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Roar Before The Rolex 24 Notes

Mike Rockenfeller with his Corvette. [Photo by Eddie LePine]

Mike Rockenfeller with his Corvette. [Photo by Eddie LePine]

The Roar Before the Rolex 24 is now over and if the Roar was any indication, this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona is going to be a fantastic race.

The 54 entered cars set to work immediately and it was quite a sight to see, as almost everyone got down to competitive times from the start. Overall, the Ligier set the pace in the Prototype class with Daytona Prototype Corvette DPs right behind.

The Deltwing looked good all weekend and was the most competitive that I have seen it. If they have their past reliability issues solved in regards to their gearbox, look for them to be right in the hunt for the overall victory at the Rolex 24.

The GTLM class promises to provide a really good show in the race, with new cars from BMW and Ferrari, and updated entries from Porsche and Corvette. And of course, the car everyone is talking about – the all new Ford GT.

In GTD, most of the field is covered by less than one second in time, so that battle looks wide open. Both the new Lamborghini and Audi were impressive, but the winner of GTD in the Rolex 24 is anybody’s guess, it’s that close.

I spoke with Marcel Fassler, the outstanding Audi prototype driver who is on loan to Corvette (along with fellow Audi pilot Mike Rockenfeller). It is Fassler’s first time at Daytona, and he indicated to me that Daytona is a great challenge, but he is looking forward to it. In the three days of testing he concentrated on learning the track and dealing with the traffic from the different classes and by the end of the Roar he told me he was quite comfortable in the Corvette.

Mike Rockenfeller is also ready to go and anxious to add another Rolex to his wrist, having won the race back in 2010. Rocky said “You always want to have more and more laps, especially when you are in a car like the Corvette that is fun to drive. Personally, I feel quite good in the car.”

Finally, in another Audi connection, Tom Kristensen has been announced as Grand Marshall for the Rolex 24.

This year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona is going to be a “must see” event. Make plans to get to Daytona January 28-31 – it will be worth the trip.


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