Alegra Motorsports has unveiled the driver line-up for its Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The Tampa-based outfit will make its return to the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship at Daytona, a race it won with a Porsche 911 GT3 R in 2017.
Daniel Morad and Michael de Quesada, who were part of the team’s line-up in 2017, team up once again, with ex-Ford Chip Ganassi driver Billy Johnson also returning after several GT World Challenge America appearances with the team in 2019.
“I’m looking forward to getting back in the car with Daniel and the rest of the team,” said de Quesada. “It was a surreal experience when we won the 24 Hours back in 2017, so hopefully we can do that again in 2021. “
Since 2017, Morad has raced Audi machinery at Daytona, driving for Land Motorsport in 2019 and finishing third in class with Team WRT in 2020. He also made an appearance for AIM Vasser Sullivan during the 2020 season.
“I’m really happy to be back with Alegra Motorsports in the IMSA WeatherTech series,” said Morad. This will be the first time we’ve reunited the squad in the championship since we won the Rolex 24 in 2017.”
“It’s a fresh look for us, as the team recently made a big switch to the AMG brand. This is something I am very much looking forward to.”
Joining the returning trio at Daytona is 2016 Blancpain GT Series winner and Mercedes factory driver Maxi Buhk. Buhk returns to the Florida endurance classic for the first time since 2019.
“It’s great to be supporting Alegra Motorsports and their new Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3,” Buhk said. “There is a good amount of endurance racing and winning in this driver line up which will play a key role in this race.”
SunEnergy1 Racing bolsters Mercedes presence at Daytona
SunEnergy1 Racing has also confrmed the line-up for its one-car Mercedes GT3 effort at Daytona. The team last raced at Daytona in 2017, but has now returned with a single Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
Driving duties at Daytona will be carried out by Kenny Habul, joined by Mikael Grenier and Mercedes-AMG factory racers Raffaele Marciello and Luca Stolz.
Marciello, who won the 2018 GT World Challenge Europe title, will make his IMSA debut at Daytona, while Stolz will be making his fourth start in the Florida endurance classic.
Meanwhile, Grenier reunites with Habul, as he was part of the team’s 2017 Daytona line-up alongside Thomas Jaeger and Maro Engel.