24 Hours of Daytona

Written by Justin Clarke Tuesday, 07 February 2012 00:00

US based Speed Chills customer and race fan Taylor Drake gives us his view of the 50th running of the 24 Hours of Daytona

As the anticipation built up for this historic addition of the 24 hours of Daytona one could not help but think of other great 50th anniversary events such as the 50th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring back in 2002, where the Audi R8's finished 1 & 2 with Johnny Herbert piloting his Audi North America R8 to victory. But one may be a bit sad due to the fact that the sports cars racing world isn't as it used to be as the Le Mans cars do not run at Daytona anymore. None the less, the racing still continues in January at Daytona and this year's event is sure to be a stunner.

Back in 1962 Dan Gurney drove his No.96 Lotus Climax 19B to victory in what was the Daytona Continental and was just 3 hours in duration. In 1964 and 1965 the race distance was extended to 2000 kilometers. It wasn't until 1966 that the race went the classic length of 24 hours.

Now for the 50th running of this great race bring us to 2012, a 4 day event of non-stop racing action set on the high banks of the great Daytona International Speedway. For the first time in the history of this event all the 4 day spectator supertickets sold out. This has never happened before. The racing action started on Thursday, with all classes practicing and qualifying in good weather. In spite of a morning motor failure that wiped out an entire practice session, Dalziel deftly drove his No. 8 Starworks Motorsport Ford/Riley to capture the pole for the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona with a lap of 1:41.119 (126.741 mph).

Friday morning action started with a thunderstorm that swept from the north through Daytona and on towards the southern half of Florida. This large weather front brought a lot of rain and high winds to the track early Friday. Minimal damage was reported at the track. Practiced for all race series went ahead as scheduled.

Saturday awoke to beatiful blue sky with the temperature just perfect. Its race day. The race doesn't get under way until 3:30 and by this time the infield was filled to capacity. It has never been this packed for this race.

After getting organized for the race it was time to head to the garages to see the final preparations being made to the racing machines before their historic start. The garages were chaotic with teams and fans all attempting to share the same piece of real estate. The autograph season was just as chaotic with fans clamouring to get a pic or signature of their favorite pilots - Patrick Dempsey, Alan McNish, Dario Franchitti, Paul Tracy, Scott Dixon, Hurley Haywood, John Andretti. And last but not least..the AC/DC front man Brian Johnson. Brian is driving the No. 50 BMW Riley. Fans everywhere were trying to get a shot of Mr. Johnson.

Brian Johnson was also promoting a worthy cause at this years race. Brian and his team are seeking to raise $1 million for the Austin Hatcher Foundation for pediatric cancer research. Here is a link to Brian's Highway to Help campaign, www.hatcherfoundation.org/highwaytohelp/. It is a worthy cause!

With the fanfair winding up to the start of the race, there was a bit of sad news this day; the named Grand Marshall AJ Foyt had to undergo knee replacement surgery and his doctors advised him that he wouldn't be able to attend the race. Foyt vowed to watch the race from his hospital bed. He was missed.

Foyt was replaced with the great Sir Jackie Stewart. Stewart would give the field those most famous words in his delicate and polite manner "Gentleman, Start Your Engines".

As the green flag dropped, everyone came to attention and cheered as the field came screaming by. I was in the grandstands for the start just outside turn one. My vantage point gave me an excellant view of 95% of the track. The pace was frantic for the first hour or two. The 58 cars were thundering down the straights and hugging the turns. Engines screaming at full song around the track was pure heaven.

A late driver addition to the No. 2 Starworks Mororsports Ford Riley was Marco Andretti. Marco actually learned Friday night that he was going to be driving in the race. His friend Ryan Hunter-Reay of Boca Raton (my town) helped Marco get the drive in the Ford Riley. Marco was actually testing his Indycar in Sebring on Saturday. As a matter of fact, Marco was still in Sebring when the green flag dropped at 3:30pm in Daytona! When the testing was finished in Sebring, Marco then drove to Daytona. Once he arrived in Daytona, he was already being prepped to get into the No. 2 Starworks Ford Riley. Mind you Marco hasn't had any seat time in this car. Marco jumped in and took to the Daytona Highbanks with brilliance. His drives were clean and he showed much skill. Marco actually logged in many hours behind the wheel until he was taken to the infield care centre due to exhaustion and dehydration. The doctors told Marco "your done driving". Marco had driven past his limit. What an effort!!

