Rebellion Racing returns to IMSA competition

The Swiss team, which last competed in the U.S. in 2013 as part of the now defunct American Le Mans Series, and twice won the Petit Le Mans, will enter a single Oreca 07-Gibson for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Sebring 12 Hours, the Six Hours of the Glen and Petit Le Mans.

Drivers will be Nick Heidfeld, Neel Jani and Sebastien Buemi and this trio will participate in the Road Before the 24 test at Daytona on Jan. 6-9.

The full 2017 Rebellion Racing race program will be announced in the near future, but Motorsport.com is given to understand that the squad will race a full season in the FIA World Endurance Championship in LMP2.

Bart Hayden, Rebellion team manager, stated: “After our success in the American Le Mans Series races in 2012 and 2013, we always wanted to find a way back to competing in the USA. We are very excited to be able to return with a new prototype and to race in the North American Endurance Cup in 2017. 

“Reuniting Nick with Neel and adding Seb gives us a top line driver lineup and signals our intention which is to compete at the highest level and hopefully to win again in the USA.”

IMSA president Scott Atherton stated: “We had the pleasure of getting to know Rebellion Racing when they competed in the American Le Mans Series and we are delighted to welcome them back to IMSA competition for the 2017 Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup events.

“Rebellion definitely fits the profile for our Prototype class as a world-class, professional prototype race team. We expect the level of competition to be at an all-time high in the Prototype class next year, attracting top teams from North America and Europe, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have Rebellion as part of it.”