JWA Recruits Stars For Brazil

James Watt Automotive (JWA) has secured an all-star driver line-up for the final round of this year’s Le Mans Series, the Mil Milhas in Brazil on November 10.

The Staffordshire-based team’s Porsche 997 GT3-RSR will be driven by moral LMS GT2-class co-champion Allan Simonsen, double Porsche Supercup champion Richard Westbrook, 2005 Australian GT champion Bryce Washington and experienced sportscar racer Paul Daniels. The four drivers will race into the night at the classic Interlagos Grand Prix circuit in Sao Paulo in a fitting end to the season.

Car owner Daniels explained: “Joel Camathias, who has driven the car this year, has done a fantastic job but he has a clashing race in the International GT Open series, which he is leading, while Dave Cox, who has also done a great job, has come to the end of his 2007 deal with JWA.”

Danish star Simonsen, who lost his shot at the GT2 title because he had to miss one race, is currently embroiled in a fight for the Australian GT crown with Washington. “I raced with JWA in 2005 and I get on really well with the team,” he said. “For me the important thing is going down to do the job and win the race, to get the 10 points I lost when I couldn’t race at Silverstone.”

Washington, who contested the Nurburgring round of the LMS with JWA in 2006, enthused: “I have great respect for Allan. He is very well-regarded in Australia and around the world - racing against him and with him is a huge bonus for me as a driver.

“I learned heaps at the Nurburgring last year, and really got the bug to drive overseas. GT is really something I would love to do full-time in Europe if I can put something together. Also, to race at Interlagos is great, because I was a massive fan of Ayrton Senna and it was his home track. To drive such a brilliant car like this at such a famous track will be very special.”

Englishman Westbrook, like the others, has never raced at Interlagos. And, while he is the world master of the lower-spec 997 Cup cars, he has never competed in a GT3-RSR. “It’s an exciting thing for me because the GT2 class is an option for me for next year. I’ve known Paul Daniels for a while, but it wasn’t until one of the JWA mechanics came to work with me for the last three rounds of the Supercup that I found out the team really want to give it a push for the last race in Brazil. It went from there and I’m looking forward to giving the team a good result.”

Daniels added: “We are looking to move the team forward with professional drivers. This is our third season in the Le Mans Series and we are looking towards an entry in the Le Mans 24 Hours. That’s not easy, but we’re hoping to have our loyalty to the series rewarded. We’ve had fantastic support from Porsche - they’ve really helped us with technical support, development and helping us compete in the Le Mans Series, and our tyre suppliers Pirelli have also been very supportive.”

For further information about JWA, please visit www.jameswattautomotive.com