Ben Barnicoat confirmed with Le Mans-winners JOTA for full Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe effort

Ben Barnicoat will take on his biggest challenge yet in his role of McLaren Factory Driver as he is confirmed to take on the 2021 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS with British sportscar team JOTA.

Ben makes a full championship return for the first time since 2017 and he will race the McLaren 720S GT3 in an all-Pro line-up alongside fellow Factory Drivers in a bid for both the Sprint and Endurance titles. Ben will be paired with Ollie Wilkinson in the Sprint rounds, with the pairing further strengthened for the five Endurance events with the addition of Rob Bell to the line-up.

Ben has made a strong start to his 2021 season with the McLaren 720S GT3 after claiming victory at the Gulf 12 Hours Bahrain event, and a double podium finish during the Asian Le Mans Series last month. These results saw the British driver produce stellar performances at the wheel of the latest GT3 model from McLaren in the run up to the start of the European season.

Ben, now in his fourth season as a Factory Driver, is confident in the line-up and is feeling positive to be racing with JOTA. The team is one of the most respected operations in motorsport and a proven race-winner on the international stage, taking victories across several categories including twice at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Ben Barnicoat:

“I am really pleased to be confirming a full-season entry into the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and to be racing with a team as successful and well-regarded as JOTA. I have watched the team score some amazing results over the years, including taking victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and it is great to be part of such a great outfit. I am also really pleased to be taking on this challenge with Rob and Ollie, who I have worked with and raced against, but we have never competed together.

“Rob and I worked extensively together on the development programme of the 720S GT3 and I raced against them both at the opening round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe last year, but I think we have a really strong team in the car and in the pitlane. It has been a solid start to the season with the 720S GT3 for me, and I cannot wait to get back racing in Europe and challenge ourselves against the best of the best on some truly iconic circuits.”

Round 1 of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS is scheduled to take place in Italy with the 3-hour endurance race at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, which takes place over the weekend 14-16 April.

‍