While waiting for the official tests, which will kick off the 2022 European Le Mans Series season on April 11th and 12th at the Paul Ricard Circuit (five days before the first race), the Panis Racing team has been working hard in the Toulouse workshop preparing the car and finalising the drivers’ recruitment.
A power trio will be at the wheel of the Oreca 07 #65 heading to the 2022 season. The two Frenchmen Nicolas Jamin and Julien Canal – who have already driven for the team – are joined by the Dutchman Job Van Uitert.
Team Principal Olivier Panis, his associates and team managers Sarah and Simon Abadie have once again put their faith in a high-caliber line-up to enter the endurance season with the clear intention to shine. Indeed, Panis Racing, created in 2016, has demonstrated its high level of performance with exponential results over the seasons thanks to two podiums at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a third place overall in ELMS last year.
Olivier Panis – Team Principal: “Sarah, Simon (Abadie) and I are very happy to have brought together those three drivers in the team for this 2022 season. I am delighted that Julien (Canal) still trusts us for the 5th consecutive year. We have experienced great things together. He is a sure value. He keeps progressing and had another fantastic season in 2021.
We are thrilled as well to welcome Job Van Uitert, one of the fastest drivers in the ELMS, with a great experience of endurance racing and a great team spirit reputation.
As for Nico Jamin, whose level of performance and determination are already well known by Panis Racing. He is once again welcome in the family. We will do everything we can to optimize the collaboration between this trio in order to win races and the ELMS title.”
Job Van Uitert: “I’m really looking forward to this new challenge! Panis Racing has consistently been one of the front-running teams in the European Le Mans Series and the 24 hours of Le Mans. I feel very privileged to be able to join the team. Together with Nico Jamin, who was my teammate last year as well, and Julien Canal who has enjoyed tremendous success in endurance racing, we should be able to hunt for trophies throughout the season.”
Nico Jamin: “What a pleasure to return to Panis Racing with whom I already shared an incredible season in 2020 with this first podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I appreciated a lot the performance and the very homey atmosphere of the team. The goal this year is clearly to win the ELMS championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We have a very strong team together with Job. He is very fast. I know him very well as we were teammate last season, and Julien, with whom I spent a season too, two years ago. Julien is a very experienced and reliable Silver driver with great results to his credit. A big thank you to Olivier Panis, Sarah and Simon Abadie for making this possible. I’m also delighted to see that Yann Belhomme has joined the team. We had a great sporting relationship and friendship in the past when he was my first team manager in LMP2 with another team. All is in place to have a great season and to reach the top of the standings.”
Julien Canal: “I am very happy to be back with the Panis Racing team. It’s our 5th consecutive season together, and I’m still motivated to perform and win races! For 2022, the line-up will change a bit with the arrival of Job Van Uitert, my new teammate, and the return of my friend Nico Jamin. Our trio is solid. We all have a lot of experience in endurance, and the human aspect is very significant between us. We know it’s one of the keys to succeed. I’m looking forward to getting back on the track with both of them and this team that has given me so much these past few seasons. We are all highly motivated to once again climb to the top of the ELMS podiums and to do the same in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year.”
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