Rebellion Confirms LMP1 Return; Lotterer, Jani Headline Lineup

Photo: Porsche

Rebellion Racing has confirmed it will return to LMP1 competition, featuring a star-studded lineup led by Porsche LMP1 refugees Andre Lotterer and Neel Jani.

Lotterer and Jani will join the returning Mathias Beche and Bruno Senna, alongside 2016 FIA World Endurance LMP2 Champion Gustavo Menezes and this year’s standout LMP2 rookie Thomas Laurent in the new-look lineup.

It will mark Lotterer’s debut with the Anglo-Swiss squad, with the German the only driver to have completed every LMP1 race to date in the history of the WEC, between his stints at Audi and Porsche.

“The LMP1 project is very exciting and to be able to go on with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA WEC challenge is something I did not want to miss,” Lotterer said. “I am motivated and looking forward to have a great time with great people there.”

Jani, meanwhile, makes his full-season return to the team since joining Porsche in 2014.

The 2016 World Champion having made sporadic starts with Rebellion since, including at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in the team’s Oreca 07 Gibson LMP2 car.

“I am looking forward to coming back where my endurance career started nine years ago,” Jani said. “Rebellion Racing played a huge role in my career and also helped me become a factory driver for Porsche.

“When Porsche stopped in LMP1, it was clear for me that I wanted to race again for Rebellion.”

Both 19-year-old Laurent and American Menezes, meanwhile, step up to LMP1 competition for the first time.

“Riding in the LMP1 category championship is a dream come true,” Laurent said. “I think the team will do everything they can to play at the forefront, so we have to live up to expectations.”

Menezes added: “It’s a great opportunity and it’s going to be incredible.”

The team has yet to reveal its chassis or engine choice, only confirming a two-car program for the 2018/19 ‘Super Season.’

Sportscar365 understands the team is likely to remain with longtime partner ORECA, which also designed and built its Rebellion R-Ones, which the team ran in LMP1 from 2014-16.

The car will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

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