Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Announces Full-Time Drivers for Daytona 24 Hours
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) has confirmed that American drivers Max Esterson and Nikita Johnson will race full-time for RLL Team McLaren as part of a multi-year partnership with McLaren Automotive. The duo will be joined by Juri Vips and McLaren factory GT driver Dean MacDonald in the #59 McLaren (720S) GT3 EVO for the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Seventeen-year-old Johnson completes the lineup, marking his and Vips’ debut in competitive sports car racing. Esterson’s previous IMSA experience includes a single start at the Motul Petit Le Mans in October.
The team conducted its first test of the new GT3 EVO during the November IMSA Sanctioned Test at Daytona, with Esterson, MacDonald, and Vips sharing driving duties.
Esterson expressed excitement about transitioning from single-seaters to the GTD PRO class: “This is a very big and exciting new chapter for me,” he stated. “I’m eager to see what we can accomplish together with McLaren this season starting at Daytona.”
Johnson, a Florida native, highlighted his pride in joining RLL: “I’m especially excited to start it all off in Daytona with a great four-driver lineup.”
In addition to his duties with RLL, Johnson will compete full-time in the 2026 Indy NXT season with Cape Motorsports.
MacDonald, who has extensive GT experience, remarked on the prospect of racing in his first Daytona 24-hour event: “I believe we can go into the race challenging for a win in the GTD PRO class.”
Vips, who is adapting from IndyCar to endurance racing, noted a successful test run: “The test went well; I feel good and prepared.”
As RLL Team McLaren gears up for the challenging Daytona 24, the combination of young talent and experienced drivers promises to be a force in the competition.
Image Credit: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, IMSA.
