The Manor name will make its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016, and will be fronted by the men who helped the Formula 1 team survive in recent years – John Booth and Graeme Lowden.
Booth and Lowden departed the F1 team at the end of 2015 following a disagreement about the direction the team were heading under the leadership of team owner Stephen Fitzpatrick, but both will now play an integral part in the new WEC adventure that will see the outfit run an ORECA LM P2 05 chassis in the LMP2 class.
“We are delighted to be joining the World Endurance Championship,” revealed Booth, who will assume the Team Principal role once more. “It is a fantastic series that visits iconic tracks all over the world.
“The level of competition is very high and we are really looking forward to racing again. The LMP2 class is specifically designed for teams independent of manufacturers and/or engine suppliers, which places the focus firmly on how the team performs.
“I can’t wait to see the car running now. We have lots to do but we have a great team of people to get it all done”
Thai driver Tor Graves is the only driver to be confirmed so far for the team, which will run with the #44 in 2016, with the other drivers to be confirmed at a later date.
“It’s really great to be racing again and the FIA World Endurance Championship provides a fantastic challenge for us,” said Lowdon, who returns as Sporting Director. “Pre-season testing starts soon and there is a lot to do but we have never been afraid of a bit of hard work.
“There is a real buzz within the team at the moment, we have enjoyed great support from the fans over the last few months and we are very keen for them to get fully involved in what we are doing. We all have a great passion for motorsport and we are keen to share that passion.”
