Rosenqvist Set for Ford GT Test

Photo: Formula E

Newly signed Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar driver Felix Rosenqvist is set to turn his first laps in a Ford GT, ahead of possible outings in the GTE contender next year.

Sportscar365 has learned that the Swede is slated to take part in a two-day private test with the team at Daytona, which begins on Tuesday.

Rosenqvist is set to share testing duties of the two Multimatic-built cars with 2018 drivers Dirk Mueller, Joey Hand, Sebastien Bourdais, Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook and Scott Dixon, who are all expected to return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship squad.

While having two previous starts in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, it’s unclear if Rosenqvist could be a part of the team’s lineup for the Florida endurance classic, with CGR having utilized three-driver lineups in its previous outings, and only the two full-season Fords expected.

A run in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will likely again see a four-car entry, however, could be possible, depending on whether Tony Kanaan will be retained as the third driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship-entered No. 67 Ford.

The 26-year-old was confirmed for a full-season IndyCar run with CGR in September.

Zanardi Set for First Laps at Daytona

Fellow GT Le Mans squad BMW Team RLL, meanwhile, has a single-day test at Daytona scheduled for next week, where Alex Zanardi is expected to get his first laps in at the high-banked oval/road course.

The Italian, who is slated to make his Rolex 24 debut with a specially equipped steering wheel system, will be joined by Connor De Phillippi, John Edwards, Tom Blomqvist and Colton Herta, who has been tipped for a race seat as well.

BMW’s full-season and Rolex 24 driver lineups are expected to be announced on Friday during its Sports Trophy dinner in Munich.

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