The day turned into night and the track light up. Daytona is gorgeous at night with all her lights, its something to behold. On the track the action hadn't let up. The pace was still a sprint and the chicane on the backstretch was the cause of most the cautions during the 24. Mostly minor incidents with a couple hard car to car impacts. If you were at the chicane for this race you saw most of the action. Turn 1 had its fair share of spins and missed braking points as the cars' suspension goes light as they make the transition from banking to the infield road course.

I personally took a ride on the ferris wheel at 10pm to view the race action. I looked upon the track and all the fans packed into the infield. What a sight it was. The fireworks went off at 11pm, always a good show. There were concerts and chili cook-offs and movies to be enjoyed by the fans. It was night time at Daytona.

My sleep stint went from 2:30am to 6am. As I laid to sleep the sounds of motor racing engines filled my dreams.

Awoke just before dawn. As the light crept over the horizon, everyone at the track knew the night was coming to an end. The night has always been my favorite time at any endurance race. The night always brings dreams of cars racing flat out down the 3 mile Mulsanne Straight at 240mph in the pitch dark. The glowing break disks and the added challenge for the drivers have always been the allure of racing at night. At Sebring we only get about 2-3 hours of night action. So that makes the 24 at Daytona is Florida's premier night race. Good Stuff.

As the sun came up so did the temps. Morning had arrived and the weather was a perfect blue sky. The campfires and grills began sparking back to life. And the fans begun to awake from their slumber. The night was now a memory.

The racing action continued through the morning and after 18 hours of racing in the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona. the stage was set for the final six-hour battle between the No. 60 LiveOn.com Ford/Riley from Michael Shank Racing and the No. 01 TELMEX/Target BMW/Riley from Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates for overall honors.

The pace continued to be high, no team giving an inch. in the closing hours there were still 3 Daytona prototypes on the lead lap and 2 GT class cars on the lead lap with 3 cars 1 lap down. Racing was close as ever at Daytona as usual.

After packing up my camp, I said goodbye to the infield and all the incredible fans and made my way outside the track and found a shaded spot right at the start/finish line in the grandstands. Seeing the cars come roaring by at full speed before hitting the braking zone for turn #1 is a sight to behold. Its a site your don't see at Sebring or Le Mans.

The checkered flag waved at 3:30pm and, after nine previous attempts, North America's most prestigious sports car race team owner Michael Shank got his first win at Daytona with stock car driver A.J. Allmendinger, who put in a final three gruelling hour stint at the wheel of the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Curb-Agajanian Ford/Riley Daytona Prototype to win.

Celebrating in Victory Lane he admitted the strain of the final run. "I'm so worn out," he said. "We wanted to win this for Shank. The motor was so fast. I am so drained. "I knew those last three hours I was going to have to go flat out. It was fun. When Dalziel got in the car . . . I knew I was going to have to drive my (rear end) off. I pushed really hard to build up a gap and take those last 10 laps to manage that gap."

Michael Shank actually finished 1st and 3rd with the No. 8 Starworks Motorsport Ford Riley with Alan McNish and Luca Luhr finishing 2nd overall. 3 cars finished on the lead lap.

In the GT ranks Porsche swept the podium with the No.44 Magnus Racing Porsche finishing on the top spot with Andy Lally at the wheel. The No. 67 TRG Porsche finished second and the No. 59 Brumos Porsche finished a respectible third place. The top two GT cars finished on the same lap.

The 50th edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona was a stunning event. It just about filled every expectation that I brought to the track. It was truly a privelege to be in attendance.

I personally prefer watching Le Mans cars racing around the tracks of the world in pursuit of glory. However, the 24 Hours of Daytona has grown on me over the years. I must admit, the thought of the Le Mans cars still running here at Daytona as they did back in the day still leaves me wondering what this event could have been if the sports car racing world wasn't split 10 years ago.

..........Just Imagine

-Respectifully reporting from Daytona for Speed Chills UK,

Taylor Drake

All images copyright Michael Shank Racing and Motoramic (B Johnson)

ACO Press Release - entrants for the Le Mans 24 hours and FIA World Endurance Championship

Written by Neil Matthews Monday, 30 January 2012 00:00

The following press release has been issued by the ACO, the organisers of the 24 hours of Le Mans.

