The 2024 Rolex 24
QUALIFYING
The #31 Cadillac GTP prototype on the pole for the Rolex 24. The #01 Cadillac GTP prototype starts second. #2 United Auto sports USA team qualified first in LMP2. #52 Inter Europal by PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports qualified second in LMP2. #77 Porsche 911 GT3 qualified first in GTD Pro and #14 Lexus RCF GT3 qualified second. #12 Lexus RCF GT3 qualified on pole in GTD and the #86 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R qualified second.
PRACTICES
Practice 4 Top 2 in class
Practice 3 Top 2 in class
Practice 2 Top 2 in class
Practice 1 Top 2 in class
RACE PREP
Daytona International Speedway is 3.56 miles and has 12 corners including the back stretch chicane also known as the LeMans chicane. The corners of the track can also be referred to as NASCAR one and two and NASCAR 3 and 4. Those are the high banked corners of the racetrack.
59 different cars will race with more than 200 drivers for Indy 500 champions, one formula, 1 champion and a lot of 24 hours of LeMans winners.
THE 2024 ROLEX 24
The 2024 Rolex 24 started off strong. Each class started the race fairly clean, with no major issues or incidents. The first incident that caused race detrimental impacts was the GTD Classes Lamborghini #78. The car impacted the backstretch wall tie barrier in the Le Mans chicane causing lots of damage to the right side of the Lamborghini.
Another incident, right at the one hour mark of the race, 3 LMP2 cars and teams were involved in another crash on the back stretch. None were seriously injured and could continue on in the race. Moments later after turn 1 going into the infield portion of the racetrack, parts flew. Another LMP2 (#20) car and a GTD Pro (#14) car was involved in this crash.
Throughout the race, there were incredible battles in every class for the lead and for other positions. Even early on, contact between LMP2 and GTP cars to find every inch they could to get in front of their other competitors.
LMP2 car #11 took a hard hit on the backstretch’s outside wall. The car turned loose coming out of the LeMans chicane and impacted the outside safer barrier very hard causing the car to be undrivable, therefore, out of the race.
The #33 LMP2 car had a rough 24 hours. Spinning on the racetrack several times, mechanical failures, and even shutting down on the racetrack and bringing out a Full Course Caution. The American Flag Livery LMP2 vehicle was no good for this event.
Getting into the night portion of this race, battle started coming up everywhere on the track and the cars that were faster in cooler temperatures (at night) started to shine. They climbed their way to the front and showed off some speed that they may have not shown earlier in the race during the daytime.
The first GTP car with major issues became the #10 Acura. After having what seemed to be a good race going for them, the car lost all power. The driver could not get it fired back up, leading to him stepping out and needing the car pulled to the garage. A dreadful race not even halfway through for this team of Wayne Taylor Racing.
More spins in the esses off of turn 1. Crazy avoidance skills by all drivers to get around not one but two cars spun in those tight corners plus the pit exit point.
Trouble for another GTP machine, the #01 hit debris on the racetrack causing the car to drag the asphalt below. Another really fast prototype with issues, again, not even at the halfway mark of this 24 hour event.
The #40 GTP entry had it’s fair share of issues as well through the night. The Wayne Taylor Racing car had trouble getting through traffic while battling for position in his own class as well as a spin while passing traffic. Later on, the #40 just their teammate, lost power. All power to the racecar was gone and caused another Full Course Caution. The team was pretty safe to say, down but not out through the night.
#01 Cadillac also lost power through the night after hitting a piece of debris earlier in the race.
Classes of each battling for the lead. Hours ticking off the clock. Contact between leaders as the race winds down heading towards the finish. Traffic all over the racetrack for every battle.
#31 and #7 in the GTP class had an incredible battle in the last hours of the race. This was for the class lead, overall lead, and win in the Rolex 24. Splitting traffic, timing corner launches, and setting up moves to make on the driver in front.
To make things more interesting, the #12 Lexus in the GTD class caught fire whilst exiting pit road. Only an hour and change left, saw the Rolex 24 get more intense than it was already.
Towards the end of the race, the #7 just pulled away on the #31. He couldn’t caught. The #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport team, won the 2024 Rolex 24 in a hard fought battle in the closing hours of the race. The #31 Cadillac finished second and the #40, even after losing power, spinning, and contact ends up third in the GTP class.
The LMP2 cars finish #18, #04, #74 as the podium. GTD Pro saw the #62 Ferrari win, #77 Porsche finish second and the BMW #1 close out the top three. In the GTD class, The Mercedes #57 won in it. Behind him finished #21 and #34 Ferrari’s.
Watch full race highlights here on NBC Motorsports YouTube Channel.
SOURCES
Ryan, Nate. "Five Things to Watch in the 2024 Rolex 24: A Viewer's Guide to a Star-Studded Daytona." NBC Sports, 27 Jan. 2024. https://www.nbc.com/watch/imsa/rolex-24-at-daytona-pt-ii/4505056.
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