WeatherTech Racing Testing and Announces Driver Line-up for Rolex 24

MacNeil

Daytona Beach, Fla., (December 14, 2016) – WeatherTech Racing is completing a two day test with the No. 50 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Daytona International Speedway.

Team drivers Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Gunnar Jeannette (Salt Lake City, Utah) along with Australian V8 Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen (New Zealand) exercised the No. 50 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes at the World Center of Racing for two days. Although he wasn't at the test, the team confirmed that Mercedes Factory Driver Thomas Jager (Germany) will join as the fourth driver in the No. 50 for the 24 hour race to run January 26-29.

Completing a full to-do list over the two days at Daytona, the work by the Riley Technologies crew has the team confident for the race next month.

"We have tried a lot of different small things on the set-up these past two days," MacNeil said. "We are really learning this new car inside and out. There is a lot potential in the Mercedes, it is our job to get it out. The Riley guys are working hard and it is good to be working with Greg Jones again. We have a lot of optimism for the race next month."

Van Gisbergen

"The WeatherTech Racing Mercedes is fun to drive," van Gisbergen said. "I am getting more and more used to it here at Daytona. These two days we are all about getting comfortable with the car and the team. It is a little different from what I am used to with the McLaren that has the engine in the middle. This Mercedes is more like my V8 Supercar, so the transition is a little easier. I like the way it drives, especially into the corners."

"The test is going really good," Jeannette said. "We are learning a lot about the car and collecting a lot of data. Every change we make may not be the right

direction, but even if it is not the right direction we are expanding our knowledge base. Very much a learning process with this new Mercedes. The weather is quite a bit hotter, 85-degrees, than it will be come the race next month."

Jager

"I am excited to join the WeatherTech Racing effort for the 24 hours," Jäger said. "Having competed in many endurance races around the world, 2017 will be my first Daytona 24 hour race, so I´m excited and looking forward to it. I´m in the AMG Customers Sports department since the very beginning in 2010 and was deeply involved in the development of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 as a test driver. So I´ll share all my experience and knowledge to make the program successful in the U.S. It´s a very professional team with nice people, I feel really comfortable. Also driver line-up is great, all team players with the same target."

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will begin the 2017 season with the traditional Roar Before the 24 at Daytona, January 6-8, and then the 55th running of the Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona, January 26-29.

For more information on WeatherTech Racing, including race recaps, photos and team gear, please visit the newly designed team site at www.WeatherTechRacing.com.