[h=2]IMSA: Alex Job confirms Audi for Endurance Cup[/h] RACER Staff

Alex Job Racing announced today that they will compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup, having secured an all-new Audi R8 LMS with drivers Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell and Frankie Montecalvo.
As a sports car entrant dating back to the 1980s, Job serves as the most tenured member of IMSA's paddock; Tuesday's news comes after months of effort to fill the void left behind by WeatherTech Racing and Team Seattle.


AJR will return to the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona with Audi Sport customer racing to attempt a second win with the brand. The team won with an Audi R8 in 2013, the team's second win at Daytona International Speedway in the 24, the first in 1999. Audi Factory Driver Pierre Kaffer will be the fourth driver at Daytona.
Sweedler drove with AJR from 2010-13 and posted a class win at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2012, the first race driving with teammate Bell. The duo has won the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona in 2014 and the season ending Patron Endurance Cup in GT Daytona. In 2015 they went on to win the WeatherTech Championship in GT Daytona and in 2016 they posted a GTEAM Class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
"It is nice to come full circle and be back with Alex Job for 2017," Sweedler said. "I won my first big race with AJR at Sebring five years ago, so it is nice to be back in the family. The Audi R8 is a great endurance package. Frankie is a welcome addition with a lot experience and speed. Townsend and I have had a lot of success in the longer races over the past four years and we are looking to continue winning with AJR, Audi and Frankie."
"It feels like coming home," Bell said. "My first sports car team and my first sports car win with AJR at Sebring. I am so happy to be back. They are such a talented and experienced team that I am sure we will fall right back into the winning routine. I am looking forward to driving the Audi R8 LMS. Big thanks to everyone at Audi of America for helping us make this possible. It looks to be a very competitive and reliable piece."
Montecalvo, the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge GTA driver champion, makes his return to IMSA competition.
“I cannot wait to begin the 2017 season with AJR at Daytona," he said. "AJR has always had a great reputation and one that I have admired for years. I look forward to teaming up with two excellent and experienced drivers in Bill and Townsend. I hope to learn from both of them and to better my racing career.