Image: Keith Muir.

Yamaha Racing Team rider Rick Olson will contest the 2014 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) for the high profile Monster Energy Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART).

In a similar structure to MotoGP-bound 2013 teammate Broc Parkes, 24-year-old Olson is poised compete in the EWC series alongside his Australasian Superbike Championship duties with YRT.

Olson’s signing comes following a stellar season last year in which he clinched the FX600 championship and finished third in FX-Superbikes behind experienced teammates Parkes and Kevin Curtain.

The Austrian team has a strong history with Australian riders, including Parkes, Josh Waters, Damian Cudlin and Steve Martin, who won the 2009 world championship with YART.

Milwaukee Yamaha British Superbike Championship title threat Josh Brookes is expected to bolster the team’s roster for July’s annual Suzuka 8 Hour in Japan.

This year’s Endurance World Championship will commence with the Bol d’Or 24 Hour at Magny-Cours in France on 26-27 April.

YART has also been linked to a number of Superbike World Championship appearances in 2014 following a one-off entry with Parkes at Jerez last year.