Log in

Mustang Sampling Racing Finalizes Rolex 24 At Daytona Roster

12/20/2018 6:53 AM | Anonymous
Reprint from Sunday Group Management

Mustang Sampling Racing Finalizes Rolex 24 At Daytona Roster

Conway returns to Action Express Racing with Mustang Sampling as Fittipaldi prepares for final IMSA Prototype start

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (19 December 2018) –Mustang Sampling Racing has finalized its 2019 Rolex 24 At Daytona driver line up with a firm focus on a successful defense of its 2018 victory in the the prestigious event to open the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. 

The race is the 57th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and will mark the launch of the fifth season of partnership between Mustang Sampling and Action Express Racing.

Having announced that the full-season driver pairing of Joao Barbosa and Filipe Albuquerque will be joined by Christian Fittipaldi in his final Rolex 24 At Daytona IMSA Prototype outing, the team has now confirmed the signing of Mike Conway to the driver roster for the season-opening race on January 26-27. 

The talented Briton has made several starts with Action Express Racing, and the Rolex 24 outing will mark the first time that Conway will carry the Mustang Sampling colors.

Conway raced with the No. 31 Cadillac DPi-V.R for Action Express in three races in both 2017 and 2018, netting a runner up result in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, third in the 2018 12 Hours of Sebring and second in the 2017 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. 

In addition to his accomplishments in IMSA, Conway is a multiple winner in IndyCar competition and a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans podium finisher. He currently holds second in the LMP1 standings of the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship with three races remaining, having won the six-hour races at Fuji and Shanghai for Toyota this year.

“I’m happy to be returning to race for Action Express in the Rolex 24 again this year,” said Conway. “I am looking forward to joining Mustang Sampling Racing and driving with Joao, Christian, and Filipe. It is great to have already worked with them in the past, and as the results have shown, the team is very capable so I am eager to get to Daytona and help them hopefully bring another trophy home.”

“We have been working hard to prepare to win at Daytona once again and we are happy to have Mike (Conway) return to the team again this year,” said Team Manager Gary Nelson. “He is a a strong team player and has made great contributions to our results in the past so he will fit in well with our line up in the Mustang Sampling Cadillac for Daytona. We are all looking forward to getting back to Daytona for the Roar to continue those preparations for the 24 at the end of the month.”

Mustang Sampling Racing will continue preparations for the Rolex 24 At Daytona with three days of testing at the Roar Before the 24 on January 4-7. 
 
Mustang Sampling
Mustang Sampling
Mustang Sampling Website
(L-R) Christian Fittipaldi, Filipe Albuquerque, Joao Barbosa


João Barbosa

The three-time and co-defending IMSA TPNAEC Champion, João Barbosa returns to Action Express Racing to drive the familiar #5 gold, black and white Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R seeking his third IMSA WeatherTech Championship at the pinnacle of North American sports car competition. João resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife and two sons. He is an avid runner and cyclist. 

Filipe Albuquerque

Filipe joins the defending Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup and two-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship winning No .5 MustangSampling Cadillac Dpi-V.R for the full 2018 IMSA campaign. Filipe resides in his hometown  of Cambria, Portugal. 

Christian Fittipaldi

Two-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion driver Christian Fittipaldi returns to Action Express Racing for his sixth full season of competition following a fourth consecutive Tequila Patron' North American Endurance Cup title with co-driver João Barbosa. Fittipaldi has been appointed Sporting Director for Action Express Racing, and will continue to race in the endurance events starting in 2018.  Outside of sports car racing, the Brazilian satiates his need for competition by racing in mountain bike and karting events, both in the U.S. and his home country of Brazil.



About Mustang Sampling

Mustang Sampling, LLC is the innovator of Analytically Accurate® solutions within sample conditioning systems. We provide custom solutions of products and services globally to the Natural Gas, Natural Gas Liquids (NGL), and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industries. Mustang Sampling continues to pioneer integrated control systems, allowing our customers to maintain phase stability from sample extraction at the pipeline through sample analysis. Our products are continuously improved and subjected to the highest quality standards which provides our customers with the best sample conditioning solutions.