Helio Castroneves has been confirmed as the third full-season driver in Team Penske’s Acura DPi program next year, joining previously-announced drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron.

The IndyCar ace is set to make a transition over to a full-time sports car program for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship after 18 years with Penske’s IndyCar team.

“I’ve been fortunate to achieve a lot of my personal goals with Team Penske over the years,” said Castroneves.

“Helping Roger [Penske], the team and everyone with Acura start this program and build it from the ground up will be another big challenge and a great opportunity in my career.

“I am proud of everything we have accomplished together in IndyCar and now I am focused on helping to develop the ARX-05 to try and win the 24 Hours of Daytona and the IMSA championship in 2018 with Acura.”

Castroneves has secured more IndyCar wins than any other Penske driver, including three victories at the Indianapolis 500.

He is also set to return to Indy next May alongside his WeatherTech Championship program.

“Helio has been a valuable member of Team Penske for almost 20 years and we are looking forward to sharing more success together,” said Roger Penske.

“Having established winning drivers like Helio and Juan, teaming up with young and talented racers that know the series like Dane Cameron, will help give our new sports car program a solid foundation as we head into the 2018 season.”

Castroneves, Montoya and Simon Pagenaud are present at Road Atlanta for this weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans in a Penske Oreca 07 Gibson entered solely for the ten-hour enduro in preparation for the DPi effort.

The Acura ARX-05 DPi will debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.

Ricky Taylor is expected to be announced as the fourth and final full-season driver in the Penske lineup but confirmation is not likely until after this weekend’s race due to his contractual obligations with GM.

Taylor is on the brink of claiming the Prototype title this weekend alongside his brother Jordan in the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R.