The D3+Transformers Prototype team will not participate in this weekend’s Roar Before the 24 or the Rolex 24 at Daytona later this month.

Multiple calls to team principal Simon Dawson, who founded the effort with his father Ian, went unreturned in recent weeks, and on Wednesday, the Texas-based squad confirmed its absence from the 2018 IMSA season-opener.

“We’ve had a few delays, as often happens with a new team, new car, new infrastructure,” said Ian Dawson. “Although we would love to commence the season at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, it is also one of the most grueling races in the world. We decided that rather than rush with a new car not yet tested, new drivers, new team, to try to make the Roar Before the 24 test days at Daytona the first week of January and then the race just over two weeks later, we would delay our race start.”

Despite the program’s public announcement in early October at Petit Le Mans, the ensuing months did not deliver the desired progress in receiving a new Ligier JS P217 in order to participate in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s biggest event.

“We would like to do a proper testing program in the U.S. with our new Onroak Ligier Gibson LMP2 in January and February, and go into the 12 Hours of Sebring in March with a solid team structure,” Dawson added. “This will also allow us to finalize further details with our core partners and best be able to enter the season in a position of strength.”