Luis Felipe Derani will return to the Tequila Patrón ESM outfit for the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The highly rated Brazilian has split his driving duties between the #2 and the #22 ESM machines in 2017 and took his first victory of the season in the recent race at Road America alongside Johannes van Overbeek, and will return to the team full-time next season as well.
“I am really happy to confirm I will continue to race for Tequila Patrón ESM next season in what I am sure it will be a super competitive IMSA WeatherTech championship,” said Derani.
“All of us at Tequila Patrón ESM share a big desire to win and this team spirit is the fuel we need to continue to perform at the highest level possible at every track we go.”
Team owner Scott Sharp has welcomed the news that Derani will return to the team for 2018, and expects the twenty-three-year-old, who has also raced in two classes of the FIA World Endurance Championship and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017, to spearhead the teams challenge for the championship.
“We are super excited to announce that Pipo will be back for a third year with Tequila Patrón ESM next season,” said Sharp. “On and off the track, Pipo has been exemplary and become part of the ESM family as he shows his talent again and again!
“We are working hard on all fronts for our 2018 program and Pipo will spearhead that attack!”
