Pilgrim Completes Black Swan Lineup for NAEC

Black Swan Racing’s driver lineup for next month’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona is now complete, with the addition of Andy Pilgrim to the team’s roster.

Pilgrim, who was recently downgraded to Silver driver rating, will join season-long drivers Tim Pappas and Nick Catsburg in the team’s Porsche 911 GT3 R for all four Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup races, joined by the previously announced Patrick Long for Daytona.

“Andy and I have been friends for a long time, and as soon as he became available I knew he would be a great addition to our team,” team owner/driver Pappas said.

“He’s a proven winner of the race, a champion in almost every category he’s driven in, and overall should be a great fit for our team.

“With Nicky, Pat, and now Andy, we clearly have a formidable lineup and with some of the most respected drivers in the series.”

Pilgrim and Pappas have competed against each other, most recently in Pirelli World Challenge, although were previous teammates under the Black Swan Ford GT program at Petit Le Mans in 2008.

Cadillac and Pilgrim parted ways following the 2015 season, which has given the former GM factory driver a fresh start and the opportunity to rejoin Pappas’ squad for a four-round campaign next year.

“I couldn’t be happier to return to Daytona,” Pilgrim said. “This place has so many special memories for me, driving alongside Dale Earnhardt in 2001, to winning overall three years later, it’s an event unlike any other.

“Obviously I’ve competed against Black Swan for the last several years, and I’m definitely eager to re-unite with them, Tim Pappas and I have a history that goes back a long time, and between Nicky Catsburg and Patrick Long we have an outstanding lineup.

“I have no doubt we’ll all learn from each other as we figure out this new Porsche next week.”

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