ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – official release — IndyCar photo — Canadian Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe will join Starworks Motorsport regular Scott Mayer for the return of the No. 78 HPD Riley during TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America this weekend.

“I’m really excited to be at Road America this weekend with Starworks and HPD,” said Hinchcliffe. “I don’t have a ton of time in the DP cars, but I know Road America well and I’m sure, with a team like Starworks, they will get me up to speed quick. Already having a relationship with HPD makes this an even cooler proposition and should help make the transition easier. More than anything I’m just happy to be in a car on an off weekend!”

Honda Performance Development (HPD) developed a new, 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged Daytona Prototype version of the production J35 engine for 2014, with the Daytona Prototype Honda Riley package making its debut at the Sebring 12 Hours with Starworks Motorsport, but with limited success.

“I’m thrilled now to be back competing for a win,” said team owner Peter Baron. “Obviously we lost a fair amount of development and learning with the car as it was side-lined while our competition was on track, but we are optimistic on the return. Our goal for this outing is to show that we are reliable and competitive, and to build on the results. We aim to show, by season’s end, that we are back competing for wins, positioning ourselves well for 2015.

“I’m also very excited about the addition of James Hinchcliffe to the program,” Baron said. “I first met James back at a Long Beach Formula Atlantic Championship race in 2006 and we got on well. He has a fun personality and nature that should gel nicely with our team. Honda HPD is also equally excited as we are to see one of their IndyCar drivers with the program. He brings excitement every time he gets in the car, as demonstrated in last week’s IndyCar battle from the back to podium finish.”