Aaron Steele will travel to Florida this weekend to take part in the Roar Before The 24 test session at Daytona International Speedway.

Steele won the Sunoco Grand-Am 200 Challenge by virtue of a dominant season in MSV F3 Cup. The prize was initially simply to drive in the Continental Tire series race that supports the Rolex 24 at Daytona. However, now Steele will be able to get his first laps around the famous venue during the official test session three weeks before the race itself.

The Rochester-based driver will test, and race, with Mitchum Motorsport in a Chevrolet Camaro. Run by Chris Mitchum the team are regulars in the series with the GM supported Camaro GS.R cars build by Riley Technologies and powered by a V8 engine.

Both the car, and the track will be a huge change for Steele compared to his Grays Motorsport F3 Cup car and the tracks of the UK and Europe.

“I really can’t wait to fly out to Daytona tomorrow for a couple of test days in the car prior to the race at the end of the month,” said Steele. “It’s going to be a huge advantage for when I go back there, I’m expecting it’s going to be a massive spectacle when I first arrive at the track and I’m sure I’ll be in awe,” said Aaron. “One of the best parts of the test however is the predicted weather, 24 degrees and sunny… a far cry from the windy rainy conditions currently battering the UK, which should also give me plenty of good running in the car to fully acclimatize.”

Fuel supplier Sunoco has run the Sunoco Rolex 24 at Daytona Challenge – offering drivers in British championship the chance to win a drive in the Daytona 24 Hours for the past three seasons. For the 2011 season the company added the Grand-Am 200 Challenge, giving drivers in several club level series the chance to compete at Daytona.

MD of Sunoco’s parent company the Anglo American Oil Company Anders Hildebrand said. “Aaron is a former McLaren Young Driver nominee and as such has been previously recognised for his speed and talent. I’m sure that although a Camaro is totally different to a formula 3 car Aaron will quickly get up to speed. We are very pleased to work with Mitchum Motorsport for this occasion and I am very confident that they will provide a race winning package for us.”

The Roar Before The 24 test takes place on January 6-8, Steele returning to the America at the end of January for the Grand-Am 200 race scheduled for January 28.