CrowdStrike Racing by Algarve Pro Racing has announced the four drivers that will compete in its LMP2 class ORECA 07 at next month’s Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.
The team will compete for the class victory with a fresh line-up of Toby Sowery, Malthe Jakobsen, Colin Braun and George Kurtz for the team’s second appearance at the event.
The Crowdstrike team aims to get its season off to a fast start and build on its successes during the 2023 IMSA campaign, during which it won at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta. Additionally, Kurtz earned the Trueman Award for leading the IMSA points for all Bronze drivers, guaranteeing him an invitation to the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans.
For Kurtz, the winner of the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans Pro-Am class with APR, it will be his fourth Rolex start. He returns with his Le Mans, Asian Le Mans and GT3 co-driver Colin Braun who holds four wins at Daytona, including an overall victory in 2023.
“My overriding feeling is excitement about CrowdStrike Racing by APR and its driver line-up, particularly as Colin (Braun) has a winning pedigree at Daytona,” said Kurtz.
“Malthe is incredibly quick, Toby is a rising star for us and, having put in a lot of work during the off-season, we have an eye towards winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
“We have some unfinished business after the highs and lows of 2023. The Rolex 24 is the only North American endurance race I’m yet to win, having already had successes at Sebring, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans. Victory in 2024 would be a significant result for me personally, while also setting us on the road to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship titles.”
Jakobsen is Peugeot Sport’s WEC development driver and was part of the winning driver line-up in Sepang, while Sowery is new to APR but brings a wealth of closed- and open-wheel racing experience, including a third-place finish in the 2019 Indy Lights season.
“It isn’t my first time doing the Rolex 24 at Daytona, so I know how special and challenging it is,” commented Jakobsen. “It’s an historic event that every driver wants to win, and it’s cool that the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship starts with the biggest race of the season.
“Of course, my partnership with CrowdStrike Racing by APR began with the opening round of the 2023-24 Asian Le Mans Series at Sepang earlier in December, and we showed we have a strong car and driver line-up.
“It was good preparation with both positives and negatives that we will learn from moving forwards. As always, we will arrive at Daytona with the sole aim of winning.”
CrowdStrike Racing by APR will participate in the Roar Before the 24 test in January before the race starts on Saturday the 27th.
