DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — To this point, the annual Roar Earlier than the Rolex 24 apply classes have featured BMW dominating the velocity charts throughout the opening two days of motion at Daytona Int’l Speedway’s 3.56-mile highway course.
The German model set quick time in each of Saturday’s early Rolex 24 At Daytona apply classes with the 2 BMW M Staff RLL sister vehicles in the end sweeping the primary two positions on the velocity charts.
Whereas 25-year-old Sheldon van der Linde – who claimed the day’s total quick lap of 1:36.196 within the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 on Saturday afternoon – was clearly happy with the group’s effort and what which will imply for subsequent weekend’s iconic Rolex 24 race, the South African cautioned that some opponents had been cautious to not present their hand but.
He was inspired, nevertheless, by the apparent progress his producer and group have made within the final two years competing within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“It’s clearly optimistic to see that every one the laborious work we’ve carried out over the winter this 12 months and thru the WEC season final 12 months, we’ve discovered loads, and we’re making an attempt to translate that into America clearly,” mentioned van der Linde, an FIA World Endurance Championship veteran who will drive full-time in IMSA’s Grand Touring Prototype class for the primary time this season.
“It’s solely the Roar and we all know lots of people are sandbagging rather a lot,” he mentioned. “It’s fairly clear within the GTD class as properly, however for certain, a great way to begin the weekend and the automotive feels good in order that’s optimistic.
“It’s laborious to say what we anticipated as a result of we didn’t actually know the place we’d be coming into the Roar. Like I mentioned, everyone seems to be doing one thing completely different with their program. So, in the long run, it’s very laborious to know the place we’re, however we anticipated to be loads stronger than final 12 months and I feel that alone actually, actually reveals this 12 months.”
General Saturday, it was clean working on monitor– temperatures within the low 70s beneath largely cloudy skies – with solely a single incident within the two apply classes – the No. 22 United Autosports USA LMP2 contacted the tire barrier outdoors the chicane on the backstretch throughout the afternoon session.
Though there have been no “situations” for accidents throughout the morning one hour, 45-minute apply, it was slowed twice – a fast yellow for a particles on monitor and an 11-minute pause to permit the sphere to apply the brand new cut up class restarts for the upcoming race. This season, earlier than restarts, all 4 courses will likely be divided on monitor by class, together with a new-for-2025 class cut up of the GTD PRO and GTD vehicles.
The final feeling was that the cut up went higher than anticipated, taking place shortly and with out incident – even with a full 37-car rely among the many GTD entries (15 GTD PRO and 22 GTD).
“That labored positive,” mentioned IndyCar’s Scott McLaughlin, who’s teaming with NASCAR stars Shane Van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch and former Rolex winner Ben Keating within the No. 91 Trackhouse by TF Sport GTD PRO class Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the Rolex 24.
“It was fast, extra simply getting the pack up. It was fairly stable. I don’t suppose there’s a lot of a distinction.’’
Franck Perera, who set quick time (1:48.036) within the GTD class Saturday morning driving the No. 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, was among the many drivers who cautioned with the altering climate circumstances each anticipated for Sunday (rain) and subsequent week’s race (cooler temperatures).
“For certain it’s optimistic when it’s going the way in which you need,” mentioned Perera, a previous Rolex 24 class winner. He famous “every session is a check and there’s nonetheless apply, and I feel the climate will likely be difficult the following couple days.’’
Felipe Fraga took quick time within the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class with a lap of 1:40.108 within the No. 74 Riley ORECA LMP2 07. Andrea Caldarelli was quickest in each classes within the GTD PRO Class with a quick lap of 1:48.049 within the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 throughout the afternoon apply.
