Massa Confirmed in Riley LMP2 Entry for Rolex 24

Photo: Formula E

Ex-Formula 1 star Felipe Massa will make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona in Riley’s Oreca 07 Gibson LMP2 entry.

As first revealed by Sportscar365, the 42-year-old Brazilian was in the frame for a seat after initially testing one of the team’s Ligier JS P320 Nissan LMP3 cars at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year.

It was followed up by another test at Daytona earlier this month and an additional outing this week at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, where the news was confirmed.

Massa will share driving duties of the LMP2 entry with countryman Felipe Fraga and his full season co-driver Gar Robinson plus Josh Burdon, who is set for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup races.

“I always tried to do one of these races in my career and it will be the first time that I will race the 24 Hours of Daytona with Riley Motorsports,” he said on social media.

“It’s a very great and important team here in the U.S., so I want to say thank you very much to Gar Robinson for the invitation, together with my brother Felipe Fraga.

“We’ve been racing in [Brazilian] stock car and it will be the first time we’ll be together in this very important team.

“Also to have Josh [Burdon], that we’re going to be four drivers here racing. I’m so happy. I’m sure it will be a great experience for me to be with this important race.”

Robinson added: “The opportunity came up and the ability to be able to share a car with a legend with Felipe Massa and Felipe Fraga is a dream come true.

“It checks all of the cool boxes on every box.”

Massa’s outing is expected to be a one-off with the team, with drivers set for the full season and Endurance Cup.

John Dagys

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