Mazda sets DPi driver announcement timeline

Mazda's full-time Daytona Prototype international drivers will play a crucial role in helping Joest Racing and Multimatic to redevelop the RT24-P model in the months ahead. Those drivers should also know whether they will be retained to race for Mazda Team Joest in 2018 before IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season comes to a close in October.

"As we announced on July 18, Mazda has invested heavily in the driver development programs on the Road to Indy and Road to 24 side, and as we begin our new journey as Mazda Team Joest, the drivers who've raced the RT24-P will be critical parts of the testing program," Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan told RACER.

"We expect to make our full-time driver announcements in early October, possibly aligning with Petit Le Mans."

Mazda has used the pairing of Jonathan Bomarito and Tristan Nunez as its full-time solution in the No. 55 RT24-P, and Joel Miller and Tom Long in the sister No. 70 Mazda DPi. Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Spencer Pigot and James Hinchcliffe, and sports car veteran Marino Franchitti filled part-time roles with the brand this year at the three endurance races held prior to Mazda's temporary withdrawal to reconfigure the program under Joest's direction.