Maldonado Withdraws from Jota LMP2 Drive

Ex-Formula 1 driver Pastor Maldonado has confirmed that he won’t be driving for Jota in the 2019-20 FIA World Endurance Championship, just over a week before the first race.

Maldonado was set to drive the No. 38 Oreca 07 Gibson with Roberto Gonzalez and 2014 LMP1 world champion Anthony Davidson, but announced his withdrawal in a social media post on Friday.

The 2012 Spanish Grand Prix winner explained that he was unable to continue with the drive “due to not reaching a balance agreement between the parties”.

Maldonado, Davidson and Gonzalez raced for DragonSpeed last season before switching to two-time Le Mans class winner Jota Sport for their second campaign together.

The trio scored a victory in the penultimate round at Spa-Francorchamps to put the DragonSpeed squad fourth in the LMP2 standings.

Maldonado’s replacement in the British-run Jota car is not currently known, with the season-opening 4 Hours of Silverstone just nine days away.

The Venezuelan ended his post by saying that he will “give news about my future soon”.

Jota Sport is running two Orecas in the WEC this season, with Will Stevens, Gabriel Aubry and Ho-Pin Tung featuring in the No. 37 Jackie Chan DC Racing-entered effort.