Ex-pat Kiwi driver Tom Blomqvist has confirmed his return to Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship, taking the wheel of a JOTA’s Oreca-Gibson LMP2 machine for the 2021 season.
Blomqvist last piloted an LMP2 car in 2016 where he raced for Extreme Speed Motorsport in the Six Hours of Shanghai and finished second in class.
This year sees him dovetail his WEC campaign with a full season in the FIA Formula E world championship, where he will race with the NIO 333 squad.
Blomqvist has only raced once in the hallowed Le Mans 24 Hour event – last year where he failed to finish in the Hub Auto Racing Ferrari.
JOTA has two Le Mans victories to its name and became the first LMP2 team to lead the Le Mans race outright on their way to second and third place, and a one-two finish in class, at the 2017 event.
Joining the JOTA stable alongside Blomqvist will be factory Mercedes Formula E driver Stoffel Vandoorne and rising F2 ace Sean Gelael.
Gelael and Blomqvist will also partner up for the final two rounds of the 2021 Asian Le Man Series, which precedes the first round of the 2021 WEC season.
“Firstly, it’s exciting to get back together with Sean for an attack on an LMP2 title,” Blomqvist said. “We had a brief taste of it together in 2016, the last time I drove an LMP2 car.
“We’re going to have a strong driver line-up, and we’re with a great team in JOTA, so it’s going to be a fun and hopefully a successful year. The way the class is shaping up to be in the future, I think it’s a great place to be from a career perspective.
“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 too.”
“We are really excited to confirm Sean, Tom and Stoffel’s programmes for 2021 and are looking forward to challenging for wins and the LMP2 title,” added David Clark, JOTA team co-owner.
“The quality of this trio is another great statement of intent from us all at JOTA.
“I’ve followed Tom’s career over the years and it is clear he is a winner and someone who will bring excellence to the cockpit and a lot of other areas.”
Blomqvist’s first outing with the team will be at the third round of the Asian Le Mans Series in Abu Dhabi next month, with WEC scheduled to kick off at Sebring in March.
