JMW Motorsport have revealed Sam Tordoff, George Richardson and Robert Smith as their three drivers for the 2015 European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
The British trio will share a GTE class Ferrari 458 Italia, competing in all five rounds of the championship.
Tordoff will make his GT racing bow this year following an impressive 2014 British Touring Car Championship season that heralded six podiums and one win. As such, the 25 year old Yorkshireman will be hoping that his experience of close-quarters racing will play to his advantage in the hectic world of the ELMS.
“I have wanted to get into GT racing now for a number of years, and this year the stars have aligned and it’s finally possible!” Tordoff enthused. “I’d like to thank Jim [McWhirter, Team Principal] for having me on board. It is important for me to try and break the mould and show that I am not just a Touring Car driver. I believe with the right people and resources – that JMW Motorsport have, I can have a successful GT career.”
“The car is by far the best thing I have ever driven and certainly a big step up from what I have been driving up to this point.”
Richardson, meanwhile, will return to JMW Motorsport for a second season after impressing during his first year, in which the team finished 3rd in the standings. Despite being only 23 years of age he has already turned several heads in the GT racing world, and will be aiming to once again raise his stock in one of the world’s toughest multi-class championships.
“I couldn’t be more proud to have driven for JMW Motorsport in 2014 and now I get to do it all over again in 2015,” he said. “I am delighted to be back with Jim and the team and I am raring to go. We are Championship contenders.”
Completing the team is Smith, who is joining JMW Motorsport with a wealth of GT experience. Smith’s resume includes a podium finish at the 2014 Bathurst 12 Hour, as well as 2nd place overall in the ProAm 1 Championship of the Porsche Carrera Cup UK.
“It’s an honour to be driving with JMW Motorsport, a team at which I have the opportunity to fulfil all of my racing ambitions,” commented Smith. “I was lucky enough to see the team at work at Estoril last year and was hugely impressed by their absolute will to win.”
“Racing in the European Le Mans series is the next step up for me, and my aim is to do everything possible to help the team achieve race wins in 2015.”
The 2015 ELMS season gets underway with the Prologue test at Paul Ricard on March 23-24.