Follow the presentation of the entrants for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship live on www.lemans.org

2nd February 16h00: Thanks to Dunlop and lemans.org follow the press conference and the presentation of the 57 cars selected for the 80th Le Mans 24 Hours plus the entrants for the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship live.

 The Automobile Club de l’Ouest has decided to boost its live broadcasts and official presentations, and it will once again set up a live streaming programme of its press conference on 2nd February 2012 in partnership with Dunlop.

Surfers the world over will be able to follow this private conference reserved for journalists live. It will also be attended by several manufacturers’ representatives including team managers and drivers.

What’s more, thanks to this system, endurance racing fans will be able discover by video live the entries for the FIA World Endurance Championship, which has already attracted a big field.

The deadline for entries was 18th January. Wednesday 25th January, the Selection Committee met to choose the entries from among the many information-packed forms sent to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s sports management department. After the choice has been made and the usual checks carried out the eagerly-awaited announcement will be made on Thursday 2nd February.

Just a little more patience. The suspense will reach its climax in a week’s time live on www.lemans.org with Dunlop!

Be part of the 80th edition of the ‘24 Heures of du Mans'

Written by Neil Matthews Thursday, 26 January 2012 00:00

A popular new offering from the ACO at the 2011 24 hours of Le Mans was the chance to be a passenger for a lap of the circuit with a professional racing instructor at the wheel. Following that success, the ACO are again offering this once in a lifetime addition to your trip!

As the expectant crowd gathers for the start of the 80th edition of the Le Mans 24 hours you can take your place as a passenger in the bucket seat of the type of car taking to the race track for the race proper for a full lap of the legendary circuit...

You can become immersed in the atmosphere, the sights and sounds that will greet the racing drivers within a matter of minutes of your experience. Seeing the crowded grandstands and expectant atmosphere will live in your memory for ever.

Chose between the Porsche GT car or a Pescarolo LMP car and when during race week you want your lap to happen. Speed Chills can make this experience happen for as little as £690 per person.

Remember places are strictly limited and sold out quickly in 2011!!

To book you lap simply call us on 0834 652 88 24 or 01252 717871 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Sessions are available as follows -

• Wednesday 13th June 20.00 - 20.30 (£690 GT, £990 LMP)
• Thursday 14th June 20.00 - 20.30 (£690 GT, £990 LMP)
• Saturday 16th June 08.30 (£690 GT, £990 LMP)
• Saturday 16th June 13.00 (£1,400 GT, £2000 LMP)

Latest WEC News

Written by Justin Clarke Tuesday, 17 January 2012 00:00

With the World Endurance Championship season opening race at Sebring on 17^th March now only 8 weeks away, the teams are starting to finalise their plans.

JRM Motorsports drive line confirmed

British based JRM Motorsports, the latest team to announce they are entering an LMP1 car in the 2012 World Endurance Championship, have now confirmed their driver line up will be David Brabham, Peter Dumbreck and Karun Chandhok.

David Brabham drove a HPD ARX03 to second place in Sebring in 2010, won Le Mans in 2009 with Peugeot and won the American Le Mans Series prototype championship in 2009 and 2010. David most recently drove for JRM in the FIA GT1 World Championship in 2011. 

Karun Chandhok has most recently been driving in F1, firstly for Hispania Racing in 2010, switching to Lotus in 2011. Prior to F1 drove in F3, A1GP and Formula Renault before moving to GP2 in 2007. 

Peter Dumbreck also started his career in single seaters, switched to DTM for five years and then headed for Japan and the Japan Super GT series. Most recently he drove for JRM in the FIA GT1 World Championship in 2010 and 2011.

Krohn Racing

Old Speed Chills friends Krohn Racing, have confirmed they intend to compete in all eight WEC races in 2012. The team will be competing in a Ferrari F458 GTE, replacing the F430 that took them to second in the GTE-Am class in the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Series.

Morgan Motor Company and OAK Racing join forces in endurance racing

Morgan Motor Company and OAK Racing are delighted to announce that they have entered into a partnership that will see the new 2012 OAK-Pescarolo LMP2 cars compete as Morgan LMP2s. It will be manufactured by Onroak Automotive, OAK Racing’s constructor department, which is based at the Technoparc des 24 Heures in Le Mans.

OAK Racing will enter one Morgan LMP2 in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship where they will seek to emulate the achievement of the Morgan Super Sport that took class victory at the 1962 Le Mans 24 Hours. 2012 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of their success and the company will seek to celebrate this landmark in style.