CROPTHORNE race ace James Calado has switched to Ferrari in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Calado, 24, had hoped to earn a drive for Formula One team Force India after a successful test stint but a lack of sponsorship saw him overlooked.

The 24-year-old ex-GP2 star finished 11th overall and fifth in class at the championship opener, Six Hours of Silverstone.

Calado has joined the AF Corse team in the GTE Pro category after testing a Ferrari 458 Italia.

He replaces Kamui Kobayashi, who has returned to Formula One with Caterham.

Racing with Davide Rigon, the pair finished 21 laps behind the winners in a race curtailed by torrential rain.

Although not giving up on his F1 dream, Calado relishes the chance to shine on the endurance circuit. He said: "It's different and took time to get used to but I am confident about getting good results.

"I feel at home already and they're looking after me. I'm in a better situation now than I would be if I'd paid silly amounts of money to be in a smaller team in F1.

"I'm a racing driver that has to win no matter what it is. If an F1 opportunity arose in the future, then I'd take it but it would have to be reasonable and not stupid.

"I am fully focused on Ferrari and the endurance championship, that's my job and as long as I'm up front then I'm happy."

The next race is at Spa, Belgium, on Saturday, May 3.