Ford signs young star Pipo Derani for 24H LeMans

Pipo Derani

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing has added Rolex 24 at Daytona and Sebring 12 Hours winner Pipo Derani to its 24 Hours of Le Mans driver lineup for 2017.

The 23-year-old Brazilian will join full-season drivers Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell in the #67 Ford GT for the French endurance classic on June 16-17.

13 cars will contest the GTE-Pro category at this year's Le Mans, as confirmed by the official entry list, which was revealed on Thursday.

Derani had a breakout year in 2016, winning the Daytona and Sebring enduros with LMP2 outfit Extreme Speed Motorsports before testing a Toyota LMP1 car at the end of the WEC season.

The former Macau Grand Prix podium finisher also had a one-off drive in a McLaren 650S GT3 at last year's Spa 24 Hours.

"I am delighted and proud to have been chosen to represent such a successful and respected manufacturer like Ford," said Derani.

“To race for an organisation like the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team has been one of my aims since starting in racing and to be recognized and selected by them is a big deal for me.

I especially want to thank George-Howard Chappell for his trust and belief in order to give me this opportunity."

Derani is still signed to Extreme Speed Motorsports for the 2017 North American Endurance Cup which takes in the Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans endurance races.

Ford also confirmed that Stefan Mucke and Olivier Pla would be returning to the team for its WEC assault, joined by American driver Billy Johnson at Le Mans.

The two Ford GTs that run in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship will also travel to France.

Defending race winners Joey Hand, Dirk Muller and Sebastien Bourdais are slated to drive the #68 car, while Scott Dixon, Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe are once again listed next to the #69 entry.