Era Motorsport Unveils Powerhouse Driver Lineup for 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona
The atmosphere surrounding the IMSA paddock is shifting as teams finalize their rosters for the season opener, but one announcement has just turned heads up and down the grid. Era Motorsport, a team that has already tasted champagne at Daytona twice, is clearly not interested in just participating in 2026. They are coming to win.
The Indianapolis-based squad dropped a massive update regarding their No. 18 ORECA 07 LMP2 entry for the upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona. The headline grabber? Former Formula 1 driver Logan Sargeant is coming home to Florida to make his sports car racing debut. World Endurance Championship standout Ferdinand Habsburg and tech-innovator-turned-racer Naveen Rao will join him.
A Homecoming for Sargeant
For American racing fans, seeing Logan Sargeant back on home soil is a significant narrative for the 2026 season kickoff. After his stint in Formula 1, there has been rampant speculation about where the Floridian would land. The Rolex 24 offers the perfect stage: it’s grueling, it’s prestigious, and for Sargeant, it’s a local show.
Despite his extensive open-wheel resume, this will be Sargeant’s first attempt at the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic with Era Motorsport. The transition from the high-downforce, sprint-focused world of F1 to the multi-class chaos of IMSA is never simple, but Sargeant is eager for the challenge.
“I’m super excited to be tackling my first-ever Daytona 24 with Era to kick off 2026,” Sargeant said. For him, the allure isn’t just the race, but the prize at the end. “It’s a race I’ve always wanted to be part of, with how close it is to home. It’ll be great to get acquainted with my teammates at the ROAR and push hard to come away with a Rolex at the end of the race.”
Habsburg Brings the Endurance Experience
While Sargeant brings the star power, Ferdinand Habsburg brings the specific toolset needed to win in LMP2. You cannot fake experience in prototype racing, and Habsburg has a trophy cabinet full of it. He arrives at Era Motorsport carrying titles from the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), and the Asian Le Mans Series.
Habsburg knows the heartbreak of Daytona as well as the triumph of Le Mans. He narrowly missed out on a Rolex watch in 2022, a near-miss that clearly fuels his drive for the 2026 campaign.“There is something truly special about starting the season in Daytona,” Habsburg noted.
“This will be my fifth time racing at the Rolex 24… I came close to grabbing that Rolex in 2022, and this could finally be the year I get it.” Habsburg will join Rao for the full Michelin Endurance Cup, meaning his influence on the team will extend to the iconic Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta circuits later in the year.
Rao and the Pro-Am Dynamic
The secret weapon in any LMP2 lineup is often the amateur or “Gentleman” driver. If they can keep the pace and keep the car clean, the team wins. Naveen Rao is arguably one of the best in this category. Known globally for his work in artificial intelligence, Rao has quietly built a formidable reputation on the track, including an IMSA LMP3 championship.
Rao isn’t just looking for a fun weekend. He’s looking to expand a profound racing legacy. “We’ve built a strong team, and I’m confident in what we can do together,” Rao said. His familiarity with prototype machinery from Le Mans to the Asian Le Mans Series makes him a reliable anchor for the No. 18 car.
Era Motorsport Is Ready for the Fight
Era Motorsport Team owner Kyle Tilley has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Entering its seventh year in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Era Motorsport has established itself as a heavyweight. The LMP2 class is notoriously tight, often described as a 24-hour sprint race where the cars are identical, meaning driver skill and strategy are the only differentiators.
“I have no doubt in my mind that this year is going to be a great one,” Tilley said. He acknowledges the shake-up in the roster compared to 2025 but remains bullish on their chances. “The LMP2 class is the most competitive it’s ever been, so we know it’s going to be tough. But just like every other year, we’re here to win.”
Era Motorsport still has one card left to play: a yet-to-be-named FIA Silver driver who will round out the roster for the Endurance Cup. But with a lineup featuring an F1 veteran, a Le Mans winner, and a champion tech pioneer, Era Motorsport has already fired a warning shot across the bow of the competition. January can’t come soon enough.
