Reigning Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 and World Endurance Championship winners, António Félix da Costa and Will Stevens are joined by the already confirmed Yifei Ye in the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship HyperCar effort from Hertz Team Jota.
The UK-based team are set to field a new Porsche 963 hybrid in the WEC this season, fielding not only new machinery but also one of the most impressive commercial packages yet seen in the Championship.
The team’s driver trio present both impressive achievements already, and the true potential to add very substantially to their, and to the team’s list of racing successes. They’ll do so in the latest car to carry Jota’s talismanic ‘Mighty #38’.
António Félix da Costa and Will Stevens, both reigning Le Mans 24 Hours and World Endurance LMP2 Champions, have been retained by Hertz Team JOTA with China’s Yifei Ye a new addition.
An Official F1 Test & Development Driver, Will Steven’s career started as a European and Asia Pacific Karting Champion, before making his F1 debut in 2014. He has scored multiple significant race victories, pole positions, podiums and fastest laps in every category throughout his career, with his endurance racing form widely recognised.
2019/20 FIA Formula E World Champion, António Félix da Costa scored success in junior formulae (including a pair of wins at the Macao F3 Grand Prix) alongside test driving duties in Formula 1. he now stands as one of the most widely respected drivers in the World Endurance Championship paddock.
Joining Stevens and da Costa is talented young Chinese driver and Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver, Yifei Ye. 22-year-old Ye enjoyed a strong 2022 campaign in both GT and prototype racing and as a previous Asian Le Mans Series and European Le Mans Series winner, his potential has more than earned a call up to compete for the team.
David Clark and Sam Hignett, Hertz Team JOTA Directors, said, “Our line-up of Antonio, Will and Yifei is a strong mix of speed, experience and youthful exuberance. We’ve had success over recent years and as one of the only privateer entries in the Hypercar class we’ll be taking the challenge to our manufacturer counterparts. We’re working hard to prepare for the first race of the season and look forward to revealing our first Hertz Team JOTA livery in due course.”
António Félix da Costa, said: “Over the last few years we’ve had great results together so I’m thrilled to be returning to the team. We’re stepping up to Hypercar class with a whole new set of partners backing us and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of our new Hertz Team JOTA car. It’s a big leap forward for motorsport as a whole and will hopefully be a memorable year ahead.”
Will Stevens, said: “Great way to start the year confirming this news. As a group we have a strong foundation working together already for a number of years which shall help with our transition into LMDH. Being the reigning LMP2 Champions gives us a great platform for the campaign ahead, it will be a special time racing together as the all-new Hertz Team JOTA.”
Yifei Ye, said: “I want to thank the Hertz Team JOTA team for giving me this opportunity and I can’t wait to get going. Alongside Will and António, we’ll push out on track and do the best we can to write a new story full of success.”
