Jolt Racing is a team of dedicated, passionate people who aim to get a race driver from Entry Level to the standards that will enable them to compete at Le Mans. The Road to Le Mans programme will see Jolt Racing enter a car and two drivers in the Ligier European Series in 2024.
John Ingram, a former Racing Driver in Formula 3 and Le Mans endurance series, started Jolt Racing in 2022 with clear goals and to build on his heritage. Wanting to give back to the sport he loves, Ingram has pulled together a team of highly professional personnel covering technicians, race engineers, data engineers, driver coaches and race-team hospitality personnel.
The experienced and passionate group will enter cars into blue-riband motor racing events focusing on endurance and sports car racing via its HQ in Ascot, England and its factory at the world-famous Paul Ricard circuit in France.
Rupert Williams started The Road to Le Mans programme in 2022, which runs over three years. Mentored by John Ingram, Rupert passed his Association of Racing Driver Schools license in October 2022, then undertook pre-season testing before his first-ever race at Silverstone in March 2023.
He has progressed rapidly during the 2023 season and upgraded his licence (through entering races and taking additional exams). Ruper is now the proud holder of an international licence, allowing him to race in the JSP4.
The Ligier European Series is a single-make series dedicated to the Ligier JS P4 from the Ligier stable of LMP (Le Mans Prototype) sports prototype race cars, including the LMP3 and LMP2. Ligier is best known for its Formula One team, Équipe Ligier, which operated from 1976 to 1996. Ligier now designs and manufactures racing cars, specifically sports prototypes for Le Mans and other international series.
The 2024 Ligier European Series will consist of six rounds within the top-level European Le Mans Series events. One race will support the pinnacle 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Ligier European Series is the first step on the ACO ladder and is a recognised pathway towards competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The new race season commences in April 2024, so the Jolt Racing team will participate in the 6 hours of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit in January 2024. It gives the personnel significant experience to prepare for the 2024 racing season, where Rupert Williams and John Ingram will be the drivers for the entire programme.
Each event will consist of 2 x 40-minute free practice, 2 x 15-minute qualifying sessions, and 2 x 1-hour races. Three hours and fifty minutes of driving spread over two days, Fridays and Saturdays—a maximum racing experience for ultimate pleasure.
Ligier Automotive is dedicated to constructing racing cars using its design, production, electronics, engines, and restoration expertise. The company can create concept cars, special vehicles, sports prototypes, single-seaters, and cars for track races, ice races, off-road events and rallycross.
Ligier Automotive launched the Ligier European Series, combining it with the European Le Mans Series. It is a single-make formula dedicated to the Ligier JS P4, the make’s sports prototype unveiled in 2018 and the Ligier JS2 R, Ligier anniversary GT.
The goal is to open Endurance racing to drivers, allowing them to climb the different levels of Endurance racing and potentially reach the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Jolt Academy programme was established in 2023 and offers a few motorsport engineering students access to real-world experience under the direction and supervision of Jolt Racing team personnel.
Senior engineer Ryan Stutchbury oversees the Academy programme; previously, he was the Senior Lecturer at Brooklands College, one of the leading motorsport engineering colleges. Ryan holds a BSc (Hons) from Oxford Brookes University in Motorsport Technology.
Jolt Academy students can participate with Jolt Racing across various trackside disciplines in the pit lane, pit garage and on the pit wall at race events and test days, giving them the confidence and skills needed to progress directly into future careers in international motorsport.
The aims of Jolt Racing are to be praised as Ingram and his race family he has gathered around him are putting so much into providing life skills, work skills and education for young people. It shows a different side to motorsport, which is positive and not driven by high finance.
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