They were racing against the clock at the 2016 Rolex 24
MAN AND MACHINE
Like any great endurance race, the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona wasn't without drama. There were 21 cautions, 11 of those before the 10-hour mark, but these only added to the excitement of the race, inaugurating the redeveloped Daytona International Speedway and beginning the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. With a high percentage of each lap spent at full throttle, the 3.56-mile circuit takes its toll on both the drivers and cars, demanding a unique combination of skill and concentration, as well as reliability and performance – the ultimate test of man and machine. This test proved too much for some, with only 43 of the 54 race starters making it to the finish line. The winning team, Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM), completed 736 laps of the circuit and the fastest lap, 1:39.192, was posted by Brazilian Pipo Derani from ESM, who set the fastest time at Roar before the 24 earlier this month.
RACE AGAINST TIME
The Saturday afternoon racing provided fans, both in the Grandstand and infield, with action early on. With just over 20 hours to go, the #0 Panoz DeltaWing Racing car, in the eye-catching United States of America livery, sustained serious damage when its driver Andy Meyrick drove into a stationary Prototype Challenge car at Turn 1, spelling an early and disappointing retirement for the team after an impressive start. The long-awaited Ford GT race cars, preparing to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, both encountered transmission problems during the early stages of the race, but eventually finished in 7th (#66) and 9th (#67) positions in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class. At the six-hour mark it was Michael Shank Racing, with Oswaldo Negri Jr at the wheel, who led the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona, but shortly after midnight, a blown engine forced another retirement from the front. That led to a tussle for the lead between the Daytona Prototypes, including the #5 Corvette DP of Action Express Racing; Scott Pruett doing his usual exemplary job and simultaneously chasing down a record-breaking sixth win here at Daytona, a record that would prove elusive this time around.
TWO LAPS OF THE CLOCK
As the new day dawned at the Daytona International Speedway the long hours and pressure began to take its toll. As ever, the 'Rolex' rewards patience and determination and those who have prepared and strategized effectively; timing and good fortune also play a key part. As the race entered the last few hours, damage limitation and reliability became paramount and with only one hour left on the Rolex countdown clock the two Corvette GTLM entries dueled to take the class win, entertaining the 35,000 strong crowd. Oliver Gavin finally pipped his teammate Antonio Garcia to the line by 0.034 seconds in the most nail-biting finish seen at Daytona in recent memory; such a slight time difference after 24 hours epitomizes the challenge of endurance racing and the focus of the teams and drivers. These values perfectly reflect Rolex's ethos of pushing the boundaries and quest for excellence.
CROWNING MOMENTS
Rolex Testimonee, nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona Grand Marshal, Tom Kristensen, explained how special it is to win the ultimate motor sport prize, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona: "What an incredible showcase of endurance racing we have seen this weekend. The Rolex 24 At Daytona demands a cocktail of determination, grit and team spirit so there is no question that the race winners earned their Rolex watch. Anyone who wears a Rolex, has a special moment or story around when they got it or why they got it. Today's winners have a very special story to tell and what better way to remember it than with a Rolex timepiece they can treasure for the rest of their lives".