Motul roars into 2018 with IMSA at Daytona 24

The testing is over, the cars and Motul-lubricated engines, drivers and teams are ready:  the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship (IMSA) is set to go! 

Last October Motul successfully began a long-term partnership with IMSA with title sponsorship of Motul Petit Le Mans, the final round of the 2017 season.  The company is “Official Motor Oil” and official lubricant to IMSA and its sister championship, the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.

Performance in action at Daytona

This year kicks off with the 56th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona at the famous Daytona International Speedway in Florida, USA on 27/28th January.  This historic and prestigious race offers competitors the perfect launchpad into the season, with 24 hours of racing ahead which will demonstrate the reliability, efficiency and performance of their teams. Motul’s products, which have long been a part of endurance racing, will as well shine once more in front of a knowledgeable and enthusiastic North American audience.

Who to cheer on at Daytona

The field of 50 cars is split between 20 prototypes, 9 GTLM and 21 GTD cars and the driver list includes a real who’s who of racing, especially in the two Motul-supported teams! 

Both are entered in the LMP2 (prototype) category and the two United Autosports Ligier JS P217s feature none other than F1 double World Champion Fernando Alonso (ESP) – making his sportscar racing debut – alongside British 18-year-olds, Lando Norris (youngest ever FIA F3 European Champion) and Phil Hanson.  

The second United Autosports entry is also prestigious with 2017 LMP2 World Champion Bruno Senna of Brazil leading young drivers Will Owen (USA) and Hugo de Sadeleer (CHE) and ex F1 driver Paul Di Resta, the Briton also making his endurance racing debut.  Senna was a standout talent in the WEC last year with the Motul-supported Vaillante Rebellion team and his experience will be invaluable to his team mates.

Also wearing the red and white of Motul will be Core Autosport – a team well known in IMSA but which is making its LMP2 debut at Daytona.  The American team has recruited two former FIA WEC World Endurance Champions and 24 Hours of Le Mans winners for Daytona: Frenchmen Romain Dumas and Loïc Duval. Jon Bennett (USA) and Colin Braun (USA) couldn’t be in better hands for the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener.