Two of endurance racing’s most successful racing teams in 2016 will combine for the new FIA World Endurance Championship season in 2017.
The Chinese Jackie Chan DC Racing team and Jota Sport will join forces for a two car program with a pair of ORECA 07 LMP2 cars this year. The Chinese and British teams will utilise their shared experience in several global championships to challenge for more success in the 2017 FIA WEC which includes the 85th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two entries have been submitted to the FIA WEC.
2017 will be the second season that both teams have been involved in the FIA WEC which is widely regarded as the world’s biggest and best endurance competition.
Jackie Chan DC Racing was formed in 2015 and immediately tasted success after joint team founder David Cheng, along with teammate Ho-Pin Tung, claimed the 2015-16 Asian Le Mans LMP3 title adding to their championship triumphs in 2013 and 2014. The team was co-founded by Hollywood action legend Jackie Chan and has created headlines around the world for its achievements and profile.
In 2016 the team entered the FIA WEC for the first time. It was a year in which they ran a concurrent Asian Le Mans campaign, this time in LMP2 with an ORECA. A pair of victories at Zhuhai and Buriram in LMP2, as well as one victory in LMP3, saw them finish runners-up in the burgeoning championship after an excellent campaign.
Jota Sport will be renewing their commitment to the FIA WEC in 2017 after taking a stunning hat-trick of wins at the final three races of the year in Fuji, Shanghai and Bahrain. The unbeaten run was the perfect end to a season where the Jota run car was the acknowledged pace setter and the British team completed a remarkable winning streak which had also seen them take the European Le Mans Series title with two race victories.
Jota’s expertise in endurance racing stretches back 18 seasons and includes LMP2 victory at Le Mans in 2014 and two second places in 2015 and 2016 in what is one of the best class finishing records at La Sarthe for many years.
The combination of Jackie Chan DC Racing and Jota Sport will see two of the most successful teams in endurance racing come together to challenge for more silverware in one of the toughest classes of International motorsport.
The new partnership, which will run under the Chinese flag and the entrant name of Jackie Chan DC Racing, will begin testing preparations this month before undertaking the first race as the new venture at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in April.
Speaking about the partnership, David Cheng, Owner/Driver Jackie Chan DC Racing, said: “I am very excited that our team Jackie Chan DC Racing has joined forces with Jota Sport to create what I believe will be a very strong squad for 2017 in the FIA World Endurance Championship. I have already got a very good feeling that I and our partners will enjoy racing alongside Sam Hignett, David Clark and all the team at Jota Sport.
“I think with the knowledge that we gathered last season in the FIA WEC and the great results we enjoyed in the Asian Le Mans Series allied to the experience of Jota Sport will be a very potent combination this season. We will be aiming to grow the Chinese team further and ensure that it remains a force in international endurance racing for many years to come.”
Also delighted with the deal is Sam Hignett, Team Director Jota Sport, he said: “This is a significant day for both Jota Sport and Jackie Chan DC Racing. This new alliance will ensure we can carry the momentum that both squads had from 2016 in to the current campaign and continue the winning ways which saw such a successful end to last season.
“Jota Sport has a proud history as a winning endurance racing entity, but we also have a very strong heritage of working with other ambitious teams and partners. I am delighted to be working with Jackie Chan DC Racing this season and am confident we can taste considerable success together.”