FONTANA, CA – AUGUST 30: Will Power of Australia driver of the #12 Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet … [+]
Two-time NTT IndyCar Series Champion Will Power of Team Penske has withdrawn from participating in the Rolex 24 at Daytona because of his wife’s ongoing battle with a health issue.
I communicated with Power Tuesday night via text message and the Team Penske driver expressed hope that surgery would help resolve some of the issues his wife, Liz, has been experiencing.
The 2018 Indianapolis 500 winning driver and team owner Kenny Habul made the announcement late Tuesday night, January 17.
Power was set to make his Daytona debut with fellow American-based Australian Kenny Habul in the SunEnergy1 Racing Team’s Mercedes-AMG GT
“Liz (his wife) has had a couple of complications after surgery this week and has a long recovery ahead of her,” Power said. “Obviously her health is my priority and unfortunately that means I have had to put Daytona on hold.
“I have to thank Kenny (Habul) for the opportunity and his total understanding of our situation and the support he has shown.
“I will be cheering them on from North Carolina and hopefully we get another opportunity to do something together in the future.”
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 25: IndyCar driver Will Power (12) of the Verizon 5G Team Penske Chevrolet … [+]
Power will be replaced by regular SunEnergy1 driver Luca Stolz, who will join Habul and fellow German ace Fabian Schiller and Zimbabwean Axcil Jeffries in the GT Daytona (GTD) class.
“In these situations, it really goes without saying, that family comes first,” Habul said. “The first priority is Liz and her health, and we wish her the fastest recovery possible.
“Given our history racing against each other in Formula Ford in Australia all those years ago, it was going to be cool to drive with Will at Daytona, but I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities for us to team-up in the future.
“We welcome Luca (Stolz) to our Daytona line-up, who is no stranger to the SunEnergy1 team.”
Stolz teamed with Habul and Jules Gounon to win last year’s Bathurst 12-hour.
SunEnergy1 became the 61st and final entry for the 24-hour sports car endurance race last week, which also doubles as the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship season-opener.
While Power was set to make his Daytona 24 debut next week, Habul will be having his sixth start in the American endurance classic, with the solar energy entrepreneur notching his best result of second in the GTD Class in 2021.
The Roar Before the 24 test will take place at Daytona International Speedway on January 20-22.
Following that, the 24 Hours of Daytona will take place at the same venue from January 28-29.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucemartin/2023/01/17/indycar-champion-will-power-withdraws-from-rolex-24-at-daytona-because-of-his-wifes-health-issues/