Rinus VeeKay Joins TDS Racing For Daytona LMP2 Attack

With the addition of Rinus 'VeeKay' van Kalmthout, TDS Racing completed its drivers’ line-up for the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona. IndyCar race winner VeeKay joins Steven Thomas, Scott Huffaker and Mikkel Jensen, defending the bright colors of the #11 entry, aiming for class victory.

For VeeKay, this means another season starts at the legendary Daytona International Speedway. The 22-year-old Dutchman commenced his 2022 campaign with the Racing Team Nederland squad, with technical support from TDS Racing, with a brilliant second place at the Rolex 24. With that result in mind, TDS Racing decided to invite VeeKay to join forces for the 2023 edition of the endurance classic.

After another successful campaign in the European Le Mans Series, wherein TDS Racing captured multiple pole positions despite running a Pro/Am car, Jacques Morello and Xavier Combet made the decision to join the American IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) racing series. TDS Racing will run two cars in the 2023 IMSA season, which will be the #11 entry featuring Steven Thomas and the #35 entry featuring François Heriau.

Whereas the #35 entry will be driven by VeeKay’s former Racing Team Nederland colleague and endurance racing mentor Giedo van der Garde, IndyCar race winner VeeKay is added to the star-studded #11 entry line-up for Daytona. VeeKay officially made his Daytona début in 2021, only to see one of his then-team-mates crash the car before his scheduled drive time, being unable to actually participate in the race. Therefore, his impressive ride to a second place finish, earlier this year, is widely regarded as VeeKay’s Daytona ouverture.

The TDS Racing quartet of VeeKay, Jensen, Huffaker and Thomas is obviously intent on winning the 24 Hours of Daytona in the LMP2 class, but stays well aware of the competition being extraordinarily strong. Opponents include VeeKay's IndyCar colleagues Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin, who enter the race on behalf of one of TDS’s rival teams. The LMP2 class of Daytona 2023 is expected to have a high number of teams competing for class victory.

"I’m looking forward to racing at Daytona again," an elated VeeKay spoke from his hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Fl. "The race to second place with Racing Team Nederland was one of the best experiences I had in my racing career so far. Thanks to that race, I’ve developed a lasting love for endurance racing. When TDS Racing approached me to race with them in next years’ Rolex 24, it was obvious for me to say yes."

Despite realizing that the IMSA LMP2 class at Daytona is highly competitive, VeeKay travels to the Florida circuit with a clear goal. "Driving the Racing Team Nederland car, I finished second, so now I’m very keen to win the race. I do believe we all share this goal. Joining Mikkel, Scott and Steven, I’m pleased to be part of one of the best line-ups of the 2023 Rolex 24. Mikkel has earned his stripes and nowadays acts as a factory driver with a platinum drivers’ categorization. Scott’s a silver with a golden edge and Steven is among the best bronze drivers in the world.”

VeeKay is very happy to reunite with TDS Racing. "As a Racing Team Nederland driver, I got to experience how professional TDS Racing operates. Jacques and Xavier know exactly what they want , thanks to their years of experience in endurance racing. TDS Racing is a team that only strives for the highest possible results and that suits me well."

“We are very pleased to be able to work with Rinus again, for this edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona”, says TDS Racing Team Manager Xavier Combet. “I appreciate Rinus for his professionalism and his motivation to win. Last year he showed his speed in LMP2, despite having little experience with the car. We are convinced that Rinus will strengthen the #11 entry and that, together with Steven, Scott and Mikkel, he’ll have a great chance to win.”

The Rolex 24 at Daytona, driven at the Daytona International Speedway, will start Sunday January 28, 2023, with the green flag waving at 1.40 PM – that’s 7.40 PM CET. Prior to the weekend in which the 24 Hour race is driven, several practice sessions are held, as well as the Roar Before The 24. This practice event is scheduled for January 20-22, 2023.