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Daytona 24 Hours: Acura on top in Roar practice but Porsche closing in

Meyer Shank Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing ensured another Acura 1-2 in third practice for the Roar Before the 24 at the Daytona 24 Hours, but the fastest Porsche was less than 0.15s off.

#60 Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06: Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Helio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud

#60 Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06: Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Helio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud

Art Fleischmann

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Cadillacs were the first cars to show their hand in GTP, with Sebastien Bourdais #01 and Alex Lynn (2) ducking into the 1m35s with their third laps, but then Tom Blomqvist sent the Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 to the top with a 1m35.363s lap of the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway.

Then the #6 Porsche 963, which had sat idle for most of Friday’s second session, sprung into second with Nick Tandy at the wheel before pitting. Then moving up to split the Ganassi cars was Pipo Derani in the Action Express Racing Cadillac.

Just before the half-hour completed mark, Tandy re-emerged and halved his deficit to Blomqvist to 0.135s.

The Acura of Wayne Taylor Racing didn’t hit the track until halfway through the session, Louis Deletraz turning the car’s first laps of the day, albeit 2s off Blomqvist’s pace.

Felipe Nasr made it a Porsche 2-3, getting the #7 Penske-run machine into third, one-tenth behind Tandy, before Deletraz found a clear track to display his potential, jumping both Porsches to complete an Acura 1-2.

With 25 minutes remaining, Bourdais whittled his Cadillac’s deficit to the lead Acura down to 0.36s before pitting.

Nicolas Lapierre sat atop the LMP2 times in his PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports entry early on ahead of the AF Corse car piloted by Nicklas Nielsen, who then improved to a 1m39.382s.

#52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA LMP2 07: Ben Keating, Paul-Loup Chatin, Alex Quinn, Nicolas Lapierre

#52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA LMP2 07: Ben Keating, Paul-Loup Chatin, Alex Quinn, Nicolas Lapierre

Photo by: Art Fleischmann

Then Lapierre ducked into the 1m38s, half a second clear, before Mikkel Jensen neatly bisected that gap in the #11 TDS Racing car.

Fred Poordad brought out the red flag with 54mins to go when he had a sudden tire deflation in the Proton Competition entry, dropping debris at Turn 5 and then pulling off in Turn 7.

In LMP3, AWA’s Matthew Bell was the pacesetter in the early part of the session, producing a 1m43.266s lap to run two-tenths quicker than John DeAngelis in the Performance Tech Motorsports machine, although Dakota Dickerson split this pair with the Andretti Autosport car.

Lars Kern spun the AWA car and suffered minor damage, but was able to continue without causing a red flag. With 22 minutes remaining in the session, Dickerson moved to the top of the times by shaving a mere 0.069s from Bell’s benchmark, but 10 minutes later he thumped in a 1m42.653s, leaving the Andretti car over six-tenths clear of his nearest rival, which was still Bell.

Owen Trinkler of TGM/TF Sport and Ross Gunn in the Heart of Racing car continued to ensure Aston Martin remained prominent, one tenth ahead of the two Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC Fs – Kyle Kirkwood in the GTD car being one thousandth faster than Mike Conway in the GTD Pro entry.

Then Frederik Schandorff vaulted the McLaren 720S to the top of the times to go 0.6s clear. Kenton Koch became his nearest rival with the Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3, but he was still half a second adrift.

Former open-wheel ace and multiple sportscar race winner Ryan Briscoe elevated the #93 Racers Edge WTR Andretti Autosport Acura NSX into fourth fastest of the GTD class.

Then with just a few minutes to go, Spencer Pumpelly wound up the Magnus Racing Aston Martin to make it a Vantage 3-4-5 across the two GTD classes, and demote the Lexus RC Fs.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Rs appear in desperate need of help from IMSA’s Balance of Performance gurus, propping up the field in the bottom six positions and over two seconds off the pace.

IMSA Daytona 24 Hours - Roar before the 24 FP3 results

Cla Driver Class Chassis Laps Time Gap Interval
1 United Kingdom Tom Blomqvist
United States Colin Braun
Brazil Helio Castroneves
France Simon Pagenaud
GTP Acura ARX-06 18 1'35.363    
2 United States Ricky Taylor
Portugal Filipe Albuquerque
Switzerland Louis Deletraz
New Zealand Brendon Hartley
GTP Acura ARX-06 25 1'35.493 0.130 0.130
3 France Mathieu Jaminet
United Kingdom Nick Tandy
United States Dane Cameron
GTP Porsche 963 41 1'35.498 0.135 0.005
4 Australia Matt Campbell
Brazil Felipe Nasr
Denmark Michael Christensen
GTP Porsche 963 28 1'35.601 0.238 0.103
5 France Sébastien Bourdais
Netherlands Renger van der Zande
New Zealand Scott Dixon
GTP Cadillac V-LMDh 31 1'35.724 0.361 0.123
6 Brazil Pipo Derani
United Kingdom Alexander Sims
United Kingdom Jack Aitken
GTP Cadillac V-LMDh 38 1'35.819 0.456 0.095
7 New Zealand Earl Bamber
United Kingdom Alex Lynn
United Kingdom Richard Westbrook
GTP Cadillac V-LMDh 37 1'35.994 0.631 0.175
8 United States Connor de Phillippi
United Kingdom Nick Yelloly
South Africa Sheldon Van Der Linde
United States Colton Herta
GTP BMW M Hybrid V8 35 1'36.033 0.670 0.039
9 Austria Philipp Eng
Brazil Augusto Farfus
Germany Marco Wittmann
United States Colton Herta
GTP BMW M Hybrid V8 36 1'36.533 1.170 0.500
10 United States Ben Keating
France Paul-Loup Chatin
Alex Quinn
France Nicolas Lapierre
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 39 1'38.877 3.514 2.344
11 Thomas Steven
Denmark Mikkel Jensen
Scott Huffaker
Netherlands Rinus van Kalmthout
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 42 1'39.131 3.768 0.254
12 France François Perrodo
France Matthieu Vaxiviere
France Julien Canal
Denmark Nicklas Nielsen
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 43 1'39.382 4.019 0.251
13 Denmark Dennis Andersen
United Arab Emirates Ed Jones
Denmark Anders Fjordbach
Italy Raffaele Marciello
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 37 1'39.581 4.218 0.199
14 Dwight Merriman
United Kingdom Ryan Dalziel
Christian Rasmussen
United Kingdom Oliver Jarvis
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 38 1'39.594 4.231 0.013
15 United States Eric Lux
Canada Devlin DeFrancesco
United States Austin Cindric
Brazil Pietro Fittipaldi
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 42 1'39.612 4.249 0.018
16 France François Heriau
Netherlands Giedo van der Garde
United States Josh Pierson
Netherlands Job Van Uitert
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 45 1'39.642 4.279 0.030
17 Canada John Farano
New Zealand Scott McLaughlin
United States Josef Newgarden
Kyffin Simpson
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 37 1'39.737 4.374 0.095
18 United States George Kurtz
United Kingdom Ben Hanley
United States Matt McMurry
Mexico Esteban Gutierrez
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 48 1'39.978 4.615 0.241
19 United States Jarett Andretti
Colombia Gabby Chaves
United States Dakota Dickerson
Sweden Rasmus Lindh
LMP3 Ligier JS P320 35 1'42.653 7.290 2.675
20 United States Fred Poordad
Italy Francesco Pizzi
Australia James Allen
Giammaria Bruni
LMP2 ORECA LMP2 07 24 1'43.080 7.717 0.427
21 Canada Orey Fidani
United Kingdom Matthew Bell
Germany Lars Kern
Germany Moritz Kranz
LMP3 Duqueine D08 33 1'43.266 7.903 0.186
22 United States Lance Willsey
Portugal Joao Barbosa
Nicolas Pino
Danny Soufi
LMP3 Ligier JS P320 35 1'43.459 8.096 0.193
23 John DeAngelis
Christopher Allen
Australia Cameron Shields
Connor Bloum
LMP3 Ligier JS P320 36 1'43.473 8.110 0.014
24 Sebastian Alvarez
Singapore Danial Frost
Alex Vogel
Guilherme de
LMP3 Ligier JS P320 31 1'43.524 8.161 0.051
25 United States Gar Robinson
Brazil Felipe Fraga
Netherlands Glenn van Berlo
Josh Burdon
LMP3 Ligier JS P320 38 1'43.629 8.266 0.105
26 Canada Anthony Mantella
United Kingdom Wayne Boyd
Nico Varrone
United States Thomas Merrill
LMP3 Duqueine D08 40 1'43.816 8.453 0.187
27 Japan Yu Kanamaru
Canada James Vance
Canada Antonio Serravalle
United States Nicholas Boulle
LMP3 Duqueine D08 37 1'43.861 8.498 0.045
28 United States Till Bechtolsheimer
Netherlands Tijmen van der Helm
United States Luca Mars
United States Mason Filippi
LMP3 Duqueine D08 43 1'45.200 9.837 1.339
29 Brendan Iribe
Switzerland Frederik Schandorff
United Kingdom Ollie Millroy
Germany Marvin Kirchhofer
GTD McLaren 720S GT3 39 1'46.842 11.479 1.642
30 United States Mike Skeen
Canada Mikael Grenier
United States Kenton Koch
Maximillian Goetz
GTD Mercedes AMG GT3 28 1'47.341 11.978 0.499
31 United States Ted Giovanis
United States Hugh Plumb
United States Matt Plumb
United States Owen Trinkler
