Two of New Zealand’s top drivers have been named in Chip Ganassi Racing’s eight-man team to compete in the prototype-class at the 24 hours of Daytona race.
Scott Dixon and Brendon Hartley were both included in the heavily credentialed group to race two cars in Daytona Beach, Florida on January 30-31.
The race is regarded as one of the toughest endurance races in the world. It is part of the informal triple crown of endurance racing, which also includes the 24 hours of Le Mans and 12 hours of Sebring.
Auckland’s Dixon races with Chip Ganassi Racing in the Indy Car Series, which he won for the fourth time this year.
He has driven the 24 hours of Daytona for the team since 2004, picking up wins in 2006 and 2015.
Dixon’s Indy Car teammate and 2004 Indy Car champion Tony Kanaan and Nascar drivers Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray will join Dixon in the team’s No 2 car.
It is the same quartet who won the title in 2015.
Palmerston North’s Brendon Hartley will be in the team’s car No 1.
The endurance driving specialist had the best year of his career in 2015 picking up the FIA World Endurance Championship along with teammates Mark Webber and Timo Bernhard.
Hartley also finished second at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2015.
It will be his third year competing in the Daytona event, having previously driven with Starworks Motorsport.
Hartley will be joined by Austrian Alex Wruz, who is coming out of retirement for the race.
Wruz spent 11 years as a Formula One driver before turning to endurance racing in 2006.
The 41-year-old is a two-time winner of the 24 hour of Le Mans race (1996 and 2009).
British driver Andy Priaulx, who has wins in the 12 hours of Sebring and is a three-time FIA World Touring Car Champion, is also in the team.
Canadian Lance Stroll, 17, is the youngest driver in the team.
He is a development driver for Formula One team Williams Martini.
Stroll won the New Zealand-based Toyota Racing Series in 2015.
Chip Ganassi Racing has a strong history in the 24 hours of Daytona. They have six wins and two second-place finishes since 2006.
The team has also entered cars in the GT-class.
Dixon will defend his Indy Car title when the series kicks off in March.
Hartley will link up with his Porsche teammates to defend their FIA World Endurance title from April until November.
