KMW Motorsports and partner company TMR Engineering, both based in Boca Raton, Florida, have joined forces to bring the Alfa Romeo Gulietta TCR RF to North American endurance racing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Cup series. Branded as “KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering,” the team’s No. 5 entry will be driven Roy Block and Tim Lewis Jr.

Veteran Block scored a victory in 2017, while Lewis Jr. last competed in 2008 in a Pontiac GXP by Pratt and Miller, scoring a win at Lime Rock Park that season. After a break from racing to start a family, Lewis Jr. is eager to return to competition in 2019.

“We are super excited to have Tim and Roy representing our team in 2019,” said team principal Louis Milone. “This is a historic season for so many reasons. To start with 2019 marks IMSA’s 50th anniversary, but to match that it also puts a stamp on 30 years of business partnership for Kevin Wheeler (owner of KMW Motorsports) and myself. Add to that the fact that we are bringing the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo to professional endurance racing in America, I cannot imagine a more exciting season than the one ahead of us. We also have to thank good friend and partner Tim Munday of BAM Motorsports for starting the ball rolling on this project that was a year in the making. Munday will be with us throughout the season as a technical partner”

Block and Lewis Jr. have put in over 1000km of testing each in the pair of Guliettas built by Romeo Ferraris S.r.l of Milan, Italy.

“It is fair to say that not many TCR teams have completed so many miles on the new Michelin tires for 2019. That should certainly allow us to hit the ground running when the transporter doors open in a few weeks,” said Wheeler.

The car is expected to appear at the Roar Before the 24 teast at Daytona, ahead of a full-season Michelin Pilot Cup campaign.