LE MANS: Rebellion Confirms Lola-Toyotas For WEC

Le Mans / ALMS

LE MANS: Rebellion Confirms Lola-Toyotas For WEC

Anglo-Swiss squad welcomes Harold Primat, confirms two Lola-Toyotas for FIA World Endurance Championship...

John Dagys | Posted January 21, 2012 Abu Dhabi (UAE)

Rebellion Racing will mount a two-car Lola-Toyota effort in the new FIA World Endurance Championship. (Photo: LAT)

Rebellion Racing confirmed Saturday that it has entered the FIA World Endurance Championship for 2012. The Anglo-Swiss squad revealed that it will field a pair of Lola-Toyotas in the global sports car championship, which kicks off at the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.

After winning the European Le Mans Series teams' championship, while also taking part in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, the forerunner to the WEC, Rebellion will focus entirely on a single series, continuing to be the exclusive partner of Toyota Motorsport GmbH for its 3.4-liter V8.

As revealed by SPEED.com in October, the Bart Hayden-led team had considered a move to the American Le Mans Series, the only other championship with a LMP1 category for 2012.

However, Hayden said the switch would have only likely come if the performance between diesel and gasoline-powered LMP1s would have not been re-evaluated. The ACO confirmed revised Balance of Performance adjustments late last year that should bring gasoline-powered cars, such as the Lola-Toyota, closer in line.

Peugeot's withdrawal from factory sports car racing should also give Rebellion a better chance of victory, with only Audi expected to campaign a full-season factory WEC program.

While final driver pairings for the Lola-Toyotas have not been made, Rebellion confirmed that it has renewed the contracts of Neel Jani, Nicolas Prost and Andrea Belicchi, while welcoming Harold Primat to the squad.

"We have another strong driver line-up for this year," Hayden said. "Complementing our existing driver line-up, I am pleased to welcome Harold on- board, he will bring a great deal of experience to the team.”

Rebellion joins JRM Racing and Strakka Racing as confirmed privateers in LMP1, which will be fighting for the FIA Trophy for the best non-factory team.

John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Dagys

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR

GT: Plans Progressing For Second Gulf 12 Hours
Second running of Gulf 12 Hours to likely feature as many as 44 entries,…
LE MANS: OAK LMP2 Entry Switches To Nissan Power
French squad's No. 35 Morgan LMP2 of Bas Leinders, Maxime Martin…
GT: Dubai 24 Entry List Growing
More than 50 cars already entered for 2013 Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai...…