Earl Bamber seized a narrow lead of the Rolex 24 at Daytona after four hours for the #31 Cadillac Whelen squad, overturning its back-of-class grid start.
The car was excluded from qualifying on Thursday after post-session scrutineering, condemning the car to the back of the GTP field at the start of the race.
Porsche’s #7 of Julien Andlauer was leading, but the order changed when the fourth Full Course Yellow of the race appeared, after a huge incident.
The #83 AF Corse Oreca, driven by Dylan Murry, seemed to lock-up going into Turn 5. A cloud of smoke blinded the drivers behind, but all avoided him, except the #120 Wright Motorsports GTD Pro Porsche of Adam Adelson, who slammed into the back of it.
It appeared to write off both cars, and Adelson was transferred to a nearby hospital for checks, but was said to be stable and alert.
Bamber lead narrowly from a charging Alex Palou in the #93 Acura Meyer Shank, with the #60 second #Acura of AJ Allmendinger this. Former leader Andlauer was fifth, Sheldon van der Linde fourth in the #24 BMW, with the delayed #6 Porsche with Lauren Vanthoor down in 10th.
The Belgian, who had to pit the car due to damage sustained earlier in the race, was able to haul it back on to the lead lap, keeping the car’s interest in the race strong with a short stop to check the issue.
After jumping out of the car, Bamber told media including Motorsport Week that “we just sort of chipped away under the yellows,” adding that “the guys did an amazing job in the pit stop at the last round.
Bamber continued: “You know, the #7 and the #6 are mighty strong at the moment. But, you know, there’s still, what, 20, 19 hours left? So, yeah, it’s pretty wild and intense out there. So it just gives us a vibe to the morning.”
Inter Europols lose headway as CrowdStrike APR LMP2 lead at Daytona
In LMP2, the #343 Inter Europol driven by George Kovolos dropped out of the top four after pitting with damage.
The #04 CrowdStrike APR of Toby Sowery assumed the lead, but duly pitted, as did the #43 Europol of Jeremy Clarke, with the lead subsequently being taken by the #99 AO Racing of Dane Cameron.
The United Autosports #22, driven by Daniel Goldburg, took second place, with the Pratt Miller Motorsports #73 Oreca, driven by Manuel Espirito Santo, in third.
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