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GRAND-AM
GRAND-AM: Rolex 24 GT/GX Preview
John Dagys takes a team-by-team look at this year’s GT and GX class contenders in the Rolex 24 at Daytona...
Magnus Racing will be looking to defend its Rolex 24 GT class victory this weekend at Daytona. (Photo: John Dagys)
While often regarded as one of the most competitive categories in all of sports car racing, the GT class for this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona sees an extraordinary field of entries, all of which will be vying to be in victory lane at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
More than 35 production-based cars are set to take part in GT, including class favorites from Porsche, Audi, Ferrari and Chevrolet, while the around-the-clock endurance classic marks the debut of the new-for-2013 GX category for experimental cars.
SPEED.com takes a team-by-team look at the entires in both categories for this weekend’s GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season-opener (Live! SPEED and SPEED.com).
GT (36 Entries)
THE CONTENDERS:
Alex Job Racing (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup): Always a contender in the enduros, the Florida-based squad has brought one of the strongest lineups to the Rolex 24 in Jeroen Bleekemolen, Damien Faulkner, Porsche factory driver Marco Holzer and reigning ALMS GTC champ Cooper MacNeil. This one could be hard to beat, especially given the Porsche’s strengths at Daytona.
Audi Sport Customer Racing/Alex Job Racing (Audi R8 GRAND-AM): AJR’s second entry, run with a heavy factory presence, is likely to also be fighting for the class victory with the strong squad of Audi drivers Filipe Albuquerque, Oliver Jarvis, Edoardo Mortara and Dion von Moltke. While one of the lesser-experienced lineups at Daytona, the young guns are in a position to surprise.
AIM Autosport (Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am): Expanding to a two-car, season-long attack, the defending Rolex Series GT champs are also in prime position for class victory, if their Prancing Horses hold up for the brutal 24 hours. Ferrari factory drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander are joined by Jeff Segal and Max Papis in the race-favorite No. 61 entry, with Guy Cosmo and Anthony Lazzaro leading the charge in the No. 69 car, which could be in contention for a top-five.
TRG (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup): A perennial favorite at Daytona, the Kevin Buckler-led squad has a “modest” three-car effort this year, but with two Porsches that could give TRG its fifth Rolex 24 crown. The No. 66 Porsche of Joerg Bergmeister, Dominik Farnbacher, Kuno Wittmer and Ben Keating, as well as the Krohn Racing-backed No. 67 of Emmanuel Collard, Romain Dumas, Nic Jonsson and Tracy Krohn will be the two Porsches carrying the TRG flag in quest of its fifth Rolex 24 class victory.
Magnus Racing (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup): The defending class winners are expected to feature again, with Andy Lally, John Potter and Richard Lietz being joined by Porsche hot shoe Nicolas Armindo, making for another stellar lineup. Magnus once again fields two 911GT3 Cup cars but its No. 45 entry, in association with Fall Line Motorsports, will unlikely be a contender for the podium.
Audi Sport Customer Racing/APR Motorsport (Audi R8 GRAND-AM): Having flown the flag for the German manufacturer last year, the Alabama-based squad is rewarded with a strong factory backed effort for the Rolex 24. Frank Stippler, Rene Rast, Marc Basseng and team regular Ian Baas will be contenders for the class win in the No. 52, with the team’s No. 51 Pro-Am entry aiming for more of a conservative result.
Stevenson Motorsports (Camaro GT.R): The lone Camaro in the field, the Mike Johnson-led effort should be fighting for a podium position, if not win, especially with its lineup of GM aces John Edwards, Robin Liddell, Jan Magnussen and Tommy Milner. While not an ideal car for the Daytona high banks, Stevenson has made significant strides with the Prep 2 machine over the years.
Brumos Racing (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup): The iconic squad from Jacksonville, Fla. are also in good position, with team regulars Leh Keen and Andrew Davis being joined by Porsche factory driver Marc Lieb and Team Falken Tire regular Bryan Sellers in the legendary No. 59 Porsche. An engine failure at the Roar curtailed their pre-season test, but shouldn’t affect their efforts in the race.
