A wet start for Rolex 24

A steady rain should be falling this afternoon as 44 cars will take the green flag for the 48th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. “Rain is part of sports car racing, and especially 24 hour racing at Daytona, so our teams are prepared," said Paul Ritchie, president of Porsche Motorsport North America. “If the track is already damp when the cars head for the grid, they will be fitted with Pirelli rain tires, which are grooved to allow water to pass through versus the slick tires which have very little grip in the wet. The cooler temperatures actually help the teams in several areas, including a more reasonable cockpit atmosphere for the driver and better engine performance," said Ritchie.