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ROLEX 24: GT Preview
Part two of our Rolex 24 preview, where 30 entries from six manufacturers will be vying for GT victory in one of the most competitive classes seen in years.
John Dagys  |  Posted January 26, 2010   Chicago, IL
With improved aerodynamics over its Pontiac GXP.R, Stevenson's two Camaro GT.Rs could play the role of spoilers this weekend. (GRAND-AM)
While the Daytona Prototypes often take center stage, this year’s contingent of Grand Touring machines in the Rolex 24 at Daytona shouldn’t be overlooked. Thirty cars representing six manufacturers - Porsche, Mazda, Chevrolet, BMW, Pontiac and Ferrari - have been entered to do battle in the twice-around-the-clock marathon, in what could be considered one of the most competitive fields in recent memory.

All of the big names of GT racing are here. From Porsche factory stars Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas to fellow works drivers and 2009 American Le Mans Series GT2 champions Jorg Bergmeister and Patrick Long to GM factory ace Jan Magnussen, they all join the already impressive lineup of Rolex GT regulars, including defending champion Leh Keen and 2008 champs Paul Edwards and Kelly Collins. Add in the likes of NASCAR star Bobby Labonte and the return of road racing legend Davy Jones to the mix and the depth of driver talent hasn’t been stronger.

With close to half of the starting field being Porsches, it’s no surprise the German brand heads as favorites once again. The legendary 911 has traditionally excelled in endurance races worldwide, and the Rolex 24 is no exception. With GT class wins in nine of the last ten years, including an overall triumph in 2003, Porsches are well positioned for continued success on the Daytona high banks.

Porsche specialists TRG are always out in full force at the Rolex 24 and this year’s race is no exception. The defending winners have again entered five Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars in a bid for their fourth 24-hour crown. At least two, if not three, of its cars stand a chance of the win.

The No. 67 entry which took the Kevin Buckler-owned squad to victory last year is back but under a new alliance with Flying Lizard Motorsports. The two-time and defending ALMS GT2 champions have joined forces with TRG, uniting years of endurance racing experience together under one collaborative effort. With Porsche factory drivers Bergmeister and Long, plus Johannes van Overbeek and Lizards team principal Seth Neiman sharing the driving duties, the entry will certainly be one of the quickest in the field.
Stevenson Motorsports' beautiful Camaro GT.R is one of a handful of new GT cars in this year's Rolex 24. (LAT)

Another equally strong lineup comes from TRG’s No. 71 car, which includes Porsche works stars Bernhard and Dumas, both making their return to the GT ranks after a season in DP, TRG Motorsports NASCAR star Labonte, as well as stock car up-and-comer Tim George Jr. and veteran road racer Spencer Pumpelly. A third TRG Porsche, the team’s No. 66 entry for defending winner Andy Lally, 2008 series co-champion Collins, Porsche factory ace Wolf Henzler, Ted Ballou and Patrick Flanagan, could also be a factor.

There’s another Porsche that could foil TRG’s quest for two in a row, however. After a one-year absence, Alex Job Racing returns to the Rolex 24, but in the GT category with a 911 GT3 Cup car. The team from nearby Taveres, Fla., which won GT honors in 1999, is banking on youth and experience for its five-driver squad. Twenty-one year old Porsche Junior Martin Ragginger and 25-year-old, and 2005 winner, Dominik Farnbacher teams with Patron GT3 Challenge ace Mitch Pagerey, veteran road racer Jack Baldwin and SCCA World Challenge driver Claudio Burtin in the No. 23 machine. While the lineup may not boast the most well known names in motorsports, Alex Job knows how to assemble a winning effort and this entry shouldn’t be counted out.

A fifth Porsche that could surprise a few is the Magnus Racing entry. The upstart team from owner/driver John Potter could be considered a dark horse in the race, with Potter and full-season co-driver Craig Stanton being joined by two-time and defending Porsche Supercup Champion Jeroen Bleekemolen and 2009 Le Mans Series GT2 champion and Porsche factory driver Richard Lietz. Driver talent is surely not an issue, but a new team adapting to the grueling and sometimes unpredictable nature of a 24-hour race could be the a major question mark.

Mazda has been the only manufacturer to break Porsche’s stranglehold in the past decade and returns to Daytona stronger than ever. With seven RX-8s entered from a brace of factory supported and independent teams, it’s not only the second most represented car in the GT field, but also the one with the best chance to again knock Porsche off its thrown.
TRG and Alex Job Racing will likely be the two leading Porsche entrants in this year's 24-hour classic. (GRAND-AM)

Led by 2008 Rolex 24 winners SpeedSource, the Florida-based team’s two-car driver lineup remains relatively unchanged from last year. Full-season drivers Slyvain Tremblay and Nick Ham are joined by David Haskell and Atlantic star Jonathan Bomarito in the No. 70 machine while regulars Jeff Segal, Emil Assentato and Nick Longhi will team with veteran road racer Anthony Lazzaro in the No. 69 RX-8.

What has changed have been the cars themselves, as both of the Riley-built chassis are brand-new for 2010. The team is hoping to rebound after a cruel 2009 race which saw the pole-sitting No. 70 machine fall back with a fuel pump problem and punctured fuel cell and the No. 69 entry involved in an early race incident.

If problems do arise again, Mazda will at least have two other bullets that could be contenders for a podium position. After an encouraging debut with the RX-8 last year, Dempsey Racing returns with a two-car squad this year, joining forces with Team Seattle. Patrick Dempsey, Joe Foster and Charles Espenlaub will be back behind the wheel of the No. 40 entry, while the Team Seattle-entered No. 41 features the driving talent of Don Kitch Jr., James Gue, Dave Lacey and defending Rolex GT Series champion Keen. The brand-new No. 41 machine was quickest in the January “Roar Before the 24” test. Could that be a sign of things to come?

Watch the 39th Annual Rolex 24 at Daytona on SPEED™!



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