CORE Autosport has completed its driver lineup for the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Patrick Long and Nic Jonsson will join Jon Bennett and Colin Braun in its #54 Porsche 911 GT3 R for the team’s first GTD attempt at the race.
Long is no stranger to CORE autosport, having partnered with both Braun and Tom Kimber-Smith in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for CORE’s 2013 GT effort in the American Le Mans Series. Porsche’s only American factory driver brings with him 14 years of Porsche experience, including a victory and three podiums at the Rolex 24.
“It’s great to be back with CORE autosport,” said Long, one of Porsche’s longstanding factory drivers. “I feel we have a special past together and rejoining them for their first race in the GT3R has a special connection to the first time we rolled out as a team in the 911 RSR at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2013.
“There is some heavy competition in this year’s GTD class, but I have huge respect and confidence in the program Jon Bennett and Morgan Brady have put together and I know there will be no punches pulled leading up to the start of this year’s Rolex 24.”
Jonsson has also be confirmed by the team for the full NAEC schedule which includes the races at Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta as well as Daytona. Jonsson is of course one of the most experiences sportscar drivers in the IMSA paddock, having raced in the Rolex Sports Car Series, American Le Mans Series and World Endurance Championship. The Swede has finished on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times and earned class victories at Sebring and Petit Le Mans.
Long and Jonsson will get their first seat time in the #54 Porsche 911 GT3 R at the Roar Before the 24 test at the circuit, January 6-8, before the Rolex 24 later in the month, running from 26–29.
