IMSA: Rolex 24 at Daytona, Hour 24, ESM Takes The Win

In P, GTLM and GTD, this long 24 hour race will likely come down to wire, with each class having its own mix of conditions including track position, fuel requirements and maybe just plain luck…

1:00 to go: Derani leads Taylor by 6.8 seconds and Hunter-Reay by 45 seconds. All will require another stop, although Hunter-Reay will need less fuel.

GTD: Rast to the pits in the Magnus Audi. Sticker tires and fuel. Lamy to the pits also from 3rd in class.

58:00 Bamber +7 over Gavin with Garcia and other 20 seconds back.

The 22AJR Porsche has dropped well back due to the wing issue, losing 7 laps.

Pit stops are jumbling GTD at the moment, this will take a few laps to settle out as the Faulkner Viper has stayed out longer that the others.

54:20: Derani + 7.4 seconds; Bamber +7.5 over Gavin

51:30: Bamber to the pits, Gavin to the lead.

50:30: Faulkner to the pits from the GTD lead.

50:00: Gavin pits, fuel and tires

Gavin was able to get out just in front of Bamber, but could not hold it with the cold tires.

45:00: Jordan Taylor reporting to not be feeling good, Max Angelelli into the car

Catsburg (Black Swan Porsche) in for a splash, good to the finish

41:45: 90 in for fuel and tires, ready to go to the end…

10 and 2 in pits also to the finish.

Stanway in the grass from 2nd in GTD.

GTLM: Garcia still needs a stop

38:25: Bamber wide in the infield allowing Gavin to close

37:05: Garcia to the pits. Fuel and Right Side tires.

35:40: Gavin and Bamber touch, Bamber slight wiggle and Gavin through for the lead. Bamber fights back…

Up front, ESM in control being +12 seconds.

GTD: Rast stretching it out now +34 over the Babini Lamborghini.

PC: still 85 up 4 laps.

This one looks like it is settling down…

24:30: both Bamber and Garcia record their best laps of the race while fighting for second in class. Garcia repeats that feat another time as Gavin pulls away.

22:30: Garcia gets past Bamber for 2nd in class, Corvette 1-2…

21:00: Rast conserving fuel?

18:00: 51 Ferrari cut LR tire circulating on the apron. Makes it to the pits OK, no yellow.

15:00: Garcia right up on Gavin, radio says it is OK to race? Really?

11:50: Garcia looking to get around Gavin entering turn 1? This is serious!!

9:00: GTD lead change Babini to the lead over Rast

Garcia continues to try to pressure Gavin into a mistake in traffic…

Stanaway to the pits

3:00: Garcia thru then goes wide in 1, Gavin back to the class lead. Bambini slows, out of fuel and Rast takes the lead, then slows.

Final lap: ESM in control overall, Corvette has settled. GTD, who knows…