Marc Miller and Dominik Farnbacher were announced Tuesday to join the No. 33 Riley Motorsports Dodge Viper GT3-R lineup for the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup rounds in 2016.
Miller will race at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans, with Farnbacher joining as fourth driver of the No. 33 car at Daytona.
Both drivers are natural fits; Miller made his team debut at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca last year in preparation for his overall debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the team’s Dodge Viper GTS-R.
Farnbacher, meanwhile, is a Riley Motorsports veteran and Viper ace, having played a major part in the SRT factory program’s efforts from 2012 to 2014. He was also part of the Rolex 24 at Daytona winning lineup in 2015.
The Miller, Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen driver lineup will also return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second-consecutive year in 2016 if the ViperExchange.com/Riley Motorsports team is granted an invitation to compete in the race by the ACO.
“It was all pretty natural,” Bill Riley said. “We have a good selection of drivers, Ben and Jeroen are a great full-season pairing, and Jeroen as the lead driver really helps get the car up to speed in a hurry. Dominik is a turn-the-crank guy, he will get in the car and do just an unbelievable job when he is in there.
“Marc did a great job for us at Le Mans and we will run him in the longer races primarily to get him more seat time in preparation for a return to Le Mans in June. We had the opportunity for some continuity in the longer races which is why we are going this route.”
“I don’t mind doing things a little backwards,” Miller said. “My first major professional endurance race was the biggest in the world, Le Mans. Now I have the chance to debut at the three biggest in North America as well. I plan on taking the same approach as I did this year. Listen and learn and do what I’m told to do.”
“I only did the Rolex 24 this year and that was it for my U.S. program,” added Farnbacher. “I mostly did driving in Germany on the Nürburgring, but I think it will be no issue to be back in a Viper.”