Team Sahlen Sets Daytona Pace on Day 2

After a decade of racing in GRAND-AM’s production-based classes, Team Sahlen is proving to be a quick learner in its move to the premier Daytona Prototype class. Dane Cameron drove the team’s new No. 42 BMW/Riley to the fastest lap of the “Roar Before the Rolex 24" testing Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Cameron turned a lap of 1:42.101 (125.523 mph) in the car co-driven by Wayne Nonnamaker, Simon Pagenaud and Bruno Junqueira to lead the field of 17 Daytona Prototypes. The three-day test concludes on Sunday, with the Rolex Sports Car Series season opener set for Jan. 26-27.

“We’ve got a lot of catching up to do, because many of the DP teams have in years of experience what we have in days," Cameron said. “Today is our eighth day with the car, and we’re still learning. We’re working on a few science projects here and there, and seeing what works."

Michael Valiante was second-fastest in the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford/Riley, 1:42.160 (125.450 mph), followed by Friday’s fastest driver, AJ Allmendinger in the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ford/Riley, 1:42.296 (125.283 mph).

Patrick Long led the production-based GT class with a lap of 1:48.569 (118.045 mph) in the No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche GT3.

Napleton Racing led the new GX field for the second straight day. Shane Lewis ran a lap of 1:56.167 (110.324 mph) in the team’s No. 16 Porsche Cayman, faster than co-driver David Donohue’s best lap on Friday.

In the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Scott Maxwell was fastest in Grand Sport practice with a lap of 1:57.149 (109.399 mph) in the No. 55 Aston Martin Vantage, a tick faster than Multimatic Motorsports teammate and defending GS champion David Empringham (109.289 mph). Andrew Aquilante, who made the most of his No. 35 Subaru Road Racing Team Subaru WRX-STI’s all-wheel drive on a wet track on Friday, topped the afternoon session and was third overall with a lap of 109.399 mph.

Ryan Eversley led Street Tuner practice with a lap of 2:06.878 (101.010 mph) in the No. 75 Compass360 Racing Honda Civic Si. The Roar Before the Rolex 24 wraps up Sunday with two practice sessions for each series, running from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.