IMSA: List growing of international stars in Rolex 24 at Daytona

The entry list continues to grow for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship ahead of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with a number of big names.

Endurance races around the world often grab the attention from across the spectrum of motorsports. 24-hour races at Daytona, Le Mans, and Bathurst will bring together racers from various disciplines, from stock cars to open wheelers. The 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will be no exception, with a number of big names already announced for the grid.

The stock car racing world will be well represented in IMSA in January. Already Ford Performance has announced that their development drivers will combine to drive a Ford Mustang in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge support series. This includes drivers Cole Custer, Ty Majeski, Chase Briscoe, and Austin Cindric. A.J. Allmendinger, meanwhile has been announced as part of the Michael Shank Racing team for the big event. More names could come from the NASCAR garage to help out other teams, including Wayne Taylor Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing.

If there is one category that will provide the most drivers for the round the clock event, it is the Verizon IndyCar Series. Former drivers Helio Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya will spearhead Team Penske’s new prototype effort in 2018. They will be joined in the Rolex 24 by Simon Pagenaud and Graham Rahal. Chip Ganassi Racing will continue their efforts in GT Le Mans, with Scott Dixon and Sebastian Bourdais joining their series regulars. Other drivers are still expected to be announced as part of other team’s plans. Ryan Hunter-Reay could reprise his role as an endurance driver with either Spirit of Daytona Racing or Wayne Taylor Racing.

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Perhaps the biggest surprise of the racing offseason has been the influx of Formula One stars and up and comers into the Rolex 24. United Autosports will field an entry that will feature former F1 champion and McLaren driver Fernando Alonso, along with McLaren reserve driver Lando Norris. The team’s second car will feature Williams Martini Racing reserve driver Paul di Resta and former Formula One competitor Bruno Senna. Jackie Chan DC Racing will also feature a world championship flare, with Williams driver Lance Stroll anchoring the team’s first car in the prototype category.

Finally, Formula E will also have a strong presence in the endurance race, much like they do in most World Endurance Championship events. In the prototype category, former competitor Loic Duval will drive with CORE Autosport in their first foray into the top division. Meanwhile, three former and current FE drivers – Robin Frijns, Felix Rosenqvist, and Antonio Felix da Costa – will all drive with Jackie Chan DC Racing in one of their two LMP2 cars. Finally, Sam Bird will move from DS Virgin Racing to the Ferrari camp for the Rolex 24, racing in the GTD category with Scuderia Corsa.

Next: 2018 IMSA on Fox Sports schedule released

Of course, many more names from around the world of motorsports could still join the grid for the 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Beyond The Flag will have it all covered for you here, leading up to the race that kicks off the new racing year in the United States.

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