The qualifying race for the 24 Hours of Daytona was the debut for the GTD Pro – The BoP in the GT3 class is likely to cause discussions
The new era has arrived: the 100-minute qualifying race for the 24 Hours of Daytona was the first test for the new GTD Pro class. The GT3-based class experienced mixed results, with only Porsche and Lamborghini (who ultimately won) capable of winning, with Mercedes-AMG and Aston Martin close behind.
Corvette, Lexus, BMW and Ferrari, on the other hand, pretty much looked down the tubes. In the fastest lap, Porsche, Lamborghini and Aston Martin are pretty much tied in the mid 1:46 range, with Lexus forming a sole midfield. Corvette, BMW and Ferrari did not get below 1:47 minutes in race trim.
The picture becomes even clearer when the best sector times are added together. If the best sector times from the race are added together, the KCMG Porsche 2 (Vanthoor/Pilet/Olsen/Imperatori) comes in fastest at 1:45.862 minutes. That’s almost three tenths of a second faster than the best time from qualifying for the qualifying race by the same car (1:46.136).
The second best ideal time was set by a Porsche from the GTD category (no “Am” as in the WEC is used in IMSA), namely Wright Motorsports. The third best value is set by the McLaren 720 GT3 from GTD, which is not relevant for GTD Pro. It is followed by more Porsches, the Lamborghini and the first Aston Martin. So the fastest lap picture continues.
Different strengths and weaknesses
The Lamborghini is dominant in the twisty first sector, which goes all the way to the exit of the first hairpin to the right, the “International Horseshoe”. Mirko Bortolotti managed a time that was almost a tenth of a second faster than the next car in the sector that was only 25 seconds short.
Unsurprisingly, Porsche gained the most time in sector 2. This sector ends before the bus stop chicane. The Porsche 911 GT3 R benefits from its rear engine out of the two hairpin turns (“Western Horseshoe” and the driveway onto the tri-oval).
In addition, the Porsche has been completely reclassified compared to last year. Porsche had to add 45 kilograms and was allowed to increase its two air restrictors by three millimetres each in return. With this new “top speed rating”, the Porsche also keeps up well on the straights. (Overview BoP 24h Daytona 2022)
In the third sector, where it’s really only straight ahead except for the fast chicane (baguette curbs installed in the meantime were quickly removed after a test before the weekend), Lexus, McLaren and Mercedes-AMG are the best. Porsche follows behind. BMW, Corvette and Ferrari are noticeably behind in all three sectors.
Corvette still has to learn
“Obviously we’re not thrilled with our pace,” said Corvette works driver Tommy Milner. The Corvette C8.R is a special case. It is a GTE car that has been balkanised to GT3 level. “We still have a lot to learn, especially with the tyres. “
His brand colleague Antonio Garcia elaborates: “There are a lot of rules in the tyre regulations about when you have to run a certain air pressure. That’s where we learned a lot.” Corvette Racing didn’t know anything like that from the GTLM class. There, tyres and air pressure were completely optional. The Michelin tyres were bespoke, now there’s the same Michelin for everyone.
Ferrari and Acura (not represented in GTD Pro) were slowed down in the BoP, with the Acura NSX GT3 receiving an update. Risi Competizione managed fifth on the grid, but in the race the Ferrari dropped back to P11.
The new BMW M4 GT3 turned out to be the slowest car. Turner Motorsport from the GTD class was faster than the factory team Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing despite the retirement (collision with an Aston Martin). Of course, there is still a lot of learning potential with the brand new car.
And of course the uncertainty remains as to who has already shown it all. “I’m not at all sure to what extent we’ve seen the true balance of power,” says Jan Heylen, who drove the 16 Wright Porsche (Hardwick/Robichon/Heylen/Lietz) to third in the GTD class, but then dropped back due to a retrospective penalty.
Sandbagging can be costly in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, however, as there are penalties for disguising performance. In 2016, for example, Lamborghini had to serve a five-minute time penalty. IMSA still has time to make adjustments to the BoP before the main event.
