2019, so I know what we’re capable of achieving together. With this line-up that includes both the continuity of driving again with Pietro and adding one of the most promising young Danish drivers in Oliver, it’s hard to wish for more.

“The level of competition has been incredible in LMP2 in the last few years, but if ever there was a combination of talent, team, and determination to get back on the podium, this is it. Can’t wait to get started.”

Oliver Rasmussen:

“I’m just so excited to be able to say I’m going to be racing with JOTA again in 2023.

“After our 2022 campaign I just can’t thank them enough to be able to have this opportunity and race with them again in 2023.

“I’m super pumped about the fact that I can now build on our previous successful campaign.

“It’s also really amazing to be able to join Pietro and David in the car. I think we have a hell of a team for 2023.

“Finally, I just want to thank everyone at JOTA, especially David (Clark), Sam (Hignett) and all my sponsors and management to be able to get to this point.”