As darkness descends on Daytona, the new GTP class is wide open as the lead continues to change between several manufacturers.
It was Acura who set the early pace, New Zealand-residing Tom Blomqvist getting a flyer from the pole and dominating proceedings for the first two hours in the number 60. A spin-off a restart for co-driver Helio Castroneves has since put them a lap down and left a lot of work to be done overnight.
Once the strategy and driver change came into play, the class was thrown wide open, the lead frequently changing with only seconds between the leading pack.
Positions continue to change; this update provided with 17 hours remaining.
Earl Bamber
At the time of writing (with 17 hours remaining), Bamber’s Cadillac Racing #2 is the best-placed car featuring a New Zealander, sitting third. They’re only seconds off the top spot that the Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac currently holds.
It’s been a relatively drama-free run for the #2 of Bamber, Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook who are poised nicely with a long night ahead.
Brendon Hartley
Hartley is currently behind the wheel of Wayne Taylor Racing’s #10 Acura, sitting in fourth place and well in contention. Hartley is racing with Filipe Albuquerque, Louis Delatraz and Ricky Taylor.
Scott Dixon
Dixon’s Cadillac Racing #1 currently sits fifth with co-driver Sébastien Bourdais at the wheel. Dixon was involved in drama some two hours ago, rear-ended as he stopped to avoid a wrecking LMP2 car.
It appeared a piece of the car’s rear fell off; however, Dixon sped off with the team remaining as the last of five cars on the lead lap.
Scott McLaughlin
It’s been a tricky race in LMP2 for McLaughlin’s #8 Tower Motorsport entry, with early issues putting them well down the field.
Co-driver Kyffin Simpson was at the wheel when the electronic system went haywire, the team scrambling to find the cause; the diagnosis, a leaking water bottle, had fried the ECU.
They currently sit 10 laps off their class leader, ninth in class, but they are putting in some massive laps to make up ground.
“NEVER. GIVE. UP,” McLaughlin recently posted on Twitter.
Jaxon Evans
Co-driver Kay van Berlo is currently at the helm of the #91 Porsche 991 GT3 R in the GTD class, sitting 15th in class, some four laps off the class leader.
Evans shares his drive with van Berlo, Julien Andlauer and Alan Metni.
Header image: the #60 Acura which features New Zealand-residing Tom Blomqvist.
