Fittipaldi, Heinemeier Hansson Join JOTA LMP2 Program

Pietro Fittipaldi and David Heinemeier Hansson have joined JOTA for the British team’s single-car LMP2 entry into this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.

Fittipaldi, who has worked as a reserve driver for the Haas Formula 1 team, and 2014 GTE-Am champion Heinemeier Hansson will share the wheel of the No. 28 Oreca 07 Gibson with Oliver Rasmussen who made his WEC debut with JOTA last season.

As reported by Sportscar365 in November, JOTA is scaling down a single Oreca this year as it prepares to join the Hypercar class with a customer Porsche 963.

Both of the team’s new signings previously drove for Inter Europol Competition in the European Le Mans Series.

Fittipaldi is set for his first full season in the WEC after his planned 2018-19 LMP1 campaign with DragonSpeed was aborted after he sustained leg fractures in a high-speed accident at the Spa opener.

The 26-year-old Brazilian completed his first full season in prototypes last year and is now moving up to the world championship with the reigning LMP2 champion squad.

“I’m very happy for the opportunity to be racing with JOTA in the 2023 WEC season,” said Fittipaldi, who is the grandson of two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi.

“They are an extremely successful team and have a lot of experience in endurance racing so it’s an amazing opportunity to be working with them.

“I’ll be racing alongside David, who I already know from the past season where we raced together in ELMS. We already have a lot of great racing chemistry together and having Oliver in the team means there is also some great additional and recent experience with the team.

“I think we’re going to be able to bond very quickly because of that and I can’t wait to get started very soon.”

Heinemeier Hansson is familiar with JOTA, having previously driven for the Jackie Chan DC Racing program which the British team operated.

The 43-year-old Dane will be the designated Silver-rated driver in the No. 28 crew. Fellow Danish racer Rasmussen held that post last season when he teamed up with Jonathan Aberdein and Ed Jones, however the FIA has upgraded him to Gold status for 2022.

“It’s a treat to be back with JOTA for a full season of WEC,” said Heinemeier Hansson.

“We won the WEC Sebring race together back in 2019, so I know what we’re capable of achieving together. With this lineup that includes both the continuity of driving again with Pietro and adding one of the most promising young Danish drivers in Oliver, it’s hard to wish for more.

“The level of competition has been incredible in LMP2 in the last few years, but if ever there was a combination of talent, team, and determination to get back on the podium, this is it.”

Rasmussen added: “After our 2022 campaign I just can’t thank them enough to be able to have this opportunity and race with them again in 2023.

“I’m super pumped about the fact that I can now build on our previous successful campaign

“It’s also really amazing to be able to join Pietro and David in the car. I think we have a hell of a team for 2023.

“Finally, I just want to thank everyone at JOTA, especially David [Clark], Sam [Hignett] and all my sponsors and management to be able to get to this point.”