Wayne Taylor Racing will race in next January’s Rolex 24 Hours with a formidable driver-crew in its #10 Cadillac DPi V.R. The team has confirmed that two-time F1 Champion Fernando Alonso and Toyota WEC factory star Kamui Kobayashi will partner the team’s full-time drivers, Jordan Taylor and Renger van der Zane, for the Floridian twice-around-the-clock classic.
“I am extremely excited to have added Fernando Alonso and Kamui Kobayashi as teammates for Jordan and Renger at Daytona,” said team owner Wayne Taylor. His team has one Rolex 24 win to its name, back in 2017, in what was the first ever race for the DPi formula in IMSA.
“Both Fernando and Kamui are the cream of the crop of world-class driving talent, not only in F1 but as current sportscar drivers. It’s taken a long time to put this all together and I’d like to thank everybody who made it all happen.
“Fernando drove at Daytona last year, and it’ll be the first time at the 24-hour for Kamui, who is a superstar driver who will figure it out quickly.
“We have plans to integrate both drivers into our programme very efficiently and successfully. I’m absolutely ecstatic that we have been able to make this happen, and I can’t wait to get to Daytona.”
For 2018 Le Mans winner and full-season WEC Toyota driver Alonso, it’ll be his second start in the Rolex 24.
The Spaniard made his debut in this year’s race with United Autosports, which served as his first 24-hour race. The news follows his final F1 start in Abu Dhabi last weekend.
“I am very happy about joining Wayne Taylor Racing to race at the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” said Alonso, who also competed in the 2017 Indianapolis 500 for Andretti Autosport and is slated to compete in the event again in 2019 with McLaren.
“This is undoubtedly one of the greatest races in American and world motorsport. Returning to the United States is always special. The atmosphere created by the fans is unique throughout an incredible weekend. I really hope to fight for the win, as well as having fun and putting a smile on the fans’ faces.
“I made my debut last year both in endurance races and with these sportscar prototypes, as well as on this track. I was left wanting much more after a brake issue ended our hopes of stepping on the podium.
So excited to have @alo_oficial and @kamui_kobayashi joining @Rengervdz and I for the 2019 Rolex 24. Here’s my interview with Fernando. He was so excited at the end! #Rolex24 pic.twitter.com/OlxgkwwXsO
— Jordan Taylor (@jordan10taylor) November 27, 2018
“After an intense year in which I’ve competed in both Formula One and the WEC, I’m really looking forward to 2019 and attempting to conquer one of the most important races in the world. I’m brimming with hunger and desire and I can’t wait for the first race of next season and going out on track to battle with my teammates.”
Kobayashi (who also has F1 experience) meanwhile, will make his Rolex 24 Hours debut as part of this effort. Currently, Kobayashi sits second in the WEC standings after two race wins in Toyota’s #7 TS050 HYBRID.
“I would like to thank Wayne Taylor for giving me this wonderful opportunity to race at the historic Daytona 24-hour,” Kobayashi said. “It is one of the most popular endurance races and I am so excited to have my Daytona debut with the 2017-winning team.
“This will also be my first race in the U.S. and I’m really looking forward to having a good race with the Konica Minolta Cadillac team.”
The 57th Rolex 24 is set to run on January 26th-27th next year. It will be preceded by the annual of Roar Before the 24 test days Jan. 4th-6th.
