DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 20: #2 Discount Tire Ford driver Austin Cindrick celebrates in Ruoff Mortgage’s win lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rick Ware Racing has confirmed its entry to the ORECA 07 Gibson in the LMP2 class for a full season campaign in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Additionally, RWR announces its driver lineup.
The team’s full-season driver line-up will consist of Eric Lux and Pietro Fittipaldi. Devlin DeFrancesco will complete the duo for the remainder of the Michelin Endurance Cup events. Defending Daytona 500 champion Austin Cindrick will round out the quad in the season-opener twice over the clock.
With Lux and DeFrancesco entering as defending class winners of the 2022 Rolex 24 LMP2 class at Daytona, the team feels the addition of Cindric and DeFrancesco will boost the duo’s chances of allowing them to make it two-straight.
Additionally, 2023 marks the 40th season of Rick Weir’s participation in professional motorsports.
“The 24 Hours of Daytona is one of motorsports’ crown jewels,” said Rick Weir. “He’s right up there with the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I couldn’t be happier about the driver lineup we have at the Rolex 24 this year. It’s great to have drivers with F1, NASCAR, Indy Car and other levels. Different from racing experience driving our car this year.
“Daytona is one of my favorite tracks because RWR has competed there in NASCAR, IMSA and Supercross before. It really is the center of world speed.”
Eric Lux has many accolades on his racing resume. One of the most notable drivers, he remains the youngest driver to complete the Rolex 24 at Daytona at the age of 16.
“I am thrilled to join Rick Ware Racing and have the opportunity to defend my Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, and to fight for the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship,” Lux said. This will be my nineteenth season of professional racing and my thirteenth visit to the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.
“Devlin got the fastest time in our LMP2 car last year at Daytona and he never misses. Adding Daytona 500 Champion Austin Cindric and Haas F1 Team reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi to the lineup makes us the strongest team in the LMP2 class. I can’t wait to get to Daytona and start the season. I would like to thank Rick Ware Racing and the many others who have worked tirelessly over the past two months. They have done an amazing job creating a championship caliber program and securing the best team members, mechanics, engineers and drivers.”
Pietro Fittipaldi brings a very impressive pedigree with F1 Grand Prix starts and single seater titles under his belt.
“I am so happy to be racing with RWR again,” said Fittipaldi. “The first time Rick and I raced was at the 2021 Indy 500 and we won the award for fastest rookie qualifier in the race. Racing in another brand event like the Rolex 24 has always been my dream.
“Watching my uncles Christian Fittappaldi and Max Papis run this event was so cool. I grew up watching this race and I feel like it was one of the reasons I got into racing. It’s also exciting to do the entire IMSA LMP2 Championship season with Eric Lux. Having team mates at Daytona In Austin Cindric and Devlin DeFrancesco in Rolex 24 is great too.”
Francesco is hoping to repeat last year’s feat by winning the 2022 LMP2 class Rolex 24 at Daytona victory.
“I am so excited to be joining RWR in endurance racing,” said DeFrancesco. “I think we have a very strong lineup of talented and diverse drivers. I’m looking forward to starting the 2023 season in the best way possible to fight for Rolex.”
Cendric has already established himself as an accomplished road racer before earning last year’s Daytona 500 championship and 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors. Weir noted that it was great to have a Ford teammate like Cindric, who races for RWR with 38 finishes a year in NASCAR, and the respect he has for Cindric’s family.
“The Rolex 24 is an event I have always been passionate about,” said Cendric. “With this being my fifth attempt, I am hungry to continue my quest to win and to get a Rolex watch. I have a great and experienced line-up of co-drivers with winning pedigree.”
The green flag drops for the 61st Rolex 24 in Daytona on Saturday, January 28th at 1:40 PM ET.
– Rick Ware Racing –