Date: 14.03.11
James Walker has been signed up to race Ferrari's brand new GT
car, the Ferrari 458, in the 2011 Le Mans Series. He will
line-up with double Le Mans Series GT2 Champion, Rob Bell, in the
JMW Motorsport Ferrari when the season kicks off at Paul Ricard in
France on 3rd April.
The Le Mans Series is a season of five 1000km sportscar races. The
competition is fierce and there is a lot at stake as the top
finishers receive an automatic entry into the following year's Le
Mans 24 Hours.
"I can't wait for the 2011 season to start now," said James. "The
switch to sportscars has come at a great time for me. I had a taste
of it at Daytona and I know it's the direction I want my career to
take. This switch opens up a whole new world of racing that
ultimately will include big events like the Le Mans 24 Hours and
I'm hugely excited about it all."
James will be racing in the LM GTE Pro class. This is the top GT
class where Ferraris go head to head with Porsches and Aston
Martins and big name drivers, including ex-F1 driver Giancarlo
Fisichella. JMW Motorsport is already a championship-winning
team so James is in the best place for Le Mans Series
success.
"I've followed JMW Motorsport's progress over the last few years
and I am very impressed," said James. "It will be an honour
to drive for them this year and also great to team up with Rob
Bell. I got to know him a bit better at Daytona this year and I can
already see that we will have a great working partnership."
"The new Ferrari 458 will be a fantastic car to drive and I can't
wait until I get to drive it for the first time," he continued.
"This is going to be a very important year for me, as I know we
will have the package at JMW Motorsport, along with Ferrari and
Dunlop, to challenge for the Le Mans Series championship."
The first race of the 2011 Le Mans Series takes place at Paul
Ricard on 3 April. This is followed by races at Spa in May, Imola
in July, a UK round at Silverstone in September and then the season
finale at Estoril later that month.