French endurance and Indy car racer Simon Pagenaud will join Team Sahlen as it launches its 2013 two car Riley-BMW program in the Rolex 24 in January.
Pagenaud was the 2010 American Le Mans Series LMP co-champion along with his Patron Highcroft co-driver David Brabham, and was 2012 Indy Car rookie of the year, running with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
Pagenaud will co-drive Team Sahlen’s #42 Riley-BMW with Wayne Nonnamaker and Dane Cameron. The team’s second Riley-BMW will be piloted by Joe Sahlen, Joe Nonnamaker and Will Nonnamaker.
Team Sahlen Sporting Director Will Nonnamaker said of Pagenaud, “He is obviously a driver who gets the maximum out of the car. We are excited about bringing him back to endurance racing with the hope of even more success.”
Team Sahlen is moving to Daytona Prototypes after running a Mazda RX-8 GT program in the Rolex Series. Over the course of the 2011 and 2012 seasons it posted a win, five podium finishes, and two poles in the GT class.—Brian S. Morgan
