Endurance Racing: Callum Ilott

QUICK FACTS! 

• Endurance racing tests the durability of the cars and the strength of their drivers

  
  

• Teams of multiple drivers attempt to cover large distances in single race events.

  
  

• Callum is racing in car number 12 - a  Porsche 963 Hybrid - for Team JOTA

Callum Ilott is FAST! A former Alfa Romeo Formula 1 reserve driver, 25 Year old Callum is competing in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (known as WEC) in the Hypercar category, racing for Jota Sport in the Porsche 963 (Sam got to see the car’s launch at the A24 show!).

Callum's racing career so far has included the IndyCar series in the United States and the 2020 Formula 2 Championship, in which he finished second with three wins and five pole positions. He's even been a test driver for Scuderia Ferrari and a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, an programme aimed at finding and supporting talented young racing drivers from around the world!

Sam was lucky enough to share a few moments with Callum, and ask a few questions about his amazing career…

SAM: How did you get started in your career?

CALLUM: I started when I was 7 years old in karting with Honda Cadet. I started at Rye House [Rye House high speed karting circuit in Hertfordshire], a local track for me about 20- 25 minutes away from my house. It’s where Lewis Hamilton started. and I kind of just grew into that, driving once or twice a week. Then I was racing one or two weekends a month. By the time I was 11 or 12 I started racing in Italy and the European side, and it kind of just went from there. Now I'm here!

SAM: What are you doing now?

CALLUM: So I am racing in WEC, which is the World Endurance Championship, in hypercar with Team JOTA and Porsche. There are 19 hyper cars and 9 manufacturers. It's the top of the endurance level championship so it's going to be an exciting year! I was racing an IndyCar car before that, based over in the US. IndyCar is a single seater series of races on ovals, so it is a bit of a difference! 

SAM: What are your plans for the future?

CALLUM: I am probably aiming to continue in WEC. It's been a long standing Championship, but with the way hypercar is now there are more and more manufacturers joining, so it's a great place for a professional driver to be! We've got about eight races at the moment this year, and it's just growing! It's a big championship with a growing number of supporters and we race internationally. This makes it VERY exciting!

GAME CHANGER…

The Mighty 963

The car Callum is racing in this year is the JOTA Sport Porsche 963. Here are some quick ROADSTER! facts all about it!

• The hybrid (petrol engine AND electric motor) Porsche 963 has been designed to compete at the very highest level in endurance motorsport. 

• The 963 has a number of advanced features such as a lightweight carbon-fibre body, and a cutting-edge hybrid powertrain. 

• The 963’s engine is based on the Porsche 918 Spyder. It is a huge 4.6-litre, twin-turbo, V8! 

• The 963 is designed to run on renewable fuels, making it kinder to the environment!

• The design of the 963 has been influenced by the legendary Porsche 956 and 962 racing classics!

• The rear of the car features a continuous illuminated strip and nameplate… similar to the current  Porsche 911 (type 992)  roadcar!