IMSA – Tristan Vautier will compete under the Spirit of Daytona banner

After two seasons mainly contested in GT3 and in IndyCar, Tristan Vautier will find the Prototype category in IMSA in 2018 with the structure Spirit of Daytona.

Entered last year under the VisitFlorida Racing banner, the team will field a Cadillac DPI-VR to replace its Ligier JS P217, winner at Laguna Seca in 2017. Tristan Vautier will team up for all the rounds of the season with Matt McMurry.

« Last season was very difficult but even though we were down for much of the year, I think we learned a lot as a team, says Troy Flis, owner of the stable.

Winning at Laguna Seca was a great way to demonstrate that, and now we're focusing on that momentum and hoping to get off to a good start with this Cadillac DPi. I am honored to join this team, specifies Tristan Vautier. They performed well in difficult circumstances last year, so I think they're a good group. I want to race against the best drivers and the best teams, and that's what IMSA is becoming with DPi, so I'm very excited.

It's so competitive and I think it will be difficult to compare the quality of the 2018 field to last year. As a driver, it's very exciting for me. I am also very happy to work with Rick (Cameron, Spirit of Daytona engineer) because we have a good history together and I hope Matt and I can continue that this season. »

Tristan Vautier competed in the GTD category with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 from SunEnergy1 in 2017, and competed in IMSA endurance races in 2014 with Mazda / Speedsource.