Though Kamui Kobayashi will be participating in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in Florida for the first time, Fernando Alonso - leader in the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) Drivers Trophy with Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima - already did the race this year at the wheel of a Ligier JS P2 fielded by the United Autosports team founded by McLaren owner Zak Brown.

The Spanish driver's first participation culminated in 38th place, seven places better than Wayne Taylor Racing who won the race in 2017 thanks to Wayne Taylor's sons Ricky and Jordan, Max Angelelli and NASCAR star Jeff Gordon.

In 2019, Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans winner Fernando Alonso and Fuji and Shanghai winner Kamui Kobayashi will be joined by two drivers competing in the full IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season: Jordan Taylor, who won Le Mans in the LMGTE Pro class with Corvette Racing in 2015, and Renger van der Zande supporting the driver line-up Henrik Hedman-Ben Hanley (except for the Japanese round) at the wheel of DragonSpeed's #10 BR Engineering BR1 LMP1 in the World Endurance Championship (retirement at the 24 Hours this year).

The foursome is definitely aiming for the top step on the overall podium, as confirmed by two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso: "I am very happy about joining the Konica Minolta Cadillac team (official name of Wayne Taylor Racing, Ed.) and Wayne Taylor Racing to race together at the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” said Alonso. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest races in American and world motorsport. Returning to the United States is always special. The atmosphere created by the fans is unique throughout an incredible weekend. I really hope to fight for the win, as well as having fun and putting a smile on the fans’ faces. I made my debut last year both in endurance races and with these sportscar prototypes, as well as on this track. I was left wanting much more after a brake issue ended our hopes of stepping on the podium. After an intense year in which I’ve competed in both Formula One and the WEC, I’m really looking forward to 2019 and attempting to conquer one of the most important races in the world. I’m brimming with hunger and desire and I can’t wait for the first race of next season and going out on track to battle with my Konica Minolta Cadillac teammates."

The 57th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona will take place 26-27 January 2019, preceded by three official testing days known at the Roar Before the 24 held 4-6 January, less than five months before the 87th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans that Fernando Alonso and Kamui Kobayashi will do again with Toyota. The race will serve as the finale for the 2018-2019 season of the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC).

Quotation from IMSA press release.

PHOTO: The #8 Toyota TS050 Hybrid of Fernando Alonso and the #7 of Kamui Kobayashi crossed the finish line side by side at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans.