CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Components One driver Kevin Magnussen will transfer to the IMSA sports activities automotive sequence in 2021 driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
The Danish driver shall be paired with Renger van der Zande in a Cadillac DPi-V.R, the group stated Thursday. Ganassi is returning to the sports activities automotive sequence after a one-year hiatus.
Magnussen presently competes for Haas in F1 however the 28-year-old was not retained for subsequent season. Magnussen gained the Components Renault 3.5 Collection in 2016 and was developed in McLaren’s Younger Driver Program. He’s the son of former F1 driver Jan Magnussen.
“If you’re in skilled racing wherever on this planet, you realize the title Chip Ganassi and what it represents in motorsports,” Magnussen stated. “Chip has constructed among the best racing organizations on and off the monitor, and you may look again in historical past and see the super report of success, particularly because it pertains to sports activities automotive racing.”
Ganassi groups gained the Rolex 24 at Daytona eight occasions and claimed seven IMSA championships and 64 victories from 2004-19. The group additionally has wins in each the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Van der Zande is a two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winner, most just lately in January when teamed with Ganassi driver Scott Dixon. The 34-year-old Dutch racer gained the IMSA championship in 2016 driving for Starworks Motorsport. He drove for Wayne Taylor Racing the final three seasons however was not prolonged for 2021, when WTR strikes from Cadillac to Acura.
“It is a first-class operation and the group is aware of methods to win the massive races,” van der Zande stated. “One of many issues that stood out to me was listening to that as a former driver, Chip at all times wished to create and construct a group that he would wish to drive for. He has actually carried out that.”
Ganassi stated its endurance drivers shall be introduced at a later date, though six-time IndyCar champion Dixon is anticipated to be a part of the lineup.
Lineups for the 2021 IMSA season are quickly coming along with a flurry of bulletins over the past week. Meyer Shank Racing added Juan Pablo Montoya and AJ Allmendinger as its endurance drivers together with Olivier Pla and Dane Cameron.
Cameron and Montoya have been teammates the final three seasons at Crew Penske however that group closed on the finish of the season.
“Dane and I’ve a very nice relationship that has additionally became a friendship,” Montoya stated. “We each actually perceive one another and know what we want from one another to be aggressive. I am trying ahead to persevering with the connection with him.”
Wayne Taylor Racing overhauled its 2021 lineup for its transfer to Acura. Ricky Taylor, a part of the Crew Penske championship profitable group this season, returns to his father’s group alongside Filipe Albuquerque. Alexander Rossi and Helio Castroneves would be the endurance drivers.
Within the GT Daytona class, Vasser Sullivan Racing stated Jack Hawksworth and Aaron Telitz will run for the championship within the Lexus RC F GT3. They gained three races collectively and completed third within the 2020 standings.
“Now we have not been shy about our assault on the IMSA GTD championship for 2021,” group co-owner Jimmy Vasser stated. “Securing each Hawksworth and Telitz within the No. 14 is the primary of some dominoes to fall as we put together our assault on this championship.”
Vasser Sullivan didn’t announce its lineup for its second automotive, or its endurance drivers.