Mazda Confirms 2020 DPi Driver Lineup

Mazda has announced its driver lineup for the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with all four of last year’s full-season drivers returning for another season.

The manufacturer will again field two Mazda RT24-P DPi cars to be driven full-time by Oliver Jarvis, Tristan Nunez, Jonathan Bomarito and Harry Tincknell.

Jarvis and Nunez, who finished fifth in the 2019 DPi standings as the best Mazda duo, will be joined by Olivier Pla for the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.

Bomarito and Tincknell, meanwhile, will contest the Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta enduros with 2012 IndyCar champion Ryan-Hunter Reay, as previously reported by Sportscar365.

The 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner, who effectively replaces Timo Bernhard in the lineup, is testing with the team during this weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 event.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Mazda Team Joest for the 2020 IMSA endurance races,” said Hunter-Reay

“I filled in for Harry at Mid-Ohio last year, teaming up with my buddy Jonathan Bomarito, and from the first practice I knew the car really suited my driving style.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with the whole team – it’s a first-class effort all around. We capped off the weekend with a double-podium for Mazda and I’ve been eager to get back in the RT24-P ever since.”

Mazda Motorsports director Nelson Cosgrove suggested that 2020 is “the year that Mazda Team Joest contends for an IMSA championship”.

The team claimed its long-awaited first DPi victory at Watkins Glen last year and went on to achieve further wins at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Road America.

“It’s a great honor to lead this program into its fourth season, and this is the season that I think will be pivotal for Mazda Team Joest,” said Cosgrove.

“The program’s first season was clearly a learning year, while last year the program learned how to become a race winner. 2020 is the year that Mazda Team Joest contends for an IMSA championship.

“The pieces are already in place with one of the strongest driver lineups in the championship and a car, engine and technical package that has a lot of potential left in it after winning three times last season.”

Mazda has yet to disclose whether the program will run under the Joest banner for the full season or change names once the German squad’s contract expires following the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.