Jarvis to Fill in for Di Resta at 6H Fuji

Photo: MPS Agency

Oliver Jarvis will make his first main season FIA World Endurance Championship start in two years at the 6 Hours of Fuji in October, replacing Paul Di Resta at United Autosports.

The former Audi factory driver, whose current programs include the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Mazda Team Joest, will co-drive United’s Oreca 07 Gibson with Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque.

Full-season driver Di Resta’s DTM commitments with R-Motorsport will take priority on the weekend of Oct. 5-6, forcing the Scot to miss the second WEC race of the season.

Jarvis competed in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans with Risi Competizione but his last main season WEC start came almost two years ago at Bahrain as the end of his full 2017 campaign with Jackie Chan DC Racing.

“I am delighted to be racing with United Autosports in the Fuji WEC race and whilst it will be the first time for me at United, I feel like I already know the team having raced for Richard Dean at JLR in the 2003 Formula Ford Festival,” said Jarvis.

“It will be a pleasure to be reunited with Richard and of course Flower [Paul Haigh], after so many years.

“Having watched the team closely over the years and seeing the extremely professional job they have done and now with the move into the WEC with the Oreca chassis I have no doubt they will be one of the favourites for the championship.

“I am really looking forward to teaming up with Phil and Filipe who I know extremely well, having been team mates with him at Audi.”

The Fuji date no longer clashes with Motul Petit Le Mans, having been moved a week earlier, allowing Jarvis and several other drivers to compete in the WeatherTech Championship finale after Fuji.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.