The Rolex 24 at Daytona confirmed intense racing proper to the top

The 24 Hours of Daytona, also referred to as the Rolex 24 at Daytona, has all the time been an interesting entry on this planet of endurance racing. It may not serve the dramatic surroundings of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Spa Francorchamps or the Nürburgring, however it’s nonetheless one of many all-time basic occasions of the yr. Particularly seeing multi-class racing for a full 24 hours on the legendary banked corners of the Daytona race monitor. It’s proper up there with the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500, et cetera. This yr the Rolex 24 at Daytona celebrated its Sixtieth anniversary, and the racing was as close-fought as ever, with some stunning outcomes. Right here’s the rundown of all lessons and the race total.

The Rolex 24 at Daytona is held in Daytona Seaside, Florida on the Sports activities Automobiles Course, which mixes the infield with the well-known oval monitor. It’s open for groups to race in a number of lessons, nearly an identical to the 24 Hours of Le Mans as an example. The quickest class this yr is the DPI class, which is similar to Le Mans’ LMP1 class. This yr noticed seven entries beneath DPI laws, ten entries within the LMP2 class, and 9 within the LMP3 class. IMSA additionally permits for GT automobiles to compete, beneath two separate lessons. That is the final yr beneath present guidelines and laws, as from 2023 IMSA will align with the ACO ruled LMDh laws. The intention of the joint laws is to scale back prices and stimulate extra groups and producers to compete.

DPI Class

A complete of 61 groups competed on this yr’s race, a report since 1974, with the DPI class fielding 7 entries. It’ll come as no shock that these automobiles are fairly a bit quicker than the decrease tier classes. This poses huge challenges for the drivers, particularly on such a comparatively brief monitor. The Street Automotive Course is just 5,7km lengthy, and as such the quickest drivers discover themselves repeatedly developing on back-markers. At Le Mans, as an example, slightly of 13km in size, this can be a bit much less of a difficulty.

The 2022 24 Hours of Daytona was certainly one of information, not within the final place for the outstanding shut end between the highest groups. It was truly one of many closest within the occasion’s historical past, as the highest 4 spots total (all DPI class automobiles) had been separated by not more than 6 seconds. In essence, that implies that after 24 hours of racing, it was just about all open for the 4 groups on the entrance and actually anyone may have clinched the victory proper on the finish. All automobiles had lead elements of the race, which can be one thing you not often see taking place in such occasions.

The Meyer Shank Racing group can be those to come back throughout the road first after finishing the ultimate lap after 24 hours, with Brazilian driver Helio Castroneves profitable his second straight 24 Hours of Daytona win. Collectively together with his teammates Tom Blomqvist, Oliver Jarvis and Simon Pagenaud, he would have a lead of solely 3 seconds over second-place finishers, the Konica Minolta Acura racing group. Lower than 1.4 seconds after that got here JDC-Miller Motorsports, intently adopted by Whelen Engineering Racing.

LMP2 & LMP3 Lessons

Similar to the DPI class, the LMP2 and LMP3 lessons had its justifiable share of drama and motion all through your entire race. Though the automobiles are less than velocity with the DPI class, naturally, the LMP2 and LMP3 automobiles are nonetheless thought of prototype racers with loads of get-up-and-go.

The LMP2 class fielded Oreca and Aurus automobiles, powered by Gibson V8’s. This mixture is well-known for a few years as regulation dictates the usage of pre-determined chassis and engines to maintain the prices down. In essence, because of this with the suitable preparation and a very good line-up of drivers it’s just about anyone’s sport. A dramatic lead-change with solely eleven minutes to go meant that DargonSpeed USA Oreca-07 Gibson took the win. This automotive, pushed by Eric Lux and Devlin DeFrancesco accomplished 751 laps, solely 10 behind the profitable DPI automotive, and got here in fifth total. Commonly seen contender Racing Crew Nederland (the brilliant yellow Jumbo-sponsored LMP2 automotive within the picture above) completed in a powerful second place in school after having some mechanical troubles all through the race.

Within the LMP3 class, it was the Riley Motorsports Ligier JS P320 that got here throughout the end line first in school. The group, fairly a legendary identify on this planet of endurance racing, managed to finish 723 laps, with divers Kay van Berlo, Michael Cooper, Felipe Fraga and Gar Robinson. Second in school was the #33 Sean Creech Motorsport Ligier, with a lap down on the category winners.

GTD Professional & GTD Lessons

In just about each multi-class endurance race just like the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the GT automobiles dominate by way of numbers. This yr was no exception, as at least 35 automobiles competed in GTD Professional and GTD racing, greater than half of your entire area. The entry listing consisted of a number of the ordinary suspects; Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Chevrolet. In each classes, a Porsche took the chequered flag, with Pfaff Motorsports profitable the GTD Professional class and Wright Motorsports claiming the win within the GTD class.

The GTD Professional class was once more closely contested, very like the DPI. Once more 4 automobiles discovered themselves on the identical lap in the direction of the top of the race. Attributable to a late full-course warning, the race just about resulted in a 30-minute sprint to the end line. Two Porsches, a Lamborghini and a Lexus battled for the win, finishing 711 laps and ending simply seconds aside.

Wright Motorsports managed to manage the ultimate levels of the race the perfect, timing the final pitstop just about completely. Shortly after, that aforementioned full-course warning meant the group may retake the lead as its principal rivals needed to pit beneath yellow, dropping invaluable time. Finally, Wright Motorsports lead 120 out of the ultimate 125 laps, and got here in twenty third total, however extra importantly; first in school.

Rolex & Daytona

For years, Rolex has been related to the world of motorsports, and the Daytona 24 Hours race. This Sixtieth version marked over half a century of involvement by Rolex with the legendary endurance race. It was additionally the model’s thirtieth version as title sponsor, and identical to yearly, every class and/or total profitable group is offered with a Rolex Daytona timepiece that includes a particular engraving on the caseback.

Because the occasion heads into a brand new period, beneath new laws and in shut partnership with the Vehicle Membership de l’Ouest (the Le Mans 24h organizers) the longer term appears to be like fairly brilliant for the Daytona 24 Hours. From subsequent yr onwards, it’s made simpler to compete in each occasions with the identical automotive. And as Rolex is related to each, this solely tightens Rolex’s “grip” on endurance racing.

Editorial notice; The pictures portrayed within the article are offered by Rolex.