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Alegra To Make GTD Return With Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo

Alegra Motorsports is returning to IMSA competition in 2021 in partnership with Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing…

Image: Alegra Motorsports

Alegra Motorsports announced its return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona class in 2021 in partnership with Mercedes-AMG Motorsports Customer Racing.

The two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona class-winning team has stated its intentions to begin the season in Daytona campaigning a single Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, with the possibility of expanding to a second car later in the year.

The driver lineup has been determined, but will not be announced until the conclusion of the 2020 IMSA season next month.

Team owner Carlos de Quesada said Alegra has been evaluating its options for a return to top-level sports car racing and determined the Mercedes package is the right direction for the future.

Alegra’s last GTD entry came in the 2017 season with a Porsche 911 GT3 R.

The team then switched its focus to the former Pirelli World Challenge series in 2018 and remained there through the competition’s transition into GT World Challenge America powered by AWS last year.

“All of us at Alegra Motorsports first took notice of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 when we raced them for the win throughout the 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona,” said de Quesada.

“It was an impressive debut for the Mercedes-AMG GT3, and the entire Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing effort showed early on it is a well-supported and technically strong program.

“We have spent 2020, even before the COVID-19 shutdown, as an evaluation year and can’t wait to return to competition with Mercedes-AMG.”

Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing, said he was eager to welcome Alegra into the Mercedes fold.

“I am very glad a well-known and established team like Alegra Motorsports has joined the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing family with our IMSA program,” he said.

“In the past 10 years, our customer racing program has grown in terms of several championship wins and single race victories.

“So, we are happy to have a new team joining the program that is professional, has a lot of experience in GT3 racing and knows how to win races and championships.

“We are very proud they are with Mercedes-AMG for the coming year, we wish them all the best of luck and offer our full support.”

Alegra Motorsports is expected to take delivery of its new Mercedes-AMG GT3 at its Tampa Bay, Florida headquarters before the end of 2020.

Ryan Myrehn is an Indianapolis-based broadcaster and reporter. In addition to his work covering primarily domestic sports car racing for Sportscar365, he is the lead announcer for SRO America's TV coverage as well as a pit reporter for IndyCar Radio. Myrehn, a graduate of DePauw University, is also the host of Sportscar365's “Double Stint” Podcast.

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