Manor Adds Second LMP2 Entry, Signs Stevens

Photo: Manor

Manor has announced it will run two cars in the majority of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, naming ex-Formula One driver Will Stevens as the second confirmed driver for its newly expanded LMP2 effort.

The British team, led by John Booth and Graeme Lowdon, previously announced a single Oreca 05 Nissan with Tor Graves as the nominated driver. The second entry is expected to compete in all rounds except the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which has already locked in its grid of 60 cars and reserve entrants.

“Everything has moved very quickly since we first announced that we would be entering the 2016 World Endurance Championship,” Booth said.

“It is great news to be running an additional ORECA 05 LM P2; We can’t wait to get started with the season at The Prologue at the end of March.

“It’s great that Will is joining the team, we know his talent and speed from working with him over the last few years in Formula 1 and we are all really looking forward to going racing with him.”

Stevens will make his sports car racing debut on the heels of driving for the team in F1 last year, prior to Booth and Lowdon’s departure to form the WEC operation.

The 24-year-old Englishman also boasts prior Formula Renault and World Series by Renault experience.

“The opportunity to continue my relationship with Graeme and John was one that I was very pleased to accept,” Stevens said.

“It gives me a great chance to explore endurance racing, be competitive and go racing with people I enjoyed working with last year so I’m looking forward to it.

“My objective is to have a number of top level career choices going forward, and to be able to gain experience in endurance racing will hopefully open up my career prospects.

“I want to keep very busy, enjoy my racing and do some winning and I’m confident that by working again with Manor in WEC I’ll achieve all of those things.”

Additional driver announcements and pairings for the now two-car team are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

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