Audi Sport Customer Racing/Rum Bum Racing (Audi R8 GRAND-AM): While a new team to the Rolex Series, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge champions are in good hands with full factory support from Audi for its first Rolex 24. And with a lineup of Frank Biela, Christopher Haase, Markus Winkelhock and team regular Matt Plumb, Rum Bum shouldn’t be counted out as a potential debut winner.
More than 35 production-based cars are set to take part in GT, including class favorites from Porsche, Audi, Ferrari and Chevrolet, while the around-the-clock endurance classic marks the debut of the new-for-2013 GX category for experimental cars.
SPEED.com takes a team-by-team look at the entires in both categories for this weekend’s GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season-opener (Live! SPEED and SPEED.com).
GT (36 Entries)
THE CONTENDERS:
Alex Job Racing (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup): Always a contender in the enduros, the Florida-based squad has brought one of the strongest lineups to the Rolex 24 in Jeroen Bleekemolen, Damien Faulkner, Porsche factory driver Marco Holzer and reigning ALMS GTC champ Cooper MacNeil. This one could be hard to beat, especially given the Porsche’s strengths at Daytona.
Audi Sport Customer Racing/Alex Job Racing (Audi R8 GRAND-AM): AJR’s second entry, run with a heavy factory presence, is likely to also be fighting for the class victory with the strong squad of Audi drivers Filipe Albuquerque, Oliver Jarvis, Edoardo Mortara and Dion von Moltke. While one of the lesser-experienced lineups at Daytona, the young guns are in a position to surprise.
AIM Autosport (Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am): Expanding to a two-car, season-long attack, the defending Rolex Series GT champs are also in prime position for class victory, if their Prancing Horses hold up for the brutal 24 hours. Ferrari factory drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander are joined by Jeff Segal and Max Papis in the race-favorite No. 61 entry, with Guy Cosmo and Anthony Lazzaro leading the charge in the No. 69 car, which could be in contention for a top-five.
TRG (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup): A perennial favorite at Daytona, the Kevin Buckler-led squad has a “modest” three-car effort this year, but with two Porsches that could give TRG its fifth Rolex 24 crown. The No. 66 Porsche of Joerg Bergmeister, Dominik Farnbacher, Kuno Wittmer and Ben Keating, as well as the Krohn Racing-backed No. 67 of Emmanuel Collard, Romain Dumas, Nic Jonsson and Tracy Krohn will be the two Porsches carrying the TRG flag in quest of its fifth Rolex 24 class victory.
Magnus Racing (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup): The defending class winners are expected to feature again, with Andy Lally, John Potter and Richard Lietz being joined by Porsche hot shoe Nicolas Armindo, making for another stellar lineup. Magnus once again fields two 911GT3 Cup cars but its No. 45 entry, in association with Fall Line Motorsports, will unlikely be a contender for the podium.
Audi Sport Customer Racing/APR Motorsport (Audi R8 GRAND-AM): Having flown the flag for the German manufacturer last year, the Alabama-based squad is rewarded with a strong factory backed effort for the Rolex 24. Frank Stippler, Rene Rast, Marc Basseng and team regular Ian Baas will be contenders for the class win in the No. 52, with the team’s No. 51 Pro-Am entry aiming for more of a conservative result.
Stevenson Motorsports (Camaro GT.R): The lone Camaro in the field, the Mike Johnson-led effort should be fighting for a podium position, if not win, especially with its lineup of GM aces John Edwards, Robin Liddell, Jan Magnussen and Tommy Milner. While not an ideal car for the Daytona high banks, Stevenson has made significant strides with the Prep 2 machine over the years.
Brumos Racing (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup): The iconic squad from Jacksonville, Fla. are also in good position, with team regulars Leh Keen and Andrew Davis being joined by Porsche factory driver Marc Lieb and Team Falken Tire regular Bryan Sellers in the legendary No. 59 Porsche. An engine failure at the Roar curtailed their pre-season test, but shouldn’t affect their efforts in the race.
Audi Sport Customer Racing/Rum Bum Racing (Audi R8 GRAND-AM): While a new team to the Rolex Series, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge champions are in good hands with full factory support from Audi for its first Rolex 24. And with a lineup of Frank Biela, Christopher Haase, Markus Winkelhock and team regular Matt Plumb, Rum Bum shouldn’t be counted out as a potential debut winner.
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