Olly Jarvis eyes Le Mans test after reaching top of IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship standings

Oliver Jarvis has taken top spot in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship standings and is now looking to do the same at Le Mans this weekend.

The Burwell-based Meyer Shank Racing driver, who competes with Saffron Walden-based Tom Blomqvist, was taking part in the Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle Park last weekend.

The duo ran second for virtually the entire 100-minute race in the No 60 MSR with Curb-Aganjanian Acura ARX-05.

Operating a one pit-stop strategy, the final 20 minutes saw Jarvis fight off attacks by two different challengers in the last 15 laps – with the fuel alarm displayed with two laps to go – as the top four cars finished within two seconds of each other.

It meant that Jarvis and Blomqvist earned a third successive race, as Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande secured victory by just 0.398 seconds.

“Firstly, the team has done an amazing job and Tom was awesome all weekend,” said Jarvis.

“To come away with a P2 on a street track is pretty awesome. It was a tough race, it felt like the 01 was taking it steady out front trying to bring the 02 into play which made life a little bit difficult.

“I’m happy to bring the car back in one piece and on the podium and score some good points. Big thanks to the team.”

Jarvis and Blomqvist now lead the standings by 30 points, with 2,027, with four races of the season remaining.

Jarvis now heads back to this side of the Atlantic to compete in the 90th running of the famous Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend (June 11 and 12).

He will be competing for Wakefield-based United Autosports, who won the event two years ago, in an Oreca in the LMP2 class.

Jarvis will be alongside Alex Lynn and Josh Pierson, who is a 16-year-old American set to make history by becoming the youngest ever driver to contest the annual event.

“It’s an incredible race – the world’s biggest and most prestigious sportscar race,” said Jarvis, who has competed at Le Mans on 10 previous occasions, winning the LMP2 category in 2017.

“I’m excited to be racing there again and with United Autosports for the first time there and hope to come away with a top result.”