Bell to race at Daytona at 66

Five-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Derek Bell will sign off his international career with a return to the Daytona 24 Hours later this month at the age of 66

Oliver Warren Jan 17, 2008, 11:33 AM

He will team up with his son Justin, Roger Schramm, Tonis Kasemets and Paul Dallenbach, in an RVO Motorsports Riley-Pontiac MkXI after enjoying a pre-race test with them earlier this month.

Bell, who last competed at Daytona in 2003, said: "I was invited to do the test with a view to competing in the race. I went home afterwards and thought 'do I really need this? Then I thought, 'why not?' I still love racing."

Having won eight 24-hour races during his illustrious career, including three at Daytona, Bell sees the event as an appropriate way for him to signal his departure from international competition.

"Justin made up my mind for me. He said what a lovely way to end your career. My aim is to say I have finished with a 24-hour race - after all I did win eight of the things."

Bell last competed in a contemporary car in 2005, racing a Volvo in the SPEED World Challenge GT series, but is still expected to continue driving in historic events.