Gavin looking for win at 24 hours

Gavin, who has also landed a drive with the works Chevrolet team for this year's showpiece events including Le Mans and Sebring, has teamed up with James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger for the Daytona endurance classic.

The Rolex 24 hour race will be Gavin's first and after setting the fourth fastest time during testing on Monday, the former McLaren AUTOSPORT Young Driver is quietly confident.

"There is not a stronger team in sportscars in America [than Riley & Scott]," said Gavin at the AUTOSPORT International show. "They really are out there to win everything and they have a massive amount of experience within the team and every single driver they have is extremely talented.

"I have never actually driven at Daytona before, but as I said, with this team around me I could not have asked for a better start. We will be using the Mk 3 Riley & Scott in February, which has proved to be extremely reliable so far, so fingers crossed."

As well as his sportscar duties, Gavin will also be testing for the Renault Formula 1 team in 2002. According to Gavin, it is a vital gateway to future top drives in the United States.

"I really enjoy working with the Renault team and the car is really great to drive," he said. "Although I have only undertaken straight line, aerodynamic, traction and launch control testing, to be associated with a Formula 1 team certainly opens up doors to drives in America."