JOTA confirms Vandoorne, Blomqvist and Gelael for 2021 line-up
British LMP2 team JOTA has confirmed that Belgium’s Stoffel Vandoorne, British-Swedish driver Tom Blomqvist and Indonesia’s Sean Gelael will pilot one of its ORECA 07 - Gibson LMP2 entries in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.
Vandoorne, Blomqvist and Gelael will race as a trio for WEC Season 9 forming a strong alliance for JOTA, which has enjoyed multiple endurance racing series accomplishments since it was founded in 2000. Last year, JOTA finished second and third in the drivers’ standings and runner-up in the teams’ title chase on the back of two LMP2 wins.
Former F1 driver Vandoorne has enjoyed a hugely successful motorsport career to date and is no stranger to sportscars having competed with SMP Racing back in 2019 where he finished third at his home circuit of Spa and also on the podium at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
.@JotaSport today announced its trio for #WEC Season 9.@svandoorne @tom_blomqvist @gelaelized
— WEC (@FIAWEC) January 7, 2021
Blomqvist is another accomplished driver having raced in DTM, Formula 3 and Formula E over the years. The Anglo-Swede competed in the FIA WEC’s LMGTE Pro category with BMW in 2018-19 and also did a one-off WEC LMP2 drive at Shanghai in 2016 alongside Gelael.
Meanwhile, Gelael joins JOTA after a long and successful single-seater career which has seen him race in both F3, and GP2/F2 since 2013. The Indonesian driver first raced in the Asian Le Mans Series before moving to the WEC and ELMS in 2016.
Vandoorne commented: “To be in the WEC with JOTA is great because they are such an established and respected team in a super competitive environment, which is obviously something I always look to be involved in. To be able to do it together with Sean and Tom is great as well, because they're two of my great racing friends.”
Blomqvist added: “Firstly, it’s exciting to get back together with Sean for an attack on an LMP2 title. We had a brief taste of it together in 2016, the last time I drove an LMP2 car. I’d like to say a big thanks to the Gelael family for once again putting their trust in me and also to JOTA for the opportunity to join a top team alongside Stoffel.”
Gelael concluded: “I am happy that I can be part of a great history and hopefully this year I can produce the same results they are having in previous years. I hope myself, Tom and Stoffel can do something special this year and we could keep the JOTA name in the winning way as always.
JOTA will announce the car’s livery in due course and is set to confirm its second LMP2 driver line-up for its sister car in the upcoming week.
