[quote_box_right]There are 4 different classes of cars at the Rolex 24 Hours. This creates a unique challenge to drivers in higher classes who need to navigate around slower traffic.[/quote_box_right]I was lucky enough to be in Daytona Beach, Florida for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona this past weekend. The Rolex is a 24 hour race with some of the top manufacturers in the world: Aston Martin, Chevrolet, Audi, Porsche, and Ferrari. This time around, Chevy debuted their C7.R and let me just say that this is, objectively, it is the best sounding car in existence. An absolute screamer.
There are 4 different classes of cars at the Rolex 24 Hours. This creates a unique challenge to drivers in higher classes who need to navigate around slower traffic. However, 2014 proved to be a dangerous year for two drivers; Memo Gidley and Matteo Malucelli. Matteo, piloting a Ferrari 458, lost power and got out of the racing line. Gidley, driving the No. 99 Corvette prototype, came out of high speed turn No. 4 while passing another 458 and then slammed straight into the back of Matteo at well over 120 mph!
Both drivers were transported to the hospital, and the race was red flagged for 90 minutes. The fire rescue had to use the “Jaws of Life” to remove Gidley from his now unrecognizable Corvette. Miraculously, after multiple surgeries to Gidley, both drivers are in non-critical condition.
On a brighter note, Action-Express racing won first and second overall with their prototype Corvette. There was a heated battle for the GTD class between an Audi R8 and a Ferrari 458. On the last lap, the R8 made a move to pass the 458 for the lead, but the 458 held its line through the turn, forcing the R8 off the track. Supervisory officials declared, and eventually reversed, “Avoidable Contact” and penalized the 458 with a time penalty. The 458 ended up winning by 1.24 seconds after 24 hours of racing. Truly epic.
