American LMP2 program anchored by Oliver Jarvis — a British prototype veteran with deep IMSA history from his Mazda factory days.
Oliver Jarvis spent years as a factory Mazda driver in IMSA, becoming one of the most respected prototype drivers in the series. His familiarity with Sebring International Raceway — its bumps, its traffic patterns, its pit lane procedures — is comprehensive. He now brings that expertise to the Intersport Racing LMP2 effort.
One ORECA LMP2 07-Gibson competing in LMP2 class
Intersport Racing is an American-based IMSA team that provides a professional LMP2 platform for both established drivers and developing talents. The team's operational experience in endurance racing — managing long stints, pit stop execution, and race-day strategy — gives their entries a genuine competitive foundation.
Running an LMP2 car at Sebring means navigating one of motorsport's most challenging 12 hours: the famous bumps, the traffic management through four different classes, the Florida heat, and the strategic complexity of a half-day race. Intersport Racing's accumulated experience makes them a capable operator in this demanding environment.
Oliver Jarvis is a British prototype specialist who built his IMSA reputation with Mazda Team Joest — the factory Mazda program that ran the RT24-P DPi and competed at the front of the overall field for several seasons. Jarvis was one of the fastest and most reliable drivers in the series during his Mazda years, regularly challenging for outright wins at Sebring, Daytona, and other marquee IMSA events.
His transition to LMP2 racing came as the Mazda factory program wound down. The skills that made him a factory prototype driver — smooth tire management, precise car control over rough surfaces, consistent pace across long stints — transfer directly to LMP2 competition. His Sebring track knowledge is deep: the specific braking points, the bump locations, the optimum lines through the airfield section. This familiarity is worth time on the clock.
Chad Lucas is an American sportscar driver who provides another set of experienced hands behind the wheel, helping Intersport's campaign for LMP2 class honors across the 12 hours.
Sebring International Raceway is famous for being harsh on both cars and drivers. The track uses sections of the old Hendricks Army Airfield, meaning portions of the circuit run on deteriorating concrete slabs that create notorious bumps. The impact of these bumps multiplies over hours of racing — cars start shaking, components fatigue, drivers' concentration erodes. Teams that can engineer cars to handle the bumps while maintaining pace hold a significant advantage.
Oliver Jarvis's years of experience at Sebring mean he can provide precise setup feedback to help Intersport find the optimal balance between smooth bump absorption and lap time. That knowledge is invaluable.
Mazda Team Joest (MTJ) was one of IMSA's most exciting programs in the late 2010s and early 2020s, featuring the Mazda RT24-P prototype. Operated by the legendary Joest Racing organization (known for Le Mans dominance with Porsche and Audi), MTJ represented Mazda's bold ambition to compete at the front of IMSA's top class. Oliver Jarvis was central to that effort, and his experience there gives him a deep understanding of what it takes to win at Sebring.
At Sebring, LMP2 cars typically run approximately 5-7 seconds per lap slower than GTP cars. In a race context, this means GTP cars will be "lapping" LMP2 cars — catching and passing the slower prototype class regularly. Drivers must have excellent awareness of which car is behind them and its relative speed, allowing safe and efficient position swaps without disrupting either car's rhythm. Managing these interactions is a genuine skill in endurance racing.