Considering Sebastien Bourdais was born in Le Mans, France, the Verizon IndyCar Series driver was destined to compete in 24-hour road races.

The four-time Champ Car World Series champion who drove the KV Racing Hydroxycut entry to victory in one of last season’s Honda Indy in Toronto “2 in T.O.” contests grew up watching the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans as a youngster and has competed in that famed event 10 times finishing second in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

The world’s other great 24-hour race is the Rolex 24 at Daytona – a twice-around-the-clock endurance struggle that Bourdais has competed in five times. He is the defending winner of the Daytona Prototype Class when he was part of the winning Action Express Racing Coyote Corvette team that also included former Indianapolis 500 starter Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa.

Bourdais is one of a group of top Verizon IndyCar Series drivers that will compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona that begins Saturday, January 24 at 2 p.m. ET at Daytona International Speedway.

“I think it is always a fun race because it is the start of a new season,” Bourdais said from his St. Petersburg, Florida, home. “For me it’s always going to be something I have done to complement my IndyCar program. Every time I’ve had the opportunity to mix them and drive for a good team like Action Express I’ve always taken the chance.

“Quite frankly, last year was a great thing. We enjoyed a great week, a great race and a win at the end. Hopefully we can do the same.”

Bourdais also fits the description of “A True Racer.”

“I’m Old School – I like to do different things like the real meaningful and historic races, the ones with a real tradition like the 24, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans it really means something to me,” Bourdais said. “Every time I can step in a car and race, I’m in.”

And once Bourdais climbs into the exotic Corvette it doesn’t take him long to acclimate from the completely different Chevrolet Dallara that he races in the Verizon IndyCar Series for KV Racing.

A true racer can drive just about anything.

“Because I’ve been jumping from one car to another for so many years now it is something that is very differentiated in my head,” Bourdais explained. “When I step in a sport car I open the drawer and switch modes. When I get back in the IndyCar it doesn’t take me long to get back in the groove.

“It is always to become a better driver and be able to drive different cars and adapt very quickly. It’s like driving an IndyCar in the dry and all of a sudden you are in the wet on slicks and in the wet on wet tires. It is a different feel and a different way to drive the car. You just have to adapt to what the conditions and cars are.

“So it’s not only something I enjoy but it also makes me a better driver in IndyCar.”

The Rolex 24 at Daytona kicks off the racing year as the first major race of the new season.

“For us it is great,” Bourdais said. “I haven’t been in an IndyCar since Fontana at the end of August so it is good that I have this opportunity with Action Express. It is great to stay in the game, stay in the groove and get back in it early.”