British youngster to race sportscar at Spa for second consecutive year with JOTA

JOTA Sport has recruited the services of Harry Tincknell for the next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (2 May). Nissan NISMO “factory” driver Tincknell joins Simon Dolan (GB) and Mitch Evans (NZ) in the Gibson 015S Nissan for the Six Hours of Spa Francorchamps – the British team’s first of two WEC appearances this year.The reigning Le Mans 24 Hour LM P2 champions have been able to draft in the 23-year-old Briton for the race in Belgium because Tincknell’s LM P1 NISMO race programme does not begin until Le Mans in June. Harry, who also competes for JOTA in the European Le Mans Series this year, plus Simon and Marc Gené, posted a fine second in class result in last year’s corresponding Spa race.The Six Hours of Spa Francorchamps will mark Evans’ WEC debut and maiden sportscar race. New Zealand’s single-seater multi-race winner has only tested the Gibson on one occasion with Tincknell’s inclusion looking to assist the transition for ex-Formula One race winner and Porsche “factory” driver Mark Webber’s protégé.The Spa race comes in between last weekend’s ELMS “opener” at Silverstone – in which Tincknell, Dolan and Filipe Albuquerque finished second – and the next ELMS race at Imola in Italy (17 May) – a corresponding race 12 months ago the trio won. Albuquerque is unable to compete at Spa, and at Le Mans, for JOTA due to his Audi Sport “factory” commitments.

Simon Dolan (GB). Age 45. Born: Chelmsford, Essex. Lives: Monaco (MC):“It’s always a privilege to share the car with the legend that is Harry Tincknell! With Harry and Mitch in the JOTA Gibson, we should be able to really take the challenge to the regular WEC LM P2 teams and give them a great race.”Harry Tincknell (GB). Age: 23. Born: Exeter, Devon. Lives: Sidmouth, Devon (GB):“I’m delighted to be called up for Spa and obviously have good memories, last year finishing second in my first race at World Championship level. I also believe the new Gibson update will suit Spa very well. Simon drove really well there last year considering it was only a few weeks after his massive Silverstone shunt. There is no doubt that Mitch will be fast so we go to Belgium with a very strong package. JOTA has worked very hard over the winter and the guys were absolutely supreme in the pit-stops at Silverstone.”Mitch Evans (NZ). Age: 20. Born: Auckland, New Zealand. Lives: Aylesbury, Bucks, UK:“It will great to have Harry alongside Simon and myself for Spa. It’ll be hugely beneficial for me to learn from them after their successful year in 2014. It will allow me to pick their brains to fast forward my [sportscar] preparation as I haven't had much running in the Gibson. I'm looking forward to working with Harry before he begins his Nissan NISMO LM P1 race programme at Le Mans.”Sam Hignett. Partner, JOTA Group:“For us as a team, it’ll be great to have Harry onboard at Spa. Harry’s inclusion can only help Mitch too in his preparation for Le Mans. JOTA Sport finished second [in LM P2] last year before winning [LM P2] our only other FIA World Endurance Championship race at Le Mans so this time our aim is to go one better especially after our recent Silverstone performance.”