The announcement was made in China where the World Endurance Championship teams are gathering ahead of the 6 Hours of Shanghai on Sunday 5 November. At the Manor press conference, the British outfit revealed the continuation of its partnership with TRS Racing (Talent Racing Sports) and its choice of the Ginetta chassis for its move to LMP1 for the WEC 2018-19 super season.

Lawrence Tomlinson, Chairman, Ginetta Cars: I am delighted with the confirmation of the selection by TRS Racing and Manor Endurance Racing of the Ginetta LMP1 for their programme.  The opportunities for all involved here are tremendous, for Ginetta, for the team, and for their backers.  To take on endurance racing at this level is one of the toughest technical challenges in the world. It’s great to have a racing partner who relishes those challenges just as much as we do.

John Booth, Manor Endurance Racing Team Principal: We are very happy to be entering the LMP1 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship. We have been learning this championship for the last two years and we are confident that the time is now right for us to step up to the LMP1 category. We have known the people at Ginetta for many years and we believe that, working together, we will be able to develop a competitive LMP1 package.

Graeme Lowdon, Manor Endurance Racing Sporting Director: I think that the LMP1 category provides a fantastic challenge for us but we can rely on a lot of experience gained over the years, in particular those spent in Formula 1, relating to the management of the design, research, testing and development processes that are so important for a successful LMP1 team.

News of the engine and crew will be given later. As previously announced, the 2018-19 super season will include two rounds of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Photo: The CEFC Manor TRS Racing team at Le Mans in 2017 with its LMP2s (Oreca 07 – Gibson).