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Former BMW DTM and GT driver Joey Hand will return to the Chip Ganassi Racing Prototype squad for a full-season assault on the 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship.

The American, who won the 2011 Daytona 24 Hours on the first of three appearances in the January enduro with the team, will race Ganassi's solo full-season entry of a Riley-Ford EcoBoost DP together with team stalwart Scott Pruett.

Hand, 35, has replaced long-time Ganassi driver Memo Rojas in the #01 Ganassi entry in what was described as a multi-year deal.

"To say I'm thrilled to be joining this team would be an understatement," said Hand, who parted company with BMW after six years that included a three-season stint in the DTM.

"With the successes of Chip's team in sportscar racing, the great history of the #01 car and getting to team up with a legend like Scott Pruett, I think Christmas came a little early for me this season."

Team boss Chip Ganassi said that he had "had his eye on Hand for quite some time" and expected his new signing and Pruett to "complement each other on and off the track".

Ganassi has also expanded its relationship with Ford, whose Roush Yates-built EcoBoost twin-turbo engines power its Rileys.

Additional drivers for the #01 car and details of its likely second entry for the USC season opener at Daytona on January 24/25 have yet to be announced.