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P1 Confirms Mercedes NAEC Lineup

P1 Motorsports confirms JC Perez, Kenton Koch, Robby Foley and Loris Spinelli for Rolex 24…

Image: P1 Motorsports

P1 Motorsports has confirmed its lineup for next month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, with team owner JC Perez set to be joined by Kenton Koch, Robby Foley and Loris Spinelli in its new Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The Florida-based team expands into IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition with a planned Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup program next year.

It comes on the heels of an ambitious debut year that included IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America competition.

“We came into the 2017 racing season with one goal on our mind,” said team manager Alberto Pena. “Get the team and JC up to speed to run Daytona.

“We’ve been planning this for over a year, and it’s been a group effort since day one.”

Perez, Koch and Foley were all part of the team’s IPC program this year, which saw 2016 Rolex 24 Prototype Challenge class winner Koch finish runner-up in the drivers’ championship.

“Last time I raced the 24 was in PC, and we were lucky enough to win.,” Koch said. “With P1, I’m more than confident we will have a shot, especially with the driver line up we have.”

Perez added: “This has been an amazing journey for me. I have learned so much this year and we are about to take on the hardest race in the U.S.

“I have been training all year long, and know I can hold my own with any driver in that field.

“Daytona is the fulfillment of one my lifelong dreams and I just didn’t want to pay for seat. I wanted to own a team and run it and make my mark.”

P1 will be pulling double-duty in next weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 as it will also field three Ligier JS P3s in the IPC season-opener.

A combination of the driving quartet will make up the team’s GTD lineup for the three remaining Patron Endurance Cup races at Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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