- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
GRAND-AM
GRAND-AM: Daytona Test Weekend Notebook
John Dagys breaks down some of the storylines from the weekend at Daytona International Speedway...
The Rolex Series rung in the new year with its annual Roar Before the 24 test at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo: John Dagys)
SHANK WORKING ON SECOND CAR — While it was the No. 6 Riley-Ford of Michael Valiante that topped the time charts in testing this weekend at Daytona, team owner Michael Shank has yet to confirm his second Daytona Prototype entry beyond this month’s season-opening Rolex 24.
"We're working on that as hard as we can," Shank said. "We've had a lot more movement on that than we've had in the last couple of years. I think it's a function of 2014 coming and people aligning themselves where they think they should be for the future.
"From a business model standpoint, from making a living, we need to try and run two cars. I think we have a very good shot at least running a portion of the races, if not all of them.”
For the Rolex 24, Valiante will be joined by his 2012 ALMS co-driver, Chris Cumming, as well as open-wheel standouts Gustavo Yacaman and Jorge Goncalvez, who took the No. 6 entry to a third place finish in last year’s twice-around-the-clock enduro, when it was run as a Gen-2 DP.
"We're real proud of that car,” Shank added. “That was most of the 6 car [from 2012] on a new frame and body. It's an absolute duplicate to the 60 [car] in almost every way, which was a goal of ours.
"We want to run it. We don't want it to be a hangar queen."
DAVIDSON IS BACK — Nearly seven months after suffering multiple vertebrae fractures in a high-speed accident at Le Mans, Anthony Davidson returned to the wheel of a race car for the first time, turning his maiden laps around Daytona International Speedway and also in a Daytona Prototype.
The Toyota factory driver joined fellow former Peugeot refugees Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy, along with Sebring and Le Mans class winner Enzo Potolicchio in the Venezuelan's new 8Star Motorsports squad, which is fielding a Corvette DP in the entire Rolex Sports Car Series season this year.
“It was a good experience to get back out there, in any car, let alone Daytona and in a DP car,” Davidson told SPEED.com. “I’ve been slowly coming to grips with the car. It’s a very different car for me to drive. I haven’t got much GT experience under my belt.
“I think it responds much more in line with a GT car than a LMP2 or LMP1 or a single-seater with a lot of downforce. It’s a different experience but I’m really, really enjoying it. It’s a good, fun car to drive and great track.”
8Star showed promising results in its on-track debut, with Lamy setting the 10th quickest overall time of the weekend, and only less than two-tenths of a seconds from the leading Corvette DP.
WORK IN PROGRESS FOR SPEEDSOURCE — The new Mazda6 broke cover this weekend, with the GX-class contender running what was a considered an extended shakedown in the hands of the manufacturer’s development partner, SpeedSource.
With limited running time and a series of teething issues, it proved to be an uphill battle, but still a historic occasion. Powered by a 2.2-liter SKYACTIV-D production turbo, the Mazda6 will become the first diesel-powered car to race at Daytona International Speedway later this month.
"Without a doubt, if we were able to finish, I think that would be the cat's meow,” said Mazda Motorsports Director John Doonan. “Unfortunately the GX class is still developing, so we don't know what will happen there. But just to finish the race would be monumental."
While only the No. 70 entry of Jonathan Bomarito, Marino Franchitti, James Hinchcliffe, Tom Long and Sylvain Tremblay was on hand this weekend, three cars are expected for the race, including the No. 00 Visit Florida Racing Mazda6 for Mazda Road to Indy drivers Joel Miller, Tristan Nunez, Spencer Pigot, Tristan Vautier and veteran Mazda racer Yojiro Terada, who has two-dozen starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Doonan confirmed two Mazda6s for the entire season, with Long partnering SpeedSource team boss Tremblay in the No. 70 car, and IMSA Prototype Lites champ Nunez leading efforts in the Visit Florida entry. Freedom Autosport, the third team for the Rolex 24, is looking to run select additional races this year as well.
"We're working on that as hard as we can," Shank said. "We've had a lot more movement on that than we've had in the last couple of years. I think it's a function of 2014 coming and people aligning themselves where they think they should be for the future.
