Former American Le Mans Series LMP1 championship winner Simon Pagenaud will return to sportscars this weekend at the Roar Before The 24 test when he debuts with Corvette Racing.

Pagenaud will contest this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona aboard the No.4 Corvette alongside Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner.

The Frenchman has joined the GM camp in IndyCars this year joining Team Penske after years as a Honda racer.  The switch to the Detroit manufacturer has opened up the opportunity to join Corvette Racing for the Rolex 24.

“Corvette is definitely an icon in American racing and as an American sports car,” Pagenaud said.

“When I was racing with for another manufacturer, I always noticed the presence of the Corvette and Chevrolet fans. I’ve always said that Corvette Racing is a proper program – well put together with a very impressive presentation, great drivers and a fantastic team.

“The results speak for themselves. It’s great to be part of it now. It is definitely a very different experience compared to prototypes but I have some good experience in GT cars. I look forward to now being part of the family by driving for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing.

“The Corvette C7.R is a beautiful piece of machinery with a lot of high-tech development. It’s a great platform for the development of road cars and supercars.”

“Thanks to Chevrolet for the opportunity, and of course thanks to Roger Penske and Tim Cindric in allowing me to be available. With this type of opportunity where you have the chance to go and run in a different category with a car and team that can win, it’s exciting and gets you very motivated.

“I really want to win Daytona. If we can do that with Chevrolet and Corvette Racing, I’ll be super excited and over the moon.”

Pagenaud also boasts a number of victories in both open-wheel and prototype competition. While competing in the IndyCar series, he won two races in 2013 and 2014, and finished third in the 2013 IndyCar championship.

Pagenaud signed with Team Penske and will drive a Chevrolet V6-powered IndyCar for the 2015 season. Previously, he spent four seasons in ALMS prototypes with nine victories as a factory driver at de Ferran Motorsports and Highcroft Racing for Acura/Honda.

The No.3 Corvette will again be driven by regulars Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia at Daytona with Ryan Briscoe again returning for the endurance events.

The 2015 TUDOR United Sports Car Championship begins with the 53rd Rolex 24 at Daytona from Jan. 24-25 at Daytona International Speedway. Live timing and scoring from both the Roar Before the 24 and Rolex 24 at Daytona will be available at imsa.com.