THE Le Mans 24 hour race begins tomorrow (Saturday) and Tonbridge-based Jota Sport will be adding their own V10 machine to the proceedings.

An American team of mechanics have been working against the clock at the team’s headquarters near Frant to prepare the Lola Judd car for one of the most demanding races in motorsport.

Jota team principal Sam Hignett has brought in US racers Team Cytosport to run the car and three drivers will compete against experiences pros such as Heinz Harald Frentzen and Jacques Villeneuve.

Lining up for the Kent-backed team, who are competing under the guise of Charouz Racing System, will be Greg Pickett, Klaus Graf and 1988 Le Mans winner Jan Lammers.

Hignett knows competition will be tough and has set realistic targets.

He said: “Pre-qualifying was 12th. That was behind six factory diesel cars and a couple of factory petrol cars and we’re not going to beat them. We’re one of the highest privateers and we’ve got to aim for the top 10 but it will be tough.”