The last two hours of the 2021 Rolex 24 at Daytona have been disrupted by three Full Course Yellows, including one caution period that stretched to over half an hour. Currently leading the way as the sun sets is the #5 Mustang Sampling/JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi-V.R. From here, the grid now faces thirteen hours of darkness.
It was a rough two hours for LMP2 where three cars in the class ran into trouble. Firstly, the #81 DragonSpeed ORECA 07 struck the guard rail on the exit of Turn 1 after Rob Hodes locked the brakes entering the corner. Hodes nursed the car all the way to the bus stop before stopping and bringing out a Full Course Yellow.
The #81 ORECA is still in the garage as the crew works on repairs to the right front.
Frits van Erd in the #29 Racing Team Nederland ORECA 07 found himself nose-first in the tyre barrier at the bus stop. The car had to be brought back to the garage on the flatbed while van Erd was checked and released from in the infield care centre. That car briefly returned to the track before going back behind the wall.
Just at the three hour mark the #81 and #29 were both officially retired.
The last LMP2 car to run into trouble was the #20 High Class Racing ORECA 07 which went behind the wall with a mechanical issue. It is still in the garage.
The final incident of the period involved the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE of James Calado who made an ill-fated pass attempt on the #38 Performance Tech Motorsports Ligier JSP320 which was leading LMP3 at the time. Calado tried to slide to the inside of Cameron Cassels into the bus stop but ended up hitting Cassels, sending both of them into the barrier.
Calado continued without significant damage but the #38 Ligier needed to go behind the wall for repairs to the rear of the car. The #62 Ferrari was given a penalty for incident responsibility.
Other incidents in the last two hours include:
The transponder on the #12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC-F GT3 needed to be replaced. The car was leading GTD at the time, but the repairs dropped the car down to as low as last in class.
The drinks bottle of the #91 Riley Motorsports Ligier JSP320 suffered a leak, which then caused an electronics issue, which then lead to a fuel pressure issue. That car lost 14 laps while the team completed repairs in the garage.
The Cadillacs seem strong but the Acuras from Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing are moving up the board.
1. The #5 Mustang Sampling/JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi-V.R.
2. The #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05c
3. The #01 Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R.
4. The #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-05c
5. The #55 Mazda RT-24P
Corvette stills hold onto the top spots in GTLM, BMW looms, and the Ferrari runs into trouble.
1. The #4 Corvette Racing C8.R
2. The #3 Corvette Racing C8.R
3. The #24 BMW M8 GTE
4. The #25 BMW M8 GTE
5. The #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE
6. The #79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 RSR
Era Motorsport moves into the lead as others in the class falter.
1. The #18 Era Motorsport ORECA 07
2. The #52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA 07
3. The #8 Tower Motorsports ORECA 07
4. The #47 Cetilar Racing Dallara P217
5. The #82 DragonSpeed ORECA 07
The #33 Ligier has moved into the lead after the #38 Ligier’s incident with the #62 Ferrari.
1. The #33 Sean Creech Motorsports Ligier JS P320
2. The #74 Riley-Robinson Ligier JS P320
3. The #54 CORE Autosport Ligier JS P320
4. The #6 Muehlner Motorsports Duqueine D08
5. The #91 Riley-Cox Ligier JS P320
The #14 Lexus is still holding the lead in GTD as positions continue to change behind them.
1. The #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC-F GT3
2. The #23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3
3. The #16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
4. The #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
5. The #96 Turner Motorsports BMW M6 GT3.
