Derani demonstrated a strong performance in the AXR Cadillac V-Series.R, numbered 31, concluding Friday’s evening session as the fastest with a time of 1m35.372s on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course.
Richard Westbrook, driving JDC-Miller Motorsports’ Porsche 963 (No. 85), was just 0.026s behind Derani’s speed. Completing 43 laps, their team matched the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8’s lap count, which finished third overall and tied for the second-highest number of laps in GTP.
The Porsche Penske Motorsports 963 (No. 5) led its class with 46 laps, placing it sixth overall and running 0.783s slower.
In LMP2, AF Corse set the pace with Nicklas Nielsen driving AF Corse ORECA’s No. 88, clocking a speedy round of 1m38.576s. TDS Racing, through Charles Milesi’s quick round, was only 0.043s slower, while the No. 04 Crowdstrike Racing by APR car, driven by Malthe Jakobsen, secured the third spot, 0.127s farther behind.
Two significant episodes occurred in this class, with the No. 2 United Autosports USA car spinning in Turn 3 approximately 30 minutes into the session but persevering.
The No. 18 Era Motorsport car repeated the story a few minutes later, spinning in Turn 6 and finishing seventh in its class, just ahead of the eighth-placed United Autosports USA vehicle.
Corvette made a strong presence in the GTD class, with the Pratt Miller Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R (No. 4) setting the standard for GTD Pro and GTD with Tommy Milner’s lap of 1m45.844s.
Ford Multimatic Motorsports’ Mustang GT3 was second in the GTD Pro category, posting a time 0.513s slower than Milner’s, with Harry Tincknell behind the wheel.
Kyle Marcelli drove the No. 45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, trailing the Corvette’s pace by 0.142, but it was the fastest among the non-Pro GTD vehicles.
Despite an early spin in Turn 6 by AWA Racing’s No. 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, they continued and finished 14th among the GTD group.
In other news, an IMSA Brad Pitt F1 film made an impression at the Daytona 24 Hours, and Bruckheimer was appointed Grand Marshal.
