Jota Sport LMP2 team steps up to full World Endurance Championship

Jota, which took P2 honours at last year's Le Mans 24 Hours, will field a solo Nissan-powered coupe in the full WEC alongside a continued campaign in the European Le Mans Series with its existing open-top Gibson 015S (nee Zytek Z11SN) .

Jota partner Sam Hignett, who revealed that the team had ordered a pair of 05s, said: "The time is now right for Jota to step up to a full WEC campaign.

"We were approached about a WEC programme and we are confident that we will have something signed next week, after which we will be able to announce a major stakeholder and a driver.

"After that, we will have to pull the rest of the line-up together and are planning a comprehensive test programme around the ORECA."

Hignett explained that the ORECA was chosen with an eye on the introduction of new LMP2 regulations in 2017 when the 05 coupe will be eligible with an upgrade and a new engine.

"It makes sense, because if the ORECA is the car to have in '17 we won't be two years behind teams like KCMG and TDS Racing, who are already running the car," he said.

Hignett confirmed that Jota co-owner Simon Dolan would continue to race in the ELMS with the Gibson.

Jota has contested the WEC rounds at Spa and Le Mans in addition to its ELMS programme since joining the prototype ranks in 2012.

It claimed P2 honours at Spa in 2012 and '15 to go with last year's Le Mans triumph and three ELMS wins.

Dolan and team-mates Harry Tincknell and Filipe Albuquerque lead the ELMS standings by two points going into this weekend's penultimate round of the series at Paul Ricard.