WeatherTech Racing drivers Gunnar Jeanette and Cooper MacNiel will be joined by 2016 V8 Supercars Champion Shane van Gisbergen and Mercedes factory driver Thomas Jäger for January’s Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, the team has confirmed.
For 2017, WeatherTech racing is fielding a Mercedes AMG GT3, and were running earlier this week at Daytona International Speedway in the Pre-Season IMSA-sanctioned test with van Gisbergen.
“The WeatherTech Racing Mercedes is fun to drive,” van Gisbergen said during the test. “I am getting more and more used to it here at Daytona. These two days we are all about getting comfortable with the car and the team.
“It is a little different from what I am used to with the McLaren that has the engine in the middle. This Mercedes is more like my V8 Supercar, so the transition is a little easier. I like the way it drives, especially into the corners.”
Jäger meanwhile, who didn’t drive at the test, is excited to be making his Rolex 24 debut next year with the team.
“I am excited to join the WeatherTech Racing effort for the 24 hours,” Jäger said. “Having competed in many endurance races around the world, 2017 will be my first Daytona 24 hour race, so I´m excited and looking forward to it.
“I’ve been in the AMG Customers Sports department since the very beginning in 2010 and was deeply involved in the development of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 as a test driver. So I´ll share all my experience and knowledge to make the program successful in the U.S.
“It´s a very professional team with nice people, I feel really comfortable. Also driver line-up is great, all team players with the same target.”
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will begin the 2017 season with the traditional ‘Roar Before the 24’ at Daytona, January 6-8, and then the 55th running of the Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona, January 26-29.
