Emil Frey Confirms Ortelli, Adds Second Jaguar for Spa 24

Emil Frey Racing has confirmed Stéphane Ortelli for its 2016 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup program, which will see the Swiss Jaguar move up to the Pro Cup.

Ortelli already tested the privately-developed Jaguar during the official Blancpain GT Series test days at Paul Ricard earlier this month.

The former Le Mans winner and triple FIA GT World Champion will join Emil Frey team manager Lorenz Frey and new signing Albert Costa in the Pro Cup.

Costa won the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and the Formula Renault WEC 2.0 in 2009, and went on the clinch the Eurocup Mégane Trophy in 2012.

“As the youngest team in the fiercely competitive Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup’s PRO Category, we’re clearly still outsiders,” commented Lorenz Frey.

“All the same, with the help of Stephane’s and Albert’s experience and performance, we hope to chalk up some more great results. That’s one of the reasons we’re venturing our move up from PRO-AM to the PRO Category.”

For the first time, Emil Frey will enter a second Jaguar; the car will race in the Paul Ricard (6h) and Total 24 Hours of Spa with a yet-to-be announced lineup.

Former driver and member of the project management, Fredy Barth has decided to leave the team, while former Toro Rosso Formula 1 racing engineer Graziano Michelacci reinforces the Swiss squad.

“For us, it’ll be David against Goliath,” said technical director Jürg Flach. “We’re sometimes the last private team to get a self-developed vehicle to the starting line.”