Rockenfeller to Replace Bourdais at Vector Sport for Sebring

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix.com

Mike Rockenfeller will stand in for Sebastien Bourdais in the new Vector Sport LMP2 entry for next month’s FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener at Sebring.

The ex-Audi factory driver will join full season drivers Nico Mueller and Ryan Cullen for the pre-season Prologue test and 1000 Miles of Sebring race due to Bourdais’ IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship commitments with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Fellow CGR driver Alex Lynn, who has a full-season drive with United Autosports, will also be prioritizing the IMSA event and skipping the WEC season-opener as well due to orders from the Cadillac-backed IMSA squad.

“We knew from the start that Seb wouldn’t be able to be with us at Sebring, but we couldn’t have a better replacement for him than Mike and I know he’s going to fit in really well with the team,” said team manager Gary Holland.

“His Sebring experience will be massively important to Nico and Ryan, and we can’t wait to get going during the Prologue weekend prior to the 1000 Miles of Sebring.”

Rockenfeller is now set to pull double duty between the WEC and IMSA races, with his co-drivers in the No. 48 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R, Kamui Kobayashi and Jimmie Johnson, set for WEC and IndyCar action on the same weekend as well.

“Sebring is going to be a busy week for me but I’m looking forward to it; I can’t wait to start work and try and get some trophies,” Rockenfeller said.

“Big thanks to Action Express Racing and Ally for giving me the opportunity to do this double-header. The Sebring round is very important for them but I’m very happy to do both and I’m sure we’ll make it work.”

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