The main village Rinus ‘VeeKay’ van Kalmthout doesn’t have to wait until the beginning of March before the 2021 race season begins. The 20-year-old Dutchman starts working at the end of January with the famous 24 Hours of Daytona. VeeKay is one of four contestants who defended the DragonSpeed colors in the LMP2 category.
The Rolex 24 at Daytona is one of the most important motorsport events in the United States. The competition is part of the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, also known as IMSA Organizing Association. DragonSpeed won the LMP2 ranking at Rolex 24 in 2020.
Usually VeeKay competes in Team Ed Carpenter’s NTT IndyCar Series, but is given the opportunity by the employer to get a DragonSpeed Show to learn about the world of endurance.
“My goal is to compete with DragonSpeed to win the Daytona category,” VeeKay said in an initial response to the big news. We have a strong quadruple driver and the team has proven they can take the first place last year. I can’t wait to make my stamina debut and fight for the platform. I am of course grateful to the DragonSpeed team management, team manager Elton Julian, creators Rob Hodes and Charles Crews for this opportunity. “
VeeKay shares DragonSpeed’s 81st car with three other drivers, American Rob Hodes (59), Canadian Garett Grist (25) and Britain’s Ben Hanley (35). The IndyCar driver actually met Hanley on the track: the two competed in the 104th Indianapolis 500, held at the end of August.
DragonSpeed Team Leader Elton Julian said he was pursuing the podium at Rolex 24. “The competition in the LMP2 field for the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship is very intense. We are very pleased that we can add Rinus VeeKay to our group of drivers.”
Rolex 24 will begin in Daytona on Saturday, January 30, 2021. The starting grid will be decided a week in advance during “Roar Before 24”, with a 100-minute qualification race scheduled.
