DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Up to now, the annual Roar Earlier than the Rolex 24 observe classes have featured BMW dominating the velocity charts throughout the opening two days of motion at Daytona Int’l Speedway’s 3.56-mile street course.
The German model set quick time in each of Saturday’s early Rolex 24 At Daytona observe classes with the 2 BMW M Workforce RLL sister automobiles in the end sweeping the primary two positions on the velocity charts.
Whereas 25-year-old Sheldon van der Linde – who claimed the day’s total quick lap of 1:36.196 within the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 on Saturday afternoon – was clearly happy with the staff’s effort and what that will imply for subsequent weekend’s iconic Rolex 24 race, the South African cautioned that some opponents had been cautious to not present their hand but.
He was inspired, nonetheless, by the apparent progress his producer and staff have made within the final two years competing within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“It’s clearly optimistic to see that every one the exhausting work we’ve completed over the winter this 12 months and thru the WEC season final 12 months, we’ve discovered so much, and we’re making an attempt to translate that into America clearly,” stated van der Linde, an FIA World Endurance Championship veteran who will drive full-time in IMSA’s Grand Touring Prototype class for the primary time this season.
“It’s solely the Roar and we all know lots of people are sandbagging quite a bit,” he stated. “It’s fairly clear within the GTD class as nicely, however for positive, a great way to start out the weekend and the automobile feels good in order that’s optimistic.
“It’s exhausting to say what we anticipated as a result of we didn’t actually know the place we’d be coming into the Roar. Like I stated, everyone seems to be doing one thing completely different with their program. So, in the long run, it’s very exhausting to know the place we’re, however we anticipated to be so much stronger than final 12 months and I believe that alone actually, actually exhibits this 12 months.”
Total Saturday, it was clean working on observe– temperatures within the low 70s beneath principally cloudy skies – with solely a single incident within the two observe classes – the No. 22 United Autosports USA LMP2 contacted the tire barrier exterior the chicane on the backstretch throughout the afternoon session.
Though there have been no “cases” for accidents throughout the morning one hour, 45-minute observe, it was slowed twice – a fast yellow for a particles on observe and an 11-minute pause to permit the sector to observe the brand new cut up class restarts for the upcoming race. This season, earlier than restarts, all 4 lessons will likely be divided on observe by class, together with a new-for-2025 class cut up of the GTD PRO and GTD automobiles.
The final feeling was that the cut up went higher than anticipated, occurring shortly and with out incident – even with a full 37-car depend among the many GTD entries (15 GTD PRO and 22 GTD).
“That labored effective,” stated IndyCar’s Scott McLaughlin, who’s teaming with NASCAR stars Shane Van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch and former Rolex winner Ben Keating within the No. 91 Trackhouse by TF Sport GTD PRO class Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the Rolex 24.
“It was fast, extra simply getting the pack up. It was fairly strong. I don’t suppose there’s a lot of a distinction.’’
Franck Perera, who set quick time (1:48.036) within the GTD class Saturday morning driving the No. 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, was among the many drivers who cautioned with the altering climate circumstances each anticipated for Sunday (rain) and subsequent week’s race (cooler temperatures).
“For positive it’s optimistic when it’s going the way in which you need,” stated Perera, a previous Rolex 24 class winner. He famous “every session is a check and there’s nonetheless observe, and I believe the climate will likely be tough the subsequent couple days.’’
Felipe Fraga took quick time within the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class with a lap of 1:40.108 within the No. 74 Riley ORECA LMP2 07. Andrea Caldarelli was quickest in each classes within the GTD PRO Class with a quick lap of 1:48.049 within the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 throughout the afternoon observe.
