Following the announcement of Michael Shank Racing's full 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series driver line-up, team owner Mike Shank has revealed that Champ Car front-runners Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal will join forces with Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri in the #60 Michael Shank Racing Ford-powered Riley in the 46th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.
Wilson made a remarkable debut last year, bringing his experience of competing at Le Mans – where he set the fastest lap of the race of all non-Audi entrants in 2004 – to bear in the 2006 event as the team raced to the podium, securing second place in company with Patterson, Negri and AJ Allmendinger. The Englishman made his second Grand-Am start this September as he rejoined the team in the final race of 2007, co-driving with Negri and Patterson at Miller Motorsports Park, and on his return to Daytona he is clearly looking to go one spot better in 2008.
“I really like driving with Mark and Oz, and it should be good fun to have Graham in with the team as well,” enthused the former Minardi and Jaguar Formula 1 star, recently named as the recipient of the
Greg Moore Legacy Award for the second time. “I get along with Mike (Shank) and his whole team really well. It's a good atmosphere, and we know we have a great opportunity for a good result once again.
“For a 24-hour event, this race always makes for amazingly close finishes. There are a lot of really strong teams with great drivers from all over, so I expect that it will be another competitive race. I think having already worked with Mark and Oz and all the guys on this team is going to be a big help, and I'm really looking forward to getting back to it in testing.”
For Rahal, meanwhile, the 2008 race will mark his third consecutive start in the event, won by his father Bobby back in 1981. The youngest-ever driver to mount the rostrum in Champ Car history, the 18-year-old was also part of the pole-winning GT entry in the 2006 Rolex 24, prior to making his Daytona Prototype debut in the 2007 edition of the twice-around-the-clock classic. What's more, Negri served as a driver coach and official test-driver for Formula BMW USA in 2004, as Rahal made the move from karting into cars.
“It's exciting for me to be a part of this effort,” underlined the man who finished an impressive fifth in the 2007 Champ Car World Series drivers' standings at his maiden attempt, “and with Ford being behind the team, that certainly helps. I think this is going to be a great combination and we should be really competitive.
“The race itself is a historical event, and one that you really want to win. Every time I walk into a jewellers', it's the first thing I think of when I see that watch – how great it would be to win a Rolex. Knowing all the people who have won it in the past, there would be a great sense of pride having that watch on your wrist.
“Between Daytona, Indy, Sebring and Le Mans, those are four races any driver wants to win, and it would be really fantastic to knock one of those off the list! Dad has done it, so it'd be great to do it again for the family.”
“I'm excited to have Justin back with us and we're really looking forward to Graham being part of the team as well,” added team owner Shank. “Justin is quick in anything he gets into and was a big part of our success in 2006.
“We expect some big things out of Graham as well – he tested with us last season and I am happy he can be a part of this effort. We are really excited about our package with Ford behind us. Our drivers really liked the new Pirellis and, while there is a lot of work ahead for us, this whole team is really pumped up about the 24.”
The four drivers of the #60 car will start their preparations for the event during the Daytona Test Days from 4-7 January.
