Shakeup in Manor Driver Lineup for 24H Le Mans

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Manor has adjusted its driver lineup for next month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Matt Rao set to replace James Jakes at the wheel of the team’s solo Oreca 05 Nissan in the race.

Rao, who has been piloting the British squad’s No. 45 entry alongside Richard Bradley and Roberto Merhi, will move over to the No. 44 Oreca Nissan with Will Stevens and Tor Graves.

It is the only Manor car entered for Le Mans, due to the team’s late expansion to a two-car FIA World Endurance Championship effort.

Defending LMP2 class winner Bradley, meanwhile, will return to KCMG for Le Mans, leaving Jakes and Merhi as the only Manor WEC drivers without a ride for the French endurance classic.

The team is coming off its first podium finish in WEC competition earlier this month at Spa, with Bradley, Rao and Merhi finishing third in the LMP2 class.

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