IndyCar driver James Jakes will join Manor for the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season.
The 28 year old Briton will make his WEC debut this year after spending much of his career racing in single seaters.
Jakes is no stranger to the Manor organisation, having raced with the team in the 2007 Formula 3 Euro Series and the 2010 GP3 championship.
In 2011 he joined IndyCar outfit Dale Coyne Racing for two seasons, before switching to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2013. Since his debut he has amassed 54 starts and two podiums in the United States, including three race appearances at the Indy 500.
“I’m delighted to be joining Manor WEC Team,” said Jakes. “I’ve known John for many years and when the opportunity came up to work together again I couldn’t have been happier.”
“To have the chance to go endurance racing competitively on some of the greatest tracks in the world, I’m very excited. I have been racing in the USA for the past 4 seasons and to start back up again at Silverstone where it all began for me is just icing on the cake. It’s going to be a very busy few weeks leading up The Prologue and the first race, but I have every faith that we will be fighting for some good finishes this season. “
Jakes becomes the second driver to be added to the new Manor WEC lineup, following the confirmation of Will Stevens earlier this week. The British team, led by John Booth and Graeme Lowdon, will enter two Oreca 05-Nissans in the LMP2 category.
“It is great to welcome James back to Manor, another talent to our growing driver line up,” added team principal John Booth. “It will be good to pick up where we left off following successful seasons with James in both Formula 3 and GP3 series.”
“I have had some good results with James in the past and hope to carry this onto WEC.”
