Jarvis to Not Defend IMSA Title With Meyer Shank

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Oliver Jarvis will not defend his top-class prototype title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year, with the Englishman having confirmed his departure from Meyer Shank Racing.

The 38-year-old teamed with Tom Blomqvist to win the DPi championship in MSR’s Acura ARX-05, which included key victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans.

A return to the Ohio-based team for the first year of the IMSA GTP class did not materialize after Jarvis signed a full-season FIA World Endurance Championship deal with LMP2 squad United Autosports.

There are two date clashes between the WeatherTech Championship and WEC next year, which is understood to have led to Jarvis prioritizing his WEC program, which was signed earlier this year.

“When I originally set out with Mike [Shank] we set out to try and improve the competitiveness of the team,” Jarvis told Sportscar365. “I think they had a very difficult 2021.

“We went out and won Daytona and then won the championship.

“All in all we achieved everything we set out to; it was a great year. Unfortunately it’s not going to happen for next year.

“I’ve committed here to do WEC with United and I think he’s obviously taking his own direction. I’m not even sure he knows what’s he’s doing quite yet.

“I’m happy with how it all turned out. I really enjoyed my time with Tom and the team and I wish them all the best for the future.”

Jarvis and Blomqvist will continue as co-drivers next year at the wheel of United’s Oreca 07 Gibson alongside Silver-rated co-driver Josh Pierson, with Blomqvist being brought in to replace Alex Lynn, who will race for Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing in the Hypercar class.

“It’s great to be able to keep the continuity with myself and Josh and stay with United,” Jarvis said.

“To bring Tom on board, unfortunately Alex couldn’t do it as he’s already committed to WEC.

“Tom and I get on, we know each other and have very similar driving styles.

“Hopefully it’s a seamless transition and I think we should be very competitive. As always in WEC or IMSA, the whole field is full of top-level drivers. It’s never going to be easy.”

The ex-factory Mazda driver said he hasn’t ruled out contesting the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds of the WeatherTech Championship next year but said it has to be the “right opportunity” in order to pull the trigger on such a program.

He confirmed that his contract with United allows him to contest the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring alongside the 1000 Miles of Sebring on the same weekend.

“I’m going to keep my eye open but it also has to also be the right opportunity,” he said. “After winning the championship it needs to make sense.

“Certainly I’m going to miss not being there full-time. I’ve got a lot of fond memories in IMSA and I’ve really enjoyed my time there.

“It’s been an incredible five years but I’ve now moved more so into WEC and I’m really enjoying that.”

Jarvis added that he’s aiming to eventually return to top-class prototype racing full-time in the future, amid the arrival of additional manufacturer and customer efforts with the platform in both WEC and the WeatherTech Championship.

“I’m constantly looking at LMDh and opportunities available,” he said. “The category is just going from strength to strength at the moment.

“I’d like to see myself in a LMDh car in the future. We’ll have to see when and how that comes about but I’m very happy with where I’ve ended up and the program I’ll have next year.”

Sportscar365 understands that there are multiple drivers in the running for MSR’s second full season seat alongside Blomqvist, with a final decision not yet having been taken.

The team recently confirmed that it has retained both Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud for the Endurance Cup and Rolex 24, respectively.

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