Albuquerque Returns to Jota Sport for 2015

Filipe Albuquerque will return to Jota Sport for a second season in the European Le Mans Series, after finishing second in the championship last year.

The Portuguese driver will share the updated, rebranded Gibson 015S with Simon Dolan for the full five-race ELMS season.

A replacement for the departed Harry Tincknell will be named in March.

Jota will also look to fill Albuquerque’s seat at the Spa and Le Mans FIA World Endurance Championship rounds where Albuquerque will be in the third Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

“I am very happy to be returning to race for Jota Sport in 2015 in addition to my Audi Sport factory commitments,” Albuquerque said. “After last season, I now know all of the Jota team very well which will immediately help from the opening race.

“I am delighted to return to ELMS having just missed out on winning the title with Simon and Harry Tincknell last year.

“The championship gets more competitive every year and I think 2015 will be even tougher, in terms of both cars and drivers, because teams are raising the level. But I am sure that we as a team will be even stronger.

Albuquerque and Dolan recently tested the Gibson at Estoril in Portugal, as the car now features aerodynamic, safety and serviceability updates to the cost-capped open-top prototype that have been made over the winter. Weather affected the running, though.

“We were very unlucky with the weather at a Dunlop test at Estoril earlier this month,” Albuquerque said. “It mostly rained on both days and we only managed a few laps in damp conditions.

“There is great potential with the revised Gibson but there is still a lot of work to be done.”