The Motul-powered team has been mightily impressed by the Danish Formula 4 Champion, who possesses talent, maturity and professionalism that belies his age, and both parties were keen to extend what has been a happy and successful association into a second year.
Jakobsen’s raw speed was evident from his first LMP3 test with RLR MSport on a cold December day at Donington Park, and the teenager has consistently delivered spectacular qualifying and race performances throughout the COVID-19 delayed 2020 season.
The year began with a podium in the ELMS 4 Hours of Le Castellet, but Jakobsen has since qualified on the front row, achingly close to pole position for the Le Castellet 240 and 4 Hours of Monza, and his race averages have always been among the highest in the super-competitive LMP3 field.
Fighting drives in the 24 Hours of Le Mans-supporting Michelin Le Mans Cup ‘Road to Le Mans’ races stand out because of Jakobsen’s supremely decisive overtakes, which are a testament to his ongoing efforts to adapt his style and racecraft to multi-class endurance racing.
The 16-year old has remained on an upward curve with input and guidance from RLR MSport, and there are high hopes for the future, knowing the partnership will continue through to the end of 2021.
“My first choice was always to stay with RLR MSport because I’m really happy and the team has shown it can put together a great car and give us drivers all the materials we need to reach our potential,” said Jakobsen. “The relationship is good, as I like them and they like me, and that has been important for my development as a driver during my rookie season in the European Le Mans Series.
“I’m only 16 and I’m constantly learning, and I feel I will start 2021 on a much stronger footing with higher expectations because I will be in a position to focus on the small details in search of extra speed and consistency. I’m really excited about what the future holds for us.”
RLR MSport Director of Motorsport Operations, Nick Reynolds, said: “We’re so pleased to have kept Malthe (Jakobsen) on-board for another year in the European Le Mans Series, as he has progressed a lot and made a fantastic contribution to RLR MSport’s performances since the start of the year, and we know there’s a lot more to come as he gains experience. The entire team enjoys working with him because he’s incredibly quick, yet humble and pragmatic too. Ultimately, he has a positive, motivational influence, and it’s exciting to think about the potential of the RLR MSport-Malthe Jakobsen combination in 2021.”
Source. Leveridge Promotions
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