DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Aiming to bolster the team’s championship focus, Conquest Racing and the No. 34 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo have drafted Spanish standout Fran Rueda to the team for the upcoming Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. Looking to capitalize on the team’s repeated show of pace throughout the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, Rueda joins as a veteran of both Ferrari machinery and endurance competition.
“This is an incredible opportunity and I’m really excited to join everyone at Conquest,” stated Rueda. “I have been beyond impressed with both the preparation and presentation of the team, and this looks to be a weekend where we truly can fight for victory. Working with Albert and Lorenzo makes this a very easy program for me to join, and it couldn’t have been made possible without the incredible support of the program that Manny Franco and Eric Bachelart have provided.”
Having achieved podiums across multiple seasons in the European Le Mans Series as well as World Endurance Championship, Rueda is a logical choice as the team’s endurance driver. While this will serve as his IMSA debut, team veterans Albert Costa and Lorenzo Patrese will take lead roles in the program, leaving Rueda’s reputation for quick and, equally important, clean driving to blend in.
Despite an extremely rare technical setback for the team at the most recent round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Conquest Racing has proven to be one of the strongest teams throughout the 2026 season. Nearing the halfway point of the season, the No. 34 remains in the mix for a series championship. During the last three races, the team took the final lap at Sebring in a podium position, followed by a third-place finish at Long Beach, and most recently with a pole position and race-opening lead at WeatherTech Raceway.
With the third endurance race ahead, lead-driver Albert Costa looks to add to the results.
“Laguna Seca was a tough one for all of us, we knew we had the program to win,” stated the Catalonian. “This team continues to go from strength to strength, and adding Fran will only increase that. Hopefully all of the bad luck is behind us and we can focus ahead on winning a championship.”
For Lorenzo Patrese, subbing for long-time driver Manny Franco, a similar sentiment is shared.
“Our last race was pretty unfortunate, but hopefully this is our weekend,” stated the Italian. “Despite Laguna Seca, this team doesn’t feel like it’s lost any momentum, and adding Fran is another step in the right direction.”
Practice for the upcoming Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen takes place on Friday, June 26, with race coverage beginning at 12PM ET on Sunday, June 28. Viewers in the United States can watch on Peacock, while international viewers can tune in at imsa.tv.