Bertolini Headlines JMW Ferrari ELMS Lineup

Photo: JMW Motorsport

Ferrari factory driver Andrea Bertolini will take part in this year’s European Le Mans Series with JMW Motorsport, having been placed with the British team for the European Le Mans Series.

The reigning FIA World Endurance Championship GTE-Am champion will join Rob Smith and Scottish rising star Rory Butcher in the team’s Ferrari F458 Italia GT in the six-round championship, which kicks off at Silverstone later this month.

Bertolini, who has been a longtime driver with the SMP Racing team, was left without a full-season ride following the downsizing of the Russian squad’s GT racing program for 2016.

For 29-year-old Butcher, it marks a return to the Jim McWhirter-led JMW squad after driving in the final two rounds of the 2015 season alongside Smith.

“My experiences last year in ELMS were fantastic, so I’m very excited to be back,” Butcher said.

“We had a really strong result at Paul Ricard, where we came through to get a podium, then in Estoril we led from Lap One and were on our way for at least a podium and potentially a victory.”

The team is coming off an encouraging pre-season test at Paul Ricard, having posted the third quickest time in the GTE class.

JMW is currently the first reserve entrant for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, following the withdrawal of Greaves Motorsport and promotion of Algarve Pro Racing to a confirmed entry.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John