Just days ahead of The Prologue at Paul Ricard, at which the Italian is due to drive the No.13 Lola B12/6- Toyota, Rebellion Racing has confirmed that it has extended its deal with Andrea Belicchi.
The 37-year-old has been with the team since its inception and in 2013 won the LMP1 Privateer category of the 6 Hours of Fuji and 6 Hours of Shanghai for the Swiss team.
Andrea Belicchi: "I am delighted at the prospect of being again a REBELLION Racing driver in 2014. The championship will be really exiting with the new regulations, all the new cars and and our new R-One LMP1. I have followed the development of the car and was involved at some stages of the development. I can't wait to drive it!
We will first have two busy days at the FIA WEC Prologue. I can't wait to be back at Le Castellet."
Bart Hayden, REBELLION Racing Team Manager: "We're pleased that Andrea will be with REBELLION Racing again in 2014, this will be our seventh year together, so we know each other very well. He has been, and remains, a key member of the team. He is quick, reliable, loyal and he shares our great team spirit. Andrea's efficient driving style will fit well with the new Regulations and we are confident that he will help us to achieve the very best results."
When asked about the development of Rebellion's R-One, the team's brand new-for-2014 Toyota V8-engined car which has been designed and developed in association with ORECA, Hayden went on to say: "The first roll-out will take place in the days after the WEC Prologue and then later we have a two day test planned during April before the cars will race for the first time.
"In addition to the Regulation changes in LMP1, there have also been significant Regulation changes in Formula One. This has put huge pressure on motor sport suppliers, and has made the job of getting all of the parts ready extremely difficult. It became apparent at the beginning of this new year that it was going to be tight to have all the parts when we wanted them and as the season has moved ever closer and the demands of F1 increased ahead of their first events, the supplier base just couldn’t cope."
Fiona Miller (quotes from Rebellion Racing)
