Title-winning FIA World Endurance Championship WEC) outfit JOTA has received a major honour from British motorsport’s governing body. The team, which operates Cadillac’s Hypercar programme in the series, was celebrated during Motorsport UK’s annual ‘Night of Champions’. At the star-studded ceremony held at the Royal Automobile Club in London, Motorsport UK presented JOTA with the prestigious Sir Malcolm Campbell Trophy. The award recognises individuals or organisations that demonstrate exceptional achievement, innovation and influence within the motorsport industry.
A legacy of endurance racing success strengthened with Cadillac partnership
Founded in 2000, JOTA has built a formidable reputation in endurance racing over the past quarter-century. The team has secured championship titles in both the European Le Mans Series and the Asian Le Mans Series while also amassing 13 podium finishes at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In the FIA World Endurance Championship, JOTA claimed the LMP2 title in 2022. The squad subsequently stepped into the Hypercar era and continued to deliver strong results.
The team captured the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams in both 2023 and 2024. During that period, JOTA also made history by becoming the first independent entrant to win a race outright in the Hypercar era, achieving the landmark victory at Spa-Francorchamps.
JOTA strengthened its position at the forefront of endurance racing after partnering with Cadillac. The collaboration created the Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA entry, which quickly emerged as a competitive force in the championship.
Throughout the previous season, the team secured pole position at three of the eight FIA WEC rounds. The highlight arrived in São Paulo, where the team delivered a remarkable one-two finish, underlining the strength of the Cadillac-JOTA partnership.
Beyond results on the circuit, JOTA has continued to advance its engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Motorsport UK specifically highlighted the team’s technical innovation and sustained competitiveness when presenting the award.
Motorsport UK recognises JOTA contributions in WEC with Sir Malcolm Campbell Trophy at the Night of Champions
The Sir Malcolm Campbell Trophy stands among the most respected honours in British motorsport. Past recipients include major organisations and figures such as McLaren, Ford Performance and Ross Brawn.
By joining that distinguished list, JOTA has received formal recognition for its long-term contribution to sportscar racing and its growing influence within the global endurance racing landscape.
David Clark, whose leadership alongside co-founder Sam Hignett has helped guide the team’s development, reflected on the significance of the award.
“Receiving the Sir Malcolm Campbell Trophy is a moment of real pride for everyone at JOTA,” commented David Clark, whose vision, integrity and work ethic – alongside that of co-founder, Sam Hignett – have made JOTA so widely trusted and respected throughout the global motorsport community and beyond.
“This award recognises not only our achievements on-track, but also the dedication, skill and passion of every member of our team across all of our businesses. JOTA was established with the aim of building a culture of excellence, and to see that recognised in this way is incredibly special.”
A team effort behind the success
JOTA’s technical leadership also emphasised the collective commitment required to achieve success at the highest level of endurance racing.
“This award is testament to the relentless effort and commitment of our entire team,” echoed JOTA Technical Director, Tomoki ‘Taka’ Takahashi. “Whether in the workshop or at the circuit, every person contributes to the performance that JOTA is known for. We take our work extremely seriously, and our success in the Hypercar class shows what a motivated and united team can achieve. We are very proud to see that work acknowledged through such a prestigious trophy.”
“On behalf of Motorsport UK and everyone in our community, I extend our warmest congratulations to JOTA on being awarded the Sir Malcolm Campbell Memorial Trophy,” added Motorsport UK CBE and Chair, David Richards, hailing the company’s professionalism and competitive spirit.
“The judging panel and I wished to acknowledge the team’s exceptional contribution to sportscar racing over the past 26 years. This honour stands as a distinguished tribute to the entire team and the people within it. JOTA is wholly deserving of this recognition.”
The recognition at Motorsport UK’s Night of Champions highlights how far JOTA has progressed since its founding in 2000. With championship titles, historic race victories and a successful Hypercar partnership with Cadillac, the team has firmly established itself among the leading forces in modern endurance racing.
