Aston Martin Racing has announced that AMR Junior driver Andrew Watson will be replacing the injured Paul Dalla Lana in the team’s GTD line-up for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Dalla Lana was supposed to share driving duties in the #98 Aston Martin Vantage GT3, but was left unable to compete due to an injury picked up while skiing. The British outfit said at the time it would make an announcement about the team’s participation ‘in due course’ and has now confirmed Watson as the new fourth man in the line-up alongside Mathias Lauda, Pedro Lamy and Ross Gunn.
“This is such a great opportunity for me,” said Watson. “I am very grateful to Aston Martin for the chance to continue to prove what I can do. I know the Vantage GT3 well, having raced it in Europe last season.
It’s all come about quickly but my focus is on preparation to ensure I do the best job possible and deliver a result for the team. I’ve never raced in America before so for the first event to be the Rolex 24 is mind blowing. We’ve got a great line-up and we should be competitive.”
Aston Martin has already confirmed that Dalla Lana will return to racing at next month’s Lone Star Le Mans round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Circuit of the Americas in Texas.
Dalla Lana added: “It’s a real shame not to be racing in the Rolex 24, a race that’s close to my heart and particularly with Aston Martin where we have unfinished business.
But I wish my old team-mates Mat and Pedro luck, as well as my current WEC partner Ross, and offer my thanks to Andrew for stepping up to the plate so quickly. It’s a tough race but this is a strong crew and I sincerely wish them all good luck. I can’t wait to get back in the cockpit at COTA in February.”
