Friday Morning Daytona Paddock Notes
To confirm a number of additions and replacements on the entry list for the Rolex 24 Hours next weekend:
Kevin Magnussen confirmed yesterday that his recovery from surgery will count him out from joining the MDK racing Porsche effort in GTD.
He’ll be replaced by Jason Hart.
Will Power too has withdrawn from the entry citing complications from recent surgery for his wife.
“Obviously her health is my priority and unfortunately that means I have had to put Daytona on hold.
“I have to thank Kenny for the opportunity and his total understanding of our situation and the support he has shown.
“I will be cheering them on from North Carolina and hopefully we get another opportunity to do something together in the future.”
Luca Stolz has stepped in to replace the IndyCar star and rejoins the SunEnergy1 Mercedes AMG squad that he helped to an overall win at the Bathurst 12 Hour last year.
Francesco Pizzi completes the Proton Competition Oreca LMP2 effort, the Italian 18 year old took the 2020 F4 UAE Championship and finished runner-up in the Italian F4 Seres in the same year.
Dries Vanthoor, fresh from a win at 24H Dubai last weekend, was on PR duty with BMW yesterday in his capacity as the brand’s GTP reserve driver.
The current plan is that Vanthoor the Younger is a reserve with Colton Herta still understood to be fulfilling a role across both the £24 and #25 M Hybrid V8s.
Whilst United Autosports are not racing in IMSA competition this year, their US hauler is in the paddock servicing the needs of TF Sport and their TGM Aston Martin in GTD Pro.
A significant number of the competing teams were putting together their team publicity shots throughout the afternoon and evening.
Amongst them the AO racing crew with their tribute-liveried Porsche 911 GT3R (992) paired with its 1983 ‘twin’, the Swap Shop-branded car now owned by AO Racing’s PJ Hyett.
We hope you’re loving our throwback livery as much as we are!
On track sessions for the #Roar24 begin today! pic.twitter.com/BG0pVeLFZB
— AO Racing (@AORacingUSA) January 20, 2023
Scrolling forward another 10 years in history and the ceremonial unveiling of the Marshall Pruett Media Centre rotating glitter ball has revealed that the ‘topper’ this year is the mighty AAR Toyota Eagle MkIII GTP car, the winner of the race in 1993!
The post Friday Morning Daytona Paddock Notes first appeared on dailysportscar.com.