By alley - Nov 30, 2016, 2:53 PM ET

IMSA: Rebellion returns with endurance entry

Rebellion Racing confirmed its intentions to enter IMSA's Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup events next year with a brand-new ORECA 07-Gibson WEC P2. The Swiss team, which has dominated the FIA WEC's LMP1-L category with an AER-powered chassis designed by ORECA, has switched to P2 and will add Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta to its calendar next season.

The Bart Hayden-led program had been active in recent weeks while searching for a North American base to use for its TPNAEC outings, and after strong outings in the American Le Mans Series prior to its merger with Grand-Am, the return of the Swiss team will add to an impressive array of cars in the Prototype class.

"After our success in the American Le Mans Series races in 2012 and 2013, we always wanted to find a way back to competing in the USA," Hayden said. "We are very excited to be able to return with a new prototype and to race in the North American Endurance Cup in 2017."

Past and present Rebellion drivers Nick Heidfeld, Sebastian Buemi and Neel Jani will pilot the team's entry.

"Reuniting Nick with Neel and adding Seb gives us a top line driver line-up and signals our intention which is to compete at the highest level and hopefully to win again in the USA," Hayden added.

IMSA president Scott Atherton welcomed the news.

"We had the pleasure of getting to know Rebellion Racing when they competed in the American Le Mans Series and we are delighted to welcome them back to IMSA competition for the 2017 Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup events," he said. "Rebellion definitely fits the profile for our Prototype class as a world-class, professional prototype race team. We expect the level of competition to be at an all-time high in the Prototype class next year, attracting top teams from North America and Europe, and we couldn't be more pleased to have Rebellion as part of it."