JOTA Aiming to Be “Thorn in the Side” of Factory Teams

Photo: John Dagys

Hertz Team JOTA is aiming to be a “thorn in the side” of the manufacturers according to team co-owner Sam Hignett, who said the addition of a second Hypercar entry will “double” their rate of learning over FIA World Endurance Championship weekends.

The British squad has expanded to field a second customer Porsche 963, with 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button joining alongside Phil Hanson and Oliver Rasmussen in the No. 38 entry and the returning Will Stevens teaming up with Callum Ilott and Norman Nato in the No. 12 car.

It will mark JOTA’s first full season campaign with the 963 after debuting at the third round of the 2023 season at Spa-Francorchamps.

“Speaking to the guys, we’re probably the best prepared we’ve ever been for the start of a WEC season,” Hignett told Sportscar365.

“We’ve effectively got a new program, if that make sense, in going to the two cars.

“You can’t underestimate the jump that’s needed to go from one Hypercar to two Hypercars.

“But I think we’re in a great position thanks to having the time to get the deals done, the suppliers being up to speed.

“For a private effort, I think we’re in as good of shape as we can be.”

Despite having run a LMP2 car in parallel to its single-car Hypercar effort last year, Hignett revealed that the two-car Hypercar effort results in a slight staff reduction due to the WEC’s operational staff limit of 21 crew per LMDh-based Hypercar entry.

“It’s a crew reduction because of staff limits,” Hignett said. “The reality is there are some new faces and things like that.

“Because of the staff limit, we’ll probably only see it mathematically at Le Mans because when it was the open thing in LMP2, you threw everything at it at Le Mans and now we can’t do that.

“In these shorter races, there’s probably one or two more people but at Le Mans, where as we would have ramped up by ten to go, we’re ramped down by six now.”

While Stevens is the only returning driver to the Hypercar team, Hignett said he was pleased at how everything came into place despite some initial hurdles.

“Norman’s been a great friend of the team for years and years and does an amazing job,” he said. “He was a shoe-in for when Antonio [Felix da Costa] wasn’t allowed [to race in the WEC] anymore. That was the obvious one.

“Then when the yellow car stole the other driver, which was interesting, it was just great timing.

“Literally the morning I got that email, I had Callum’s manager ring me and say, ‘I’m not sure the IndyCar seat is going to be there. What’ve you got?’

“Within a week, it was done. It’s lovely to being Callum over to this and give him a good shot at this.

“The other car, I think it’s really strong. Oliver has been with us since he started his sports car [racing career]. Phil, we’ve watched for the last six years and have seen him grow as a driver. He had a staggering run of pole positions last year.

“Jenson is Jenson. He brings a lovely level of confidence, maturity and experience to the team.”

When asked about the team’s expectations, Hignett referenced the strength of a two-car team.

“It should double our rate of learning during the FP sessions and things like that,” he said. “The expectation is to be the thorn in the side of the manufacturers.

“That’s what we’re here to do. Let’s see where we get with that.”

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