Brendon Hartley wasted no time in making his mark at the Roar Before the Rolex 24. The former F1 driver and three-time Le Mans winner set a quick benchmark of 1m36.197s in the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-06 in the early minutes of the session. It was an impressive start for Hartley, showcasing his skill and experience on the track. However, his time at the top was short-lived, as other drivers quickly began to challenge his position.
Connor De Phillippi, driving the #25 RLL-run BMW M Hybrid V8, was the first to beat Hartley’s time. He clocked a lap of 1m35.468s, edging ahead by a mere 0.038s. But just moments later, Tom Blomqvist of Action Express Racing’s Cadillac V-Series.R matched De Phillippi’s time, proving that the competition was fierce. With such tight margins, it was clear that every driver would need to push themselves to the limit to come out on top.
Neel Jani of Proton Competition’s Porsche 963 made his presence known during a short run that displayed his qualifying capabilities for the upcoming race. Jani lapped the circuit in 1m35.329s, taking over the top spot on the timesheets. His performance was a testament to his skill and determination, showing that he was a force to be reckoned with. However, the battle for the fastest lap was far from over.
Just as it seemed that Jani had secured the top position, Harry Hanson of JDC-Miller MotorSports stunned everyone with a jaw-dropping lap. With just 20 minutes to go, Hanson lapped the 3.56-mile road course in an astonishing 1m35.216s, surpassing Pipo Derani’s fastest time from the previous day by a mere 0.001s. It was a remarkable display of speed and precision, and it solidified Hanson as a serious contender for the Rolex 24.
The rest of the top ten was filled with talented drivers from various teams. Sebastien Bourdais of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Cadillac V-Series.R finished fourth quickest, showcasing the team’s strength. Blomqvist, who had briefly held the top spot, ended up in fifth, while Augusto Farfus took the sixth position in the second BMW. Felipe Nasr, Jenson Button, and Kevin Estre rounded out the top ten, each representing their respective teams with impressive performances.
In the LMP2 class, it was Ben Keating of United Autosports who emerged as the standout driver. After initially being bested by Joao Barbosa of Sean Creech Motorsport, Keating turned the tables with a category-topping lap of 1m39.047s, edging out Paul di Resta in United’s #22 entry. Their times were three tenths faster than Mikkel Jensen’s #11 TDS-run ORECA, further highlighting the intense competition within the category.
Porsche exhibited their dominance in the GT classes, with Frederic Makowiecki of Wright Motorsports setting the early pace in his #120 Porsche 911 GT3 R. However, his time was soon surpassed by Klaus Bachler of MDK Motorsports, who finished with a lap of 1m46.229s. The highlight of the GT classes was the impressive performance by the Porsche drivers, as Trent Hindman of Kelly-Moss with Riley secured second place, with Mario Farnbacher of Aston Martin as the best-placed GTD Pro entry.
The Roar Before the Rolex 24 was not without its challenges, as various drivers encountered issues and setbacks. James Hinchcliffe of Pfaff Motorsports experienced trouble on his first flying lap in his McLaren 720S. Despite being temporarily stranded, he managed to rejoin the session, albeit with limited time on the track. Such challenges are a reminder of the unpredictability of motorsport and add an element of excitement to the overall event.
The Roar Before the Rolex 24 provided a thrilling start to the season, with drivers pushing themselves to the limits in pursuit of victory. From the early pace set by Hartley to Hanson’s incredible lap, the competition was fierce in every category. With such strong performances and intense battles, fans can expect an unforgettable Rolex 24 at Daytona.
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