"From a business model standpoint, from making a living, we need to try and run two cars. I think we have a very good shot at least running a portion of the races, if not all of them.”
For the Rolex 24, Valiante will be joined by his 2012 ALMS co-driver, Chris Cumming, as well as open-wheel standouts Gustavo Yacaman and Jorge Goncalvez, who took the No. 6 entry to a third place finish in last year’s twice-around-the-clock enduro, when it was run as a Gen-2 DP.
"We're real proud of that car,” Shank added. “That was most of the 6 car [from 2012] on a new frame and body. It's an absolute duplicate to the 60 [car] in almost every way, which was a goal of ours.
"We want to run it. We don't want it to be a hangar queen."
DAVIDSON IS BACK — Nearly seven months after suffering multiple vertebrae fractures in a high-speed accident at Le Mans, Anthony Davidson returned to the wheel of a race car for the first time, turning his maiden laps around Daytona International Speedway and also in a Daytona Prototype.
The Toyota factory driver joined fellow former Peugeot refugees Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy, along with Sebring and Le Mans class winner Enzo Potolicchio in the Venezuelan's new 8Star Motorsports squad, which is fielding a Corvette DP in the entire Rolex Sports Car Series season this year.
“It was a good experience to get back out there, in any car, let alone Daytona and in a DP car,” Davidson told SPEED.com. “I’ve been slowly coming to grips with the car. It’s a very different car for me to drive. I haven’t got much GT experience under my belt.
“I think it responds much more in line with a GT car than a LMP2 or LMP1 or a single-seater with a lot of downforce. It’s a different experience but I’m really, really enjoying it. It’s a good, fun car to drive and great track.”
8Star showed promising results in its on-track debut, with Lamy setting the 10th quickest overall time of the weekend, and only less than two-tenths of a seconds from the leading Corvette DP.
WORK IN PROGRESS FOR SPEEDSOURCE — The new Mazda6 broke cover this weekend, with the GX-class contender running what was a considered an extended shakedown in the hands of the manufacturer’s development partner, SpeedSource.
With limited running time and a series of teething issues, it proved to be an uphill battle, but still a historic occasion. Powered by a 2.2-liter SKYACTIV-D production turbo, the Mazda6 will become the first diesel-powered car to race at Daytona International Speedway later this month.
"Without a doubt, if we were able to finish, I think that would be the cat's meow,” said Mazda Motorsports Director John Doonan. “Unfortunately the GX class is still developing, so we don't know what will happen there. But just to finish the race would be monumental."
While only the No. 70 entry of Jonathan Bomarito, Marino Franchitti, James Hinchcliffe, Tom Long and Sylvain Tremblay was on hand this weekend, three cars are expected for the race, including the No. 00 Visit Florida Racing Mazda6 for Mazda Road to Indy drivers Joel Miller, Tristan Nunez, Spencer Pigot, Tristan Vautier and veteran Mazda racer Yojiro Terada, who has two-dozen starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Doonan confirmed two Mazda6s for the entire season, with Long partnering SpeedSource team boss Tremblay in the No. 70 car, and IMSA Prototype Lites champ Nunez leading efforts in the Visit Florida entry. Freedom Autosport, the third team for the Rolex 24, is looking to run select additional races this year as well.
Latest Gallery
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
LE MANS: Lotus LMP2 Returns To Track
Seized parts returned to Lotus LMP2, No. 31 car rebuilt and completes… -
SPEED, SPEED.com Plan Live & Continuous LM24 Coverage
In-car streaming of Corvette Racing highlights two-screen experience...… -
VIDEO: 8Star LM24 Wednesday vBlog
Rui Aguas checks into SPEED.com prior to the start of practice and… -
LE MANS: Corvette On-Board Pass Returns For LM24
Watch! Live in-car and garage cameras from Corvette Racing during… -
LE MANS: Lotus LMP2 Cars Seized By Court
BREAKING: Lotus T128 parts seized by local courts over financial… -
LE MANS: Taylor Brothers Continuing Family Tradition
Second-generation racers Jordan, Ricky Taylor seek victory at Le… -
LE MANS: LM24 LMP1 Preview
John Dagys takes a team-by-team look at this year’s LMP1 class… - More News
