Pepper “Comfortable” Focusing on GTs Amid Lambo LMDh Effort

Jordan Pepper says he is “comfortable” focusing on GT racing with Lamborghini amid the manufacturer’s plans to recruit two external drivers for its last available LMDh seats.

The 27-year-old South African currently drives for Iron Lynx in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup and is also Lamborghini’s full-season IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup driver in the GTD Pro class.

Pepper’s GTWC Europe co-drivers Andrea Caldarelli and Mirko Bortolotti will race the Lamborghini SC63 next year, along with ex-Formula 1 competitors Romain Grosjean and Daniil Kvyat.

Lamborghini Iron Lynx has two more signings to announce for its single-car FIA World Endurance Championship and Michelin Endurance Cup efforts with the SC63, although both are set to come from outside the company.

Pepper explained that he was aware at the start of his association with Lamborghini this year that he might not be part of the LMDh lineup and is content to focus on GT3.

“It was clearly said to me that I’m here for a long time, with a multi-year contract,” he told Sportscar365.

“I would quite comfortably say – should things maybe change – that my goal is to go LMDh, but I am very happy and comfortable, and motivated, within the GT scene right now.

“It’s an area I’m experienced in. Should the opportunity come that I get the chance to drive the LMDh and that leads to something in the future, for sure that’s where I want to go.

“But for those final two seats, it’s been said that it’s external drivers and that’s OK. I knew it. I’m going to focus on GT and I’m not disappointed by it in any way.

“I think it’s quite easy to be disappointed, but I have no reason to be because it’s something I knew beforehand.

“I think there are so many great championships out there now in GT that run the GT3 platform, especially going into next year when we gain WEC and ELMS. Across the board with DTM, GT World Challenge, IMSA… I think I’m going to have a lot going on my hands!

“There are so many great races to win in GT that I still haven’t yet achieved, and the goal is quite clear that we want to achieve that together.”

Pepper sees logic in Lamborghini’s decision to go with external signings for the final two LMDh seats, considering there are only seven drivers in the current GT3 factory pool.

“I think it’s got nothing to do with our ability that they don’t trust us and believe in our talent,” he said.

“But it’s more to do with the fact that the GT part of Lamborghini Squadra Corse is still such a key pillar.

“If you take all of us away and take the last two [LMDh] drivers as GT drivers, then you’ve taken Andrea, Mirko, plus two others.

“Knowing that program is going to be very intense, and with the way the calendars stack out, it’s impossible to have a core group of strong guys in GT as well.

“Before I came into Lamborghini Squadra Corse, in my initial contact, it was always mentioned that I could be involved in some [LMDh] testing.

“The reason Giorgio [Sanna, Lamborghini head of motorsport] brought me in was because he could foresee Mirko and Andrea leaving, and he wanted to keep the strength within his GT program.”

Pepper views Bortolotti and Caldarelli as two “reference drivers” in Lamborghini’s factory GT roster, considering their experience and achievements with the manufacturer.

They won the 2017 GTWC Europe Endurance Cup title with Christian Engelhart and Caldarelli repeated the feat two years later with Marco Mapelli, who is also a works driver.

However, Bortolotti and Caldarelli’s increased focus on LMDh could open the door for other GT factory drivers to shine.

“Mirko and Andrea are our reference drivers and have the right to be so, based on what they’ve achieved within the brand,” said Pepper.

“To be positioned alongside them [in GTWC Europe Endurance Cup] was a nice satisfaction, to know the level of respect that Giorgio holds me at. To compare me to them, and to join with them to build a structure.

“We have two Pro cars in Endurance Cup and I don’t say that Franck [Perera], Marco and Sandy [Mitchell] are any lower because I hold them in super high regard. You see across the championships that nothing really splits us.

“But it’s nice to know that he holds me in that light. The respect he has for his drivers is something I highly recognize.

“If he says what’s best for me is to drive in GT, I respect him in that. Based on the future not being a closed door, and if the chance comes to get the opportunity, I know he’ll honor it if I can do a good job.

“And should there be no space available, I also respect that decision as well.”