Derani set for Sebring IndyCar test with SPM

Luis "Pipo" Derani will sample a Honda-powered Indy car for the first time on March 1 at Sebring with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

The 23-year-old Brazilian (pictured), who confirmed the test when reached by RACER, made a name for himself last year by delivering the winning drives for Tequila Patron ESM at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and again at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Driving a Honda-powered Ligier JS P2, the Sao Paulo native cemented his reputation as one of the fastest young road racers in North America as he played a key role in earning both endurance wins.

In what has become a regular narrative, Derani's introduction to sports cars came after his open-wheel career stalled. After competing steadily throughout Europe's open-wheel ladder from 2009-'13, Derani shifted his attention to the Mazda Road To Indy where he completed a partial season of Pro Mazda with Team Pelfrey before switching to the European Le Mans Series.

As a young gun in LMP2, Derani became a hot property in 2015 where he finished third overall in the FIA World Endurance Championship with G-Drive Racing. The call to join ESM in 2016 resulted in his best – and busiest – year to date as he drove for the team in the FIA WEC and IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and drove for the Garage 59 GT in Europe.

Despite ESM's long affiliation with Honda, the team's recent move to Nissan with the creation of the Nissan Onroak DPi in IMSA's Prototype category severed the immediate ties between Derani and the brand.

Derani will take part in SPM's Sebring test at the same time the team gives Mexico's Luis Dorrbecker his first run in an Indy car. Three weeks later, Derani will return to Sebring with ESM to defend their overall victory.

Brazil, a traditional hotbed of IndyCar talent, has been without younger drivers like Derani to continue the trend in recent years. At present, Brazil is represented in the Verizon IndyCar Series by two elder statesman, 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan (42) and three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves (41).