The drivers for Jenson Team Rocket RJN’s maiden Blancpain Endurance Cup campaign have been confirmed.
Bob Neville’s team, which is partnered with Jenson Button for this season to run a Silver Cup class Honda NSX GT3 Evo, will race with Struan Moore, Matt McMurry and Philipp Frommenwiler.
For Jerseyman Moore, it’s a return to racing with RJN for a third season after the Briton competed in both the Endurance Cup the past two years and the British GT Championship last year with Neville’s team.
He feels driving for Jenson Team Rocket RJN is a huge opportunity for his career going forward.
“I’ve raced with Bob and Liz [Neville] at RJN in both Blancpain GT and British GT over the past two seasons, and we’ve had some great success together including winning the Silver Cup in Britain last year.
“It’s very exciting to bring the Honda NSX GT3 Evo to the series for the first time and the new Evo model should be a huge step forward so I’m really looking forward to fighting in this fiercely-competitive series.”
American McMurry and Swiss racer Frommenwiler meanwhile will race with RJN for the first time as part of the programme.
“It’s great to be able to build on my existing experience of the Honda NSX GT3 and exciting to now be racing the Evo version of this car,” said Frommenwiler. “I’m looking forward to working with the Team at RJN. With their previous successes in GT racing, I’m sure they will run a great programme and we will be ready to push for success!”
Matt McMurry added: “I’m very excited to be going back to Europe for my Blancpain GT Series debut. Honda’s motorsports work globally and in the USA is very impressive.
“It’s an honour to be part of it, as well as a stepping stone opportunity to be in on the ground floor of the brand’s first foray into Blancpain GT with a proven team that’s partnered with a Formula 1 World Champion. I’m looking forward to seeing the progress with the NSX GT3 Evo and to get on track in Monza.”
The new team, named Team Rocket as part of a drive to bring back the “Rocket” name (used in the past by Jenson Button’s late father John as the name for his karting team) back into motorsport, is now ready for the season after testing the NSX GT3 at Paul Ricard during the official Blancpain pre-season test.
After a lengthy spell partnered with Nissan, team boss Bob Neville is looking forward to the new challenge, racing with Honda.
“We are really pleased and excited about the line-up we have secured for this season. I’m happy to have Struan Moore return with us, having had a great couple of seasons together previously. I look forward to welcoming Philipp and Matt to our team and have no doubt that with the combination we have, will be ready to fight for Silver Cup success.”
Team co-owner and former F1 World Champion Jenson Button is equally enthusiastic.
“I think we have a great balance of youth, ambition and experience from all three drivers and I’m looking forward to seeing how they all get on this year,” he said. “The Championship is intensely competitive and I’m sure the racing will be hard, but it’s a brilliant place for young drivers to further develop in GT racing.”
Photos courtesy of Jenson Team Rocket RJN
