New and Old faces at JDC Miller
Reigning FIA Formula E World Champion Pascal Wehrlein was a late addition to the Daytona test entry in the #85 JDC Miller Porsche 963 today, the German/ Mauritian one of two TBAs in the bright yellow Porsche in a pair of 3 hour sessions today.
It was at least his second outing in a 963, having been one of a number of drivers to complete a 36 hour endurance test at Sebring back in 2022.
Also with the team at the test, albeit in a non-driving role for the first time, is Richard Westbrook.
The final name in a five-driver line-up at the test for JDC Miller proved to be 2024 Inter Europol LMP2 driver and podium finisher, Oliver Gray.
Valkyrie Baby Steps
The #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Valkyrie was late into the session on Friday morning before completing the first-ever LMH prototype laps at Daytona.
Alex Riberas was first at the wheel of the car for its first laps, the car starting rolling with a whine on the starter before the Cosworth V12 kicks in, not entirely unlike (audibly at least) the GTP start on the hybrid electric system.
The V12 engine is restricted to 8500 rpm and, with silencers fitted, the wailing engine note was somewhat muted, but the car looks and sounds the part.
Rapid times were not on the to-do list for the team running the brand new car for the first time but in any case, the Valkyrie was well clear of even the best LMP2 times.
And here she goes – wailing by @IMSA @AMR_Official @Heart_Of_Racing Valkyrie LMH – this the end of the first ever flying lap by an LMH prototype @DAYTONA pic.twitter.com/QbujlDoRmB
— Graham Goodwin (@dsceditor) November 15, 2024
Optimum Aiming For ELMS
Inception Racing’s Ferrari 296 GT3 is livery-free at present ahead of the test with Optimum Motorsport still supporting the effort despite the with from McLaren to Ferrari for Brendon Iribe’s programme.
Optimum though will still be running McLarens elsewhere in another multi-Championship season in both GT3 and GT4, starting next month in the Asian Le Mans Series with a pair of 720S GT3s.
There is though a new programme potentially on the horizon as Team Manager Bas Leinders confirmed to DSC that Optimum have put in an entry, with drivers already signed, for the 2025 European Le Mans Series.
If approved by the Selection Committee (in an entry expected to be heavily oversubscribed), Optimum would be the first ever McLaren entry in the series.
Optimum, of course, ran the Inception McLaren that set Hyperpole at Le Mans in the hands of Brendon Iribe.
Turn 5 claims early victims
Incidents struck two LMP2s in Friday morning’s Session 1. Felipe Fraga went off in his #74 Riley ORECA LMP2 07 at the West Horseshoe (turn five) and returned to the pits with damage to the left front quarter of the car.
Fraga and crew returned to complete Session 2 without any other significant trouble.
An hour later, the #99 AO Racing “Spike” Oreca brought out the red flags when a significant tailwind caught out PJ Hyett, again at T5, the car brought back to the garage with significant rear end damage.
Spike was back on track late in the second session with repairs complete to the dragon’s tail.
United looking to nail down 2025 line-up
AO Racing are amongst the teams to have not yet confirmed their 2025 driver squads and whilst fellow LMP2 contenders United Autosports have completed the squad for the #22 Oreca (Daniel Goldburg, Paul Di Resta and Rasmus Lindh), there is still some uncertainty about the final line-up for the sister #2 Oreca.
Ben Hanley, Manuel Maldonado and racing returnee Phil Fayer have run at the test but Canadian driver Fayer is not set to race in the 2025 IMSA season with United understood to be talking to a number of drivers as they close in on a confirmed full season package.
Jack – can I borrow your Vesti?
2025 Action Express Michelin Endurance Cup GTP driver Fred Vesti is an inclusive sort and always keeps his teammates close, we think wearing both Jack Aitken and Earl Bamber’s clothes, though, is taking it a bit far!
De-liveried Dames
The Proton-run Iron Dames Porsche has been stripped of its pink livery ahead of the first track action for the GTD and GTD Pro cars tomorrow, this the car that then Dames competed in during the 2024 ELMS.
Saturday will see three lengthy track sessions – including a night session with all four classes on track throughout (GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD) before the final sessions on Sunday which will see just the GTD Pro and GTD runners on track.
