RWR Riley LMP2 Withdrawn from Rolex 24

Photo: Sonoco UK

Rick Ware Racing has withdrawn its LMP2 entry from this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, bringing the overall car count down to 38 cars for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opener.

The team’s Riley Mk. 30 Gibson was due to be driven by Cody Ware and Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award winner Johnathan Hoggard.

The Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner, along with fellow RWR refugee Mark Kvamme, have since moved to PPM’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 effort.

As reported by Sportscar365, the team had dropped Bronze-rated Kvamme and James Davison from the lineup following the Roar Before the Rolex 24, where the car completed only 22 laps after an accident by Davison damaged the team’s only rear deck.

In a statement issued Monday, the team said its withdrawal is due to “circumstances outside the team’s control” regarding driver requirements and the funding required to be “competitive at the top” of the class.

“The right combination of drivers, crew and of course funding are needed to compete at the LMP2 level,” the statement continued.

The team will focus its LMP2 efforts in the Asian Le Mans Series instead, with “major news” coming that will apparently see a full-time WeatherTech Championship entry post-Daytona. 

Sportscar365 understands that entry is likely to be an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo for the GT Daytona class with Cody Ware as one of the drivers.

The full-season NASCAR Cup Series team also plans to contest a full season of Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America in addition to finishing out the Asian Le Mans Series season and its targeted two-car effort at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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