Connect with us

WeatherTech Championship

Alegra Confirms TPNAEC Program With Porsche 911 GT3 R

Alegra Motorsports confirms TPNAEC program with Porsche…

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

Alegra Motorsports has confirmed that it will enter the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup with a brand-new Porsche 911 GT3 R, with the eye of potentially completing the remainder of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

The Florida-based squad debuted its new GT Daytona class contender at the recent IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona, with 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge champions Jesse Lazare (USA) and Daniel Morad (Canada) to team up alongside father-and-son Carlos and Michael de Quesada in next month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“This is an unbelievable lineup of young talented drivers,” Carlos de Quesada said. “Alegra has been around for 20 years, and I can say that these three drivers are some of the most talented I’ve ever worked with.”

Morad, who shifted from open-wheel to sports car racing in 2015, made his WeatherTech Championship debut in Alegra’s Riley BMW DP in this year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring, in a starring performance.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Carlos and the whole Alegra Motorsports team over the past two seasons,” Morad said. “To be taking on this next challenge, the Rolex 24, with Jesse and Michael will be very special.

“Jesse and I raced wheel to wheel in the last events of 2016, and it truly showed me how ready he is for this huge opportunity. As for Michael, he has become like a brother to me.

“We have been stablemates for the past few years in the Porsche GT3 Cup series here in Canada, and I can say that he is the real deal. This is a huge opportunity for us, and to be taking on the challenge with such a great team is so exciting.”

Nineteen-year-old Lazare, meanwhile, claimed 12 of 16 wins en route to the GT3 Cup Challenge USA championship.

“I have always wanted to race in the Rolex 24, and to be racing in it with Alegra just makes it that much better,” Lazare said. “They’re past winners of the race, and they are such a well-respected team.

“The team has performed all season in the Porsche GT3 Cup with Michael de Quesada and Daniel Morad. Daniel is a great talent, and Michael has shown some great speed and poise all season.”

A decision on a possible expanded program beyond the four Patron Endurance Cup races is expected to be made early next year.

The Andy Greene-led team will be at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 next month, ahead of the WeatherTech Championship season-opener on Jan. 28-29.

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

4 Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

More in WeatherTech Championship