AFS Racing will make its sports vehicle debut as it combines with PR1/Mathiasen for the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion.
Colombian racers Sebastian Saavedra and Gustavo Yacaman will pilot AFS/PR1Mathiasen Motorsport‘s Liger JS P217 in the model class.
AFS owner Gary Peterson and PR1 owner Bobby Oergel will share team primary duties.
“As a former owner and driver in open wheel racing I’m thrilled to be signing up with an excellent group by partnering with owner Bobby Oergel’s PR1 team,” stated Peterson.
“In addition to Bobby, I hope to advance building the group with Onroak for technical assistance.
“With both our participation we have actually had the ability to put a great selection of chauffeurs to run the races starting within weeks.”
AFS has delighted in success in IndyCar and Indy Lights, most just recently with Saavedra in the 2017 Indy 500.
Peterson added that he won’t be closing the door on IndyCar right now.
Like AFS, Saavedra will likewise be making his cars launching after a variety of years in single seaters. He ended up third in the 2009 Indy Lights championship, prior to advancing to IndyCar in 2010.
“I’m extremely delighted with this new chapter of my profession, and extremely honoured and humble to be part of building this new organisation,” he stated.
“It’s something that has actually been in the works for two years now and making it a truth is certainly one of the highlights of my career.
“I’m looking forward on the whole concept of Team Colombia and developing a very strong alliance and performance team in exactly what will be a really competitive season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion.”
Saavedra will partner fellow Colombian Gustavo Yacaman, who returns to the champion after a two-year absence.
He took a number of podiums and a race win in the 2014 IMSA SportsCar Championship prior to changing to the World Endurance Championship. Taking on G-Drive Racing, he ended up third in the LMP2 class in his launching season.
The 26-year-old believes racing with Saavedra will help him establish as a chauffeur.
“Seb comes from IndyCar where you have to drive at the extremely limitation and push really tough every lap so I am looking forward to finding out something from him on that side,” he stated.
“On the same token, I have a great deal of experience in endurance racing and actually comprehend it well. I know when to push and when to take a step back so I hope I can pass along exactly what I have learned in the past 5 years to him.
“For me it’s likewise really special to be back in a Ligier and working with Onroak Automotives as I have had a great deal of success in the past with this maker. I really anticipate building on where we left off two years back after a great number of seasons in IMSA and WEC.”
The team is now preparing for the Holler prior to the Rolex 24 in Janurary.