GTD PRO Aston Martin Vantage GT3 37 1'47.359 11.996 0.018
32 United Kingdom Ross Gunn
Spain Alex Riberas
David Pittard
GTD PRO Aston Martin Vantage GT3 35 1'47.384 12.021 0.025
33 United States John Potter
United States Andy Lally
United States Spencer Pumpelly
Denmark Nicki Thiim
GTD Aston Martin Vantage GT3 38 1'47.419 12.056 0.035
34 United States Aaron Telitz
United States Frankie Montecalvo
United States Kyle Kirkwood
Parker Thompson
GTD Lexus RC F GT3 40 1'47.433 12.070 0.014
35 United Kingdom Jack Hawksworth
United Kingdom Ben Barnicoat
United Kingdom Mike Conway
GTD PRO Lexus RC F GT3 40 1'47.434 12.071 0.001
36 Ashton Harrison
Danny Formal
Canada Kyle Marcelli
Australia Ryan Briscoe
GTD Acura NSX GT3 37 1'47.471 12.108 0.037
37 Germany Fabian Schiller
Zimbabwe Axcil Jefferies
GTD Mercedes AMG GT3 23 1'47.478 12.115 0.007
38 Sheena Monk
United Kingdom Katherine Legge
Germany Mario Farnbacher
United States Marc Miller
GTD Acura NSX GT3 42 1'47.483 12.120 0.005
39 United States Cooper MacNeil
Spain Daniel Juncadella
France Jules Gounon
Germany Maro Engel
GTD PRO Mercedes AMG GT3 40 1'47.519 12.156 0.036
40 United States Don Yount
United States Jaden Conwright
Kerong Li
Italy Alessio Deledda
GTD Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 41 1'47.613 12.250 0.094
41 Canada Roman De Angelis
Denmark Marco Sorensen
United Kingdom Ian James
United Kingdom Darren Turner
GTD Aston Martin Vantage GT3 29 1'47.631 12.268 0.018
42 Italy Andrea Caldarelli
Italy Mirko Bortolotti
South Africa Jordan Lee Pepper
France Romain Grosjean
GTD PRO Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 40 1'47.640 12.277 0.009
43 Switzerland Rahel Frey
Belgium Sarah Bovy
Denmark Michelle Gatting
Doriane Pin
GTD Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 35 1'47.759 12.396 0.119
44 United States Russell Ward
Switzerland Philip Ellis
Netherlands Indy Dontje
Austria Lucas Auer
GTD Mercedes AMG GT3 39 1'47.769 12.406 0.010
45 Spain Antonio Garcia
United States Jordan Taylor
United States Tommy Milner
GTD PRO Corvette C8.R GTD 35 1'47.814 12.451 0.045
46 Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi
United Kingdom James Calado
Brazil Daniel Serra
Italy Davide Rigon
GTD PRO Ferrari 296 GT3 30 1'47.924 12.561 0.110
47 United States Patrick Gallagher
United States Robby Foley
Michael Dinan
Germany Jens Klingmann
GTD BMW M4 GT3 34 1'47.957 12.594 0.033
48 United States Bryan Sellers
United States Madison Snow
United States Corey Lewis
Belgium Maxime Martin
GTD BMW M4 GT3 33 1'47.989 12.626 0.032
49 Italy Raffaele Giammaria
Frank Perera
Italy Claudio Schiavoni
Switzerland Rolf Ineichen
GTD Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 35 1'48.049 12.686 0.060
50 Canada Mikhail Goikhberg
Italy Loris Spinelli
Chile Benjamin Hites
Italy Marco Mapelli
GTD Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 35 1'48.140 12.777 0.091
51 Italy Roberto Lacorte
Italy Giorgio Sernagiotto
Italy Antonio Fuoco
Italy Alessandro Balzan
GTD Ferrari 296 GT3 37 1'48.534 13.171 0.394
52 United States Bill Auberlen
Chandler Hull
Canada Bruno Spengler
United States John Edwards
GTD PRO BMW M4 GT3 36 1'48.564 13.201 0.030
53 Onofrio Triarsi
Charles Scardina
Italy Alessio Rovera
Italy Andrea Bertolini
GTD Ferrari 296 GT3 38 1'48.863 13.500 0.299
54 Mann Simon
Argentina Luis Perez Companc
Spain Miguel Molina
Italy Francesco Castellacci
GTD Ferrari 296 GT3 37 1'48.913 13.550 0.050
55 United States Ryan Hardwick
Belgium Jan Heylen
Canada Zacharie Robichon
Norway Dennis Olsen
GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 33 1'48.951 13.588 0.038
56 United States Alan Brynjolfsson
United States Trent Hindman
Max Root
France Kevin Estre
GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 39 1'49.084 13.721 0.133
57 Austria Klaus Bachler
France Patrick Pilet
Belgium Laurens Vanthoor
GTD PRO Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 22 1'49.129 13.766 0.045
58 PJ Hyett
Seb Priaulx
United States Gunnar Jeannette
United Kingdom Harry Tincknell
GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 38 1'49.151 13.788 0.022
59 Alan Metni
Netherlands Kay van Berlo
Australia Jaxon Evans
France Julien Andlauer
GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 33 1'49.310 13.947 0.159
60 David Brule
United States Alec Udell
United States Andrew Davis
Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen
GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 33 1'49.352 13.989 0.042
61 United States Mark Kvamme
United States Trenton Estep
Denmark Jan Magnussen
United States Jason Hart
GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 11 1'49.430 14.067 0.078

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