GP2 racer Evans gets Le Mans drive

GP2 race winner Mitch Evans will take his first steps in sports car racing this season with a Le Mans 24 Hours campaign for the British Jota LMP2 squad.

The 20-year-old New Zealander, who has re-signed with the Russian Time squad for his third season of GP2, will race the Jota Sport Gibson-Nissan 015S at Le Mans in June and the Spa World Endurance Championship round in May. He will drive alongside fellow sports car newcomer Nick Yelloly and Simon Dolan in the seat filled in the European Le Mans Series by Filipe Albuquerque, who will drive the third Audi LMP1 entered for Spa and Le Mans.

"I've followed sports car racing for many years and Le Mans has always been on my bucket list," said Evans, who is mentored by Porsche LMP1 driver Mark Webber. "I visited Le Mans for the first time last year and honestly didn't realise the size of the event – you cannot appreciate the magnitude of the event until you actually visit the place.

"I've never raced a sports car and only drove one for the first time last month but I don't see this an issue. I'll use my single-seater experience to get to grips with the LMP2 prototype as fast as possible."

Originally on Autosport.com