As anticipated, Michael Shank Racing has announced that Champ Car World Series duo AJ Allmendinger and Justin Wilson will team up with regular drivers Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The RuSPORT pair will be making their first appearances in the event – the first major race of the American racing season – and will partner Patterson and Negri in a Lexus-Riley with the aim being to improve on the teams best finish of fourth in the Daytona Prototype class in 2004.
"It's really exciting for the team to have guys of AJ and Justin's calibre joining us for the Rolex," team owner Mike Shank said. "We are really excited about the full 2006 season with both our cars, and hopefully we can get the year started off on the right foot with a good run in the 24."
After a season in Formula One, Wilson made the switch to the Champ Car World Series with the Mi-Jack Conquest team before switching to RuSPORT at the start of the year, securing a maiden victory in Toronto as he took third in the championship standings.
The Briton also has past experience of competing in endurance events, taking a podium finish alongside Tomas Enge at Magny Cours in the FIA GT championship in 2001, before he made his Le Mans 24 debut in 2004, carding the fastest race lap in Jan Lammers' 'Racing For Holland' Dome/Judd behind the dominant Audis.
Wilaosn also has two starts in the Sebring 12 Hour event, famously moving up from fifteenth to seventh on the opening lap in 2004.
"I am excited about racing at Daytona, it's just one of those big races that every driver wants to win and I think being there with Mike Shank and his guys is going to be a good situation," he said. "This is going to be a completely different experience from running in Champ Car, where everything is focused on just one driver, one car. But, for this race you have to make compromises with the other drivers and your role is different, trying to get the car so that everyone can be fast, not just you.
"I really enjoy that challenge and I think it's going to be a good experience to do that with AJ because we already work well together at RuSPORT, even if we are always trying to beat each other come race time, and now hopefully we can work together and share a win.
"Racing against so many other good drivers from all sectors of the sport also really adds to the appeal for me. I watched the race in Mexico City, and had seen some of the races this season, and I was surprised at how competitive it is, so I know it's going to be an exciting race."
