leaving the paddock and heading out to the track for practice for the 2012 Grand-Am Rolex 24 at Daytona. drivers are Jon Fogarty, Memo Gidley, Alex Gurney
The 50th anniversary of the Grand-Am Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Team Sahlen crew fuels up their Mazda RX-8 and changes drivers. The Sentimental Mechanic participated with the crew thanks to Grassroots Motorsports magazine. Visit sentimentalmechanic.tumblr.com for more updates. Also find The Sentimental Mechanic on Facebook. Subscribe to Grassroots Motorsports at grassrootsmotorsports.com
The Rolex 24 at Daytona ranks among the finest classics in international motorsport. The event has been thrilling the sports-car-fan community since 1962. Some of the greatest racers in history have entered their names on the winners' list--from Jacky Ickx and Hans Herrmann to Hurley Haywood, AJ Foyt and Derek Bell. Reinhold Joest, the founder of Audi Sport Team Joest, has won this Florida race too. Current Audi factory driver Mike Rockenfeller decided the competition in his favor with an American team two years ago. On the event's 50th anniversary, the organizer is treating the audience to an unusual experience. A champions party with numerous racing legends, an exhibition of historic overall-winning cars, a carnival complete with a Ferris wheel, a five-kilometer run on the track for all sports enthusiasts on Saturday before the race, autograph sessions and pit walks are just some of the attractions featured on the last weekend in January. "We are proud to be part of the action for the first time at the event's special anniversary," said Werner Frowein, managing director of quattro GmbH, which has developed the Audi R8 Grand-Am. "Two customer teams have already opted for our new race car, and we are currently in negotiations with other buyers. Following its appearance at Daytona, the Audi R8 Grand-Am will also be seen at the other 12 rounds of the Grand-Am series." At the season opener, the Audi R8 Grand-Am is competing against about 30 other vehicles in the extremely <b>...</b>
Further boost for an attractive scene: the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series has a new member -- the Audi R8 GRAND-AM. Two examples of the powerful 480 hp GT sportscar celebrated their premiere in tough conditions at Daytona. The customer teams APR Motorsport and Oryx Racing were classified at the finish. Audi Sport customer racing's attractive program is a valuable element richer: the Audi R8 GRAND-AM vitalizes the hard fought North American market in GT racing since January. No less than 44 GT race cars contested the season opener in Florida. The 50th running and anniversary event of the 'Rolex 24 at Daytona' provided a worthy venue for the debut of the Audi R8 GRAND-AM car. Team APR Motorsport finished in 31st place with its drivers Ian Baas (USA)/Nelson Canache (YV)/Dion von Moltke (ZA)/Dr. Jim Norman (USA)/Emanuele Pirro (I). Oryx Racing came home in 32nd place with Humaid Al Masaood (UAE)/Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE)/Steven Kane (GB).
The new Audi R8 GRAND-AM racing car has made its debut at the 24-hour race at Daytona. Customer teams APR Motorsport and Oryx Racing ran a model each with both completing the race in 31st and 32nd places respectively. We have photos from the event for you to browse through and as an added bonus, check out the video above for promotional footage from the event. The GRAND-AM version of the R8 is based on the Audi R8 LMS and is powered by a 5.2-liter V10 FSI that is good for 480 hp ( 357 kW / 486 PS). The US race series required a number of aerodynamic changes that has resulted in a loss of up to 80% downforce compared to its GT3 brother. These included modifications to the ride height, front splitter, rear wing and rear diffusor. The Audi R8 GRAND-AM will continue to contest races in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series for the entire season.
Historic events are often filled with special moments, and the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 was no exception. Ford powered cars managed to sweep the podium of North America's greatest endurance test at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday to kick off the 2012 season of the Grand-Am Rolex series. Michael Shank Racing's No. 60 Daytona Prototype claimed the checkered flag, followed by Starworks Motorsport's No. 8 DP and the MSR No. 6 DP, giving the Blue Oval its first DP victory at Daytona since 2003, and its first overall victory in the 24-hour marathon event since 1999. AJ Allmendinger piloted across the finish line seconds ahead of pole winner Ryan Dalziel, and Filipe Nasr soon followed to complete the impressive feat. Each of the three Ford teams on the podium led at least one lap, including a race-best 295 by the No. 8 and 249 by the No. 60. The three teams combined to pace 545 of the 761 completed laps.
Further boost for an attractive scene: the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series has a new member -- the Audi R8 GRAND-AM. Two examples of the powerful 480 hp GT sportscar celebrated their premiere in tough conditions at Daytona. The customer teams APR Motorsport and Oryx Racing were classified at the finish. Audi Sport customer racing's attractive program is a valuable element richer: the Audi R8 GRAND-AM vitalizes the hard fought North American market in GT racing since January. No less than 44 GT race cars contested the season opener in Florida. The 50th running and anniversary event of the 'Rolex 24 at Daytona' provided a worthy venue for the debut of the Audi R8 GRAND-AM car. Team APR Motorsport finished in 31st place with its drivers Ian Baas (USA)/Nelson Canache (YV)/Dion von Moltke (ZA)/Dr. Jim Norman (USA)/Emanuele Pirro (I). Oryx Racing came home in 32nd place with Humaid Al Masaood (UAE)/Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE)/Steven Kane (GB).
Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series 2012 Rolex 24 AJ Allmendinger Pulls Into Victory Lane Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL January 29th, 2012 - 4:00pm www.markvphotos www.facebook.com/markvphotos www.twitter.com/markvphotos
Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series 2012 Rolex 24 Racing Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL January 28th, 2012 - 9:53pm www.markvphotos www.facebook.com/markvphotos www.twitter.com/markvphotos
Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series 2012 Rolex 24 Racing Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL January 28th, 2012 - 9:31pm www.markvphotos www.facebook.com/markvphotos www.twitter.com/markvphotos
Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series 2012 Rolex 24 Racing Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL January 28th, 2012 - 6:30pm www.markvphotos www.facebook.com/markvphotos www.twitter.com/markvphotos
Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series 2012 Rolex 24 Racing Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL January 28th, 2012 - 4:56pm www.markvphotos www.facebook.com/markvphotos www.twitter.com/markvphotos
Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series 2012 Rolex 24 Racing Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL January 28th, 2012 - 4:21pm www.markvphotos www.facebook.com/markvphotos www.twitter.com/markvphotos
Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series 2012 Rolex 24 Racing Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL January 28th, 2012 - 3:37pm www.markvphotos www.facebook.com/markvphotos www.twitter.com/markvphotos
Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series 2012 Rolex 24 Pace Laps Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL January 28th, 2012 - 3:26pm www.markvphotos www.facebook.com/markvphotos www.twitter.com/markvphotos
