Proton Competition’s Neel Jani topped the sixth session of the Roar Before the 24, showcasing the Porsche 963’s prowess in wet conditions. Driving the #5 Proton Porsche 963, Jani clocked an impressive 1:45.433, finishing nearly half a second clear of the field in challenging weather at Daytona International Speedway.
GTP Class: Porsche Customers Dominate
Jani’s performance led a Porsche 1-2 as Gianmaria Bruni piloted the #85 JDC Miller Porsche 963 to second place, 0.483 seconds behind. Jack Aitken’s #31 Action Express Cadillac V-Series.R came in third, 0.807 seconds off Jani’s time, showcasing Cadillac’s wet-weather potential.
Fourth place went to Sheldon van der Linde in the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, while Colin Braun brought the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 home in fifth. Several factory teams, including the factory Porsche and Acura GTP entries, opted to stay off the track due to the wet and lightning-delayed conditions.
LMP2 Class: Di Resta Leads the Pack
In the LMP2 category, United Autosports’ Paul Di Resta set the benchmark with a 1:49.870 in the #22 Oreca 07-Gibson. His Peugeot WEC teammate, Mikkel Jensen, followed in second in the #11 TDS Racing Oreca, more than half a second adrift. Ben Hanley completed the top three for United Autosports in the #2 Oreca, just under a second slower than Di Resta.
GTD Pro: Corvette Edges Mercedes
Alexander Sims made waves in the GTD Pro category, topping the session in the #3 Corvette Z06 GT3R with a time of 1:57.672. Sims outpaced Fabian Schiller in the #69 GetSpeed Mercedes AMG-GT3 by 0.276 seconds. Nicky Catsburg, Sims’ teammate in the #4 Corvette, was third but significantly slower, trailing by over six-tenths of a second.
GTD: Millroy Shines in Ferrari
In the GTD class, Ollie Millroy stole the show, driving the #70 Inception Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 to a class-leading 1:57.033. His time was quicker than the GTD Pro leader, highlighting Ferrari’s wet-weather potential. Franck Perera in the #78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 and Philip Ellis in the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 completed the top three, separated by just two-tenths of a second.
Weather Challenges and Delays
The session’s start was delayed due to lightning and heavy rain, leaving many teams opting not to risk their cars. Those who did venture out faced a soaked track, with grip at a premium. Despite the conditions, the session provided valuable data for teams preparing for next weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.
As teams continue to fine-tune their setups ahead of the endurance classic, the wet conditions of this session offered a glimpse into their adaptability and resilience. Porsche’s customer teams and drivers like Jani and Millroy demonstrated that, in endurance racing, preparation and execution in all conditions are key to success.
