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Bortolotti, Ineichen to Defend Rolex 24 Win for Grasser

Austrian squad confirms Bortolotti, Ineichen, Engelhart for Rolex 24 title defense…

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Mirko Bortolotti and Rolf Ineichen will defend their Rolex 24 at Daytona class victory, having been confirmed in Grasser Racing Team’s lineup for next month’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opener.

The Lamborghini factory driver and Silver-rated Swiss will additionally complete the Michelin Endurance Cup races in GRT’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, as part of an expanded effort for the Austrian squad.

Team principal Gottfried Grasser confirmed to Sportscar365 that Bortolotti and Ineichen will be joined by Christian Engelhart, alongside a to-be-announced Silver-rated driver for the Rolex 24.

All three drivers turned laps in its new-for-2019 Lamborghini during this week’s Michelin On-Track Opportunity, which marked the team’s first experience on the French rubber.

Bortolotti, the 2017 Blancpain GT Series Champion and Ineichen teamed with newly named factory driver Franck Perera and Rik Breukers for GT Daytona class honors in this year’s race, marking the first-ever 24-hour victory for Lamborghini.

Grasser will expand into a full Endurance Cup program for the first time, while also supporting Ebimotors’ effort in a sister Lamborghini, which was also present at the track day with Fabio Babini and Emanuele Busnelli.

As many as six Lamborghinis could be on the grid for Daytona, alongside the two GRT-supported entries and full-season efforts from Magnus Racing and Paul Miller Racing.

A third full-season Lamborghini is reportedly a possibility for 2019.

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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