Pipo Derani and His Action Express Cadillac Smash Daytona’s Track Record And Grab Pole Position For The Rolex 24 At Daytona
January 21, 2024 (Daytona, Fl)
On a cool blustery day at Daytona International Speedway the 2024 IMSA season kicked off with the Roar Before, the qualifying and testing event that happens the week before the Rolex 24 At Daytona. While those in attendance were bundled up from the cold and wind, the on track action would heat things up.
In fact things got so hot that Pipo Derani and his No. 31 Action Express/ Whelen Cadillac Racing V-Series.R. smashed the current track record that has stood for the last five years with a blistering 1 minute, 32.656(138.318 mph) lap to capture the Motul Pole award. His wasn’t the only Cadillac that was flying as the Chip Ganassi entry piloted by Sebastion Bourdais was a scant 0.071 in arrears.
Afterwards, Derani would say “In the end, everyone was really tight,” he added. “I think Porsche was within a tenth from pole (actually 0.22 seconds). It’s about finding those details to find a little extra time, and we were able to do just that today.” In fact all nine of the GTP cars that attempted qualification beat the previous track record set back in 2019 by Oliver Jarvis in a Mazda DPi. After the two Cadillacs, the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963 driven by Felipe Nasr nabbed third with a 1.32.876
When pressed on where the impressive pace came from, he would credit the weather which was in the mid fifty’s , a cloud cover, and a 17 mph tailwind. Derani went on to say “Quite honestly, I was quite surprised, but I think the conditions were perfect for that – cold, the tires were working well, and obviously for qualifying you’re running low fuel. I would say we were a bit more surprised than not by the lap time.” This was echoed by Ben Keating winner of the Pole award in the LMP 2 class saying, “The track was unbelievably fast today, almost perfect conditions.” Of course a year of development of the GTP cars also factored into things as well.
Yes, wily veteran Ben Keating and two time winner in the LMP 2 class in 2021 and 2023 grabbed the Motul Pole award in his No. 2 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07. For most drivers running one class in the Rolex would be more than enough. For Keating though, he decided he could handle more and is pulling double duty in the JDC-Miller Motorsports’ No. 85 Porsche 963 in the GTP class. Keating would also credit his seat time in the Porsche for his quick lap times as he would be able to get more time on track as he was practicing in two cars.
In the GTD Pro class Seb Priaulx piloted the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) to his first career Motul Pole Award with a lap of 1 minute 44.382 seconds (122.780 mph). Priaulx will share driving duties of the fan favorite car is dubbed “Rexy” for its green dinosaur livery with Laurin Heinrich and Michael Christensen. While things turned out well for the squad, the qualifying session was red flagged, and this threw off Priaulx’s rhythm. But he was able to keep his focus saying, “I kept my head down and focused on what I could do,” Priaulx said. “It worked out today, and I’m really happy.”
Parke Thompson driving for Vassar Sullivan snagged the Motul Pole Award in just his fifth race for the team in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 with a lap of 1:44.494 (122.648 mph). Thompson is set to run the full season with the team for the first time. Thompson said. “Two years ago, I was spotting up there, and now I’m down in Victory Lane collecting my first pole. One for one, but I couldn’t do it without … the entire Lexus Racing Vasser Sullivan group. It’s such a solid group.”
You can find full coverage of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on NBC. live coverage of the race will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday.