ROUNDUP: Jenson joins JOTA, Lamborghini finalise squads, and Toyota's surprise livery change

There's no slowing down in the sportscar world, as pieces of the puzzle continue to slot into place. OE Founder Tim Fullbrook summarises the stories from this week.

Dec 15, 2023

Off-season? What off-season? The sportscar world is very much still spinning as preparation for an incredible 2024 continues. There’s been no break this week as important pieces of the puzzle, as well as some interesting changes, have hit the headlines this week.

So buckle up! If you’ve missed any of the key stories this week, then there’s no need to go scrolling, searching or scouring, I’ve got you covered.

Here’s what you need to know…

Jenson Button signs with Hertz Team JOTA

Undoubtedly the story of the week, 2009 F1 Champion Jenson Button has been announced as part of Hertz Team JOTA’s Hypercar squad for 2024.

The 43-year old will make his full-time return to racing, and the WEC, having last raced in the series in 2018 as part of SMP Racing’s LMP1 lineup.

The move has been rumoured consistently since Button raced at this year’s 24h Le Mans with the incredible NASCAR Garage 56 programme, but momentum swelled around his first taste of LMDh machinery at IMSA’s Petit Le Mans in October where Button raced with JDC-Miller.

Now, the British driver finds himself facing a full season in top class machinery as part of a stellar lineup at JOTA. How will he get on? Well his pace at Petit was strong, not class-topping, but definitely strong. With more mileage in testing and with the Rolex 24 with WTR Andretti in the #40 Acura ARX-06 coming up, I’d expect Button to be offering some impressive pace amongst the LMDh Hypercar teams.

JOTA bag Hanson, Ilott and Nato for two-car team

Whilst Button might be the headline name, Hertz Team JOTA have been busy signing three further stars for their two-car Hypercar assault next year.

On Monday, Phil Hanson, Callum Ilott and Norman Nato were announced as part of the team, split across the #12 and #38 cars.

Hanson, who’s world champion in LMP2 machinery and one of the rising stars in the sportscar world, will join Oliver Rasmussen and Jenson Button in the #38, with Callum Ilott departing Indycar to link up with former Rebellion LMP1 ace Norman Nato and JOTA mainstay Will Stevens in the #12.

Two Porsche 963s with incredible lineups, and if performances from the British privateer in a part-season in 2023 are anything to go by, then the factory teams are going to have a golden hue to their headaches next year.

Mortara and Cairoli complete Lamborghini lineups

Lamborghini Iron Lynx have finalised their driver lineups for their first season with the SC63 LMDh in 2024, with Matteo Cairoli and Edoardo Mortara snapping up the final two spaces in the six-driver squad.

Both drivers have been strongly linked to drives with the Italian marque, Cairoli confirming to OE in the Yas Marina pitlane last week at the Gulf 12h that he had a “flight to Texas,” perfectly coinciding with Lamborghini’s test at COTA.

Lamborghini are slated to field a single car in WEC Hypercar and in IMSA’s GTP class only for the Michelin Endurance Cup events (albeit missing Daytona), and have confirmed the makeup of the driver teams. They are as follows:

IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup - Romain Grosjean/Andrea Caldarelli/Matteo Cairoli
World Endurance Championship - Daniil Kvyat/Mirko Bortolotti/Edoardo Mortara

Toyota’s new blackout livery for GR010

One of the surprise stories of the week sees Toyota unveil a complete overhaul of their GR010 livery – ditching the traditional red, white and black for an all-black design.

The change is carried across Toyota GR’s world championship efforts in endurance racing and rally, and is meant to embody key themes “Speed”, “Hate to lose”, and “Prototype” according to the Japanese marque.

The matte black design is certainly striking, but I wonder how this is going to look say, at night at the biggest race of the season…

Mustang Sampling make IMSA return

From one black livery to another, and Mustang Sampling have announced their return to IMSA competition as primary sponsor for the Proton Competition Porsche GTP entry.

The new tie-up sees the black and gold back on the grid for 2024, after being a consistent feature on the grid since 2015 across Action Express and JDC-Miller Motorsport entries in DP and DPi.

It also sees the Proton entry switch to the #5, and JDC-Miller return to their favourite #85. Incredible livery design work from Sieger Designs, I can’t wait to see this on track!

Lexus finalise LMGT3 squads

The WEC LMGT3 grid continues to take shape for 2024, with Akkodis ASP’s Lexus entries having their full driver lineups and liveries confirmed.

Kelvin van der Linde and Jose Maria Lopez were confirmed as part of the two-car entry at the end of November, but now will be joined by Timur Boguslavskiy, Arnold Robin, Esteban Masson and Takeshi Kimura completing the driver roster.

Boguslavskiy has been a consistent feature of Akkodis ASP teams in GTWC competition, and despite rumours that he may be making the jump to another operation, is confirmed to be remaining with the team as they take this fascinating step into the LMGT3 class.

Bronze signings Arnold Robin and Takeshi Kimura both bring extensive GT racing experience, the former racing predominantly in GT3s and more recently in the ELMS with TF Sport, the latter coming off the back of his first full WEC GTE AM season as well as being the ‘car guy’ behind the Car Guy sponsorship.

Where Toyota’s top class entry has dropped the red, white and black, their GT efforts through sister company Lexus will see the #78 and #87 RC Fs carry those colours.

Toyota Gazoo Racing talent join Vasser Sullivan for Daytona

And last, but not least, Toyota have sent Gazoo Racing talent to join Vasser Sullivan’s Lexus entries in the GTD classes for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Hypercar ace and two-time WEC champion Mike Conway joins the reigning GTD PRO champions Ben Barnicoat and Jack Hawksworth, with returning Indycar star Kyle Kirkwood in the #14 RC F. Conway has six Rolex 24 starts to his name, and finished on the podium on his GTD PRO debut at the 2023 edition with Vasser Sullivan, Barnicoat and Hawksworth.

The reigning GTD PRO champions look set to be running a new livery on their RC F, as captured here at the recent Daytona test and shared exclusively with Only Endurance.

Rising star Ritomo Miyata will bolster the #12 GTD squad, with the 2023 Super Formula Champion and WEC GTE AM podium-finisher getting his first taste of IMSA competition with Frankie Montecalvo, Parker Thompson and Aaron Telitz.

Definitely two drivers, and two cars to keep an eye on in January…

Something for everyone then in this week’s roundup, but an overriding sense that despite the sheer brilliance of the 2023 sportscar season, next year might just take it that one step further…

But before the season is out there’s one very important bit of silverware still up for grabs! The Only Endurance Awards are underway, and on Monday you’ll be able to have your say on the winners. Stay tuned to OE Instagram for updates.

Also, if there are any mistakes or grammatical calamities in this week’s update, then I will be firmly blaming that on battling a lovely dose of Covid! The perfect excuse to watch plenty of racing.

Tim Fullbrook
OE Founder