Penske's Montoya and Pagenaud commit to Virtual Le Mans

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Team Penske's Juan Pablo Montoya and Simon Pagenaud will lead the US outfit's charge in next month's Virtual Le Mans 24 Hours.

The endurance classic has ben postponed to September due to the coronavirus pandemic but its online counter-part, sanctioned by the ACO and the WEC, will take place on rFactor 2 on June 13-14.

Pagenaud, whose most recent sim outing was marred in controversy after the Frenchman properly took out McLaren's Lando Norris in Indycar's iRacing final at Indianapolis, will share a virtual Oreca 07 LMP2 car with Montoya, Dane Cameron and Ricky Taylor.

The event's rules allow for teams to field two sim racers in their four-driver line-up, but Penske has gone for an all-pro squad.

The Virtual Le Mans 24 Hours is attracting a lot of interest from big names, with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris sharing a team Redline entry, while Pierre Gasly, Stoffel Vandoorne and reigning FE champion Jean-Eric Vergne will spearhead entries from Veloce Esports.

But 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button will also join in on the fun, racing alongside good friend Alex Buncombe and sim racers Jan van der Heyde and Matt Richards in Button's Team Rocket outfit.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.