TCR / 19 December 2023
JAS Motorsport unveils two new Development Drivers for 2024
JAS Motorsport is delighted to reveal the first two members of the Italian organisation's Driver Development Programme (DDP) for 2024; Ignacio Montenegro and Levente Losonczy.
Following the success of the Programme and its members this year, the DDP continues into 2024 with a fresh crop of competitors racing the Honda Civic Type R TCR in high-profile touring car series in Europe.
New TCR South America Champion Ignacio Montenegro and TCR Italy podium finisher Levente Losonczy will both join the DDP for 2024, each talented youngster becoming a JAS Motorsport Development Driver in the process.
As part of their roles within the DDP, both drivers have also confirmed racing programmes in a Honda Civic Type R TCR run by ALM Motorsport. Montenegro will compete in both TCR Europe and TCR Spain while Losonczy will race in TCR Europe and TCR Italy.
Officially launched in 2020, the DDP is a comprehensive package aimed at preparing the next generation of young racers for the rigours and challenges of life as a professional competitor.
The programme focuses on developing each driver's on- and off-track skills in a variety of areas with expertise and coaching provided by JAS Motorsport's team of technicians and managers plus experienced drivers from within the Honda Racing family.
Areas of focus include disciplines such as managing tyres and fuel, pitstop training, optimising compromised set-ups for co-drivers, effective engineer and team communication, using data to impact car behaviour and working with customer teams.
The 2023 season was a strong one for DDP drivers with Leonardo Moncini scoring multiple class podiums in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup and Axel Gnos taking the fight for the Italian GT Pro-Am crown down to the final event.
Philip Lindberg became a race winner in TCR Denmark while Scott Sumpton scored his maiden touring car podium finishes in TCR Spain at the end of the season.
Further members of the DDP will be announced in the new year.
For more information about the JAS Motorsport Driver Development Programme, please visit the JAS Motorsport website.
2024 JAS Motorsport Development Drivers
Ignacio Montenegro (19, Argentina) is a new face to the DDP, but no stranger to the Civic Type R TCR. He was one of the break-out stars of global TCR competition this year as a magnificent early-season run of results set him on the way to becoming TCR South America champion with Squadra Martino. With six wins across the year he also claimed the runner-up spot in TCR Brasil. In 2024 he will race in both TCR Europe and TCR Spain with ALM Motorsport.
Levente Losonczy (20, Hungary) is also a fresh addition to the DDP. He made his debut in the Clio Cup Central Europe and moved up to touring car racing in 2022; finishing third in the TCR Eastern Europe Junior Trophy. This year he was third in the TCR Italy Under-25s points, having scored an overall podium finish at the opening event of the year. In 2024 he will race in both TCR Europe and TCR Italy with ALM Motorsport.
What the drivers said...
Ignacio Montenegro said: "First of all, I wish to thank all the people who helped me to reach this goal of joining the JAS Motorsport Driver Development Programme and ALM Motorsport programme to continue my career in Europe. The TCR concept is also instrumental, because racing the same cars as the one I drove in TCR South America makes everything easier. I hope to be up to task of representing the Argentine colours at the highest level."
Levente Losonczy said: "I'm very excited to join the JAS Motorsport Driver Development Programme and to confirm a race programme with a team as prestigious as ALM Motorsport. The DDP offers me the chance to learn so much about how to be a professional racing driver; learning about the car, teamwork and self-preparation and I plan to take everything I possibly can from the experience. I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to drive the Honda for the first time."
