Rast to Lead G-Drive LMP2 Crew at Daytona

Three-time DTM champion Rene Rast will lead G-Drive Racing’s LMP2 lineup for the team’s first attempt at the Rolex 24 at Daytona next month.

Rast, who contested the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship with G-Drive, will link up with former IndyCar competitor Ed Jones, FIA Formula 3 racer Oliver Rasmussen and Francois Heriau, who fulfills the need for a Bronze-rated driver in the quartet.

Rast is set for his seventh Rolex 24 and his second in an LMP2 car, after finishing on the podium in the 2017 edition aboard a VisitFlorida Racing Riley Mk. 30 Gibson.

He previously won the GT Daytona class in 2016 driving a Magnus Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3, and also represented the Mazda DPi program twice.

The other G-Drive crew for Daytona consists of Luca Ghiotto, James Allen, Tijmen van der Helm and American Bronze-rated driver John Falb.

Ghiotto is an FIA Formula 2 race winner, while Allen has been a prominent LMP2 driver in recent European Le Mans Series campaigns.

Like Rasmussen, Dutch teenager Van der Helm raced in Formula 3 this year. He also made his sports car racing debut courtesy of some Michelin Le Mans Cup starts.

Both G-Drive cars are being operated by Algarve Pro Racing, which supported the Russian-based entry in the European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series this year.

The two organizations are embarking on an FIA World Endurance Championship effort together in 2022 but will kick off the year with an IMSA cameo.

“We continue to actively prepare for the 2022 season, which will be very eventful for our team,” said G-Drive Racing team principal Roman Rusinov.

“It will start overseas with the legendary 24-hour endurance race in Daytona. G-Drive Racing has been the most successful team in the LMP2 class over the last decade so the interest in our first participation in the Daytona 24 hours was very high.

“As always, we carefully approached the choice of drivers, and I think we have assembled the best possible team, which is a mix of youth and experience.

“I am especially glad that my friend Rene Rast has returned to our team. His speed, experience, and past success at  Daytona make him extremely valuable for the team and I’m sure we have all ingredients for victory in this iconic event.”

G-Drive has yet to announce its WEC lineup, however Sportscar365 understands that ex-Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat could be under consideration for a seat.