Algarve Pro Racing will field a second car in next month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans under the G-Drive by Algarve banner, featuring top endurance drivers Oliver Jarvis and Nick Tandy.
The team, which last raced under the G-Drive by Algarve banner in the 2019/20 Asian Le Mans Series, has signed Nick Tandy, Oliver Jarvis and Ryan Cullen to pilot its #16 ORECA 07-Gibson.
Tandy was originally set to race in the French endurance classic as part of Porsche’s North American entry before it was withdrawn. The Briton won the race overall in the Porsche 919 Hybrid in 2015. This year will mark the first time Tandy has competed at Le Mans in non-Porsche material, although he has LMP2 experience, racing with KCMG in the WEC in 2015.
Jarvis, meanwhile, will race an ORECA at Le Mans for the first time since reaching the overall podium and achieving a class win with Jackie Chan DC Racing in 2017. The IMSA regular will be making ninth Le Mans start, the majority of which he achieved as part of Audi’s LMP1 program.
Silver-rated Irishman Ryan Cullen returns to Algarve Pro for the first time since the 2018 European Le Mans Series. Cullen was originally set to contest the French endurance classic with Dragonspeed, the team with which he also won the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona in the LMP2 category.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with G-Drive Racing by Algarve,” said Cullen. “The programme has come together really well, and while I haven’t had much time to process it, I am truly grateful to Stewart and Samantha Cox of Algarve Pro and everyone at G-Drive Racing for the opportunity.
I haven’t driven with Oliver (Jarvis) or Nick (Tandy) before, but I expect to benefit from their combined experiences with LMP1 and GT factory setups, as well as world-class LMP2 teams.
“We have a short period of time to prepare, but I’m fitter and stronger than ever before and I will go into this year’s Le Mans as a vastly more experienced driver with knowledge of all aspects of endurance sportscar racing.
There’s so much talent within our driver line-up, we’re aiming to be competitive among what will be a strong LMP2 field.”
“To have two cars on the grid in the 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans is really exciting for Algarve Pro Racing,” said Algarve Pro Racing team principal Stewart Cox. “We have to say a big thanks to G-Drive Racing for giving us the option to do this, and I’m delighted with the way the programme has come together.
We’ve been working on it since winning the 2019-20 Asian Le Mans Series title and the work has paid off, as we have a great car and a world-class, Champion driver line-up in Ryan (Cullen), Oliver (Jarvis) and Nick (Tandy).”
