2017 24 Hours of Daytona
Oreca was represented by three 07-Gibson cars, with one each fielded by JDC-Miller Motorsports (moving from the Prototype Challenge (PC) class), DragonSpeed and Daytona first-timer Rebellion Racing.
[18] Some drivers competed at Daytona on a one-off basis, such as four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon[19] and Formula E racer Sam Bird.
The Ford GT received a boost-ratio-curve increase to ease performance, the Aston Martin Vantage had 50 kilograms (110 lb) of minimum weight added for heavier handling, and the Lamborghini Huracán's power was reduced by a 1-millimetre (0.039 in) air-restrictor reduction to two 39-millimetre (1.5 in) openings.
[25] Some drivers, including Corey Lewis, Matt McMurry, Gustavo Menezes and Alessandro Pier Guidi, missed the test because they were racing in the Asian Le Mans Series's 4 Hours of Thailand.
Cadillacs led, with the best lap set by Mustang Sampling's Christian Fittipaldi (1:38.196); this broke Alex Gurney's 2014 DP class record,[38] and was 0.792 seconds faster than second-place WTR's Ricky Taylor.
22 Nissan, driven by Johannes van Overbeek, ran out of fuel entering the backstraight and was moved to the pit lane during a red flag period.
A spin by Duval into the turn-one inside exit barrier gave DragonSpeed's car major left-side damage and ended practice with five minutes left.
[57][58] GTD was led by Paul Miller's Audi of Calderelli with a late 1:47.455 lap, 0.056 seconds faster than Bleekemolen's Riley Mercedes-AMG; Kaz Grala's Change Lamborghini was third.
[64] Honorary starter Hurley Haywood waved the green flag at 2:30 pm on January 28 to start the race,[63] led by Barbosa in pole position.
[66] The first full-course caution came on lap five, when Mul crashed the Change Lamborghini into the left-side tire barrier at turn five (the West Horseshoe) after going onto the right-side grass (sustaining left-front damage);[67][68] safety crews were needed to extricate the car from the wall.
Ricky Taylor's fast pace moved WTR from fourth to second by the end of the first hour, as French retook the PC lead from Mowlem.
[70][71] Taylor's pace for WTR promoted him to the overall lead when he overtook Barbosa's AXR Cadillac during the second hour, and Lindsey passed Christina Nielsen's No.
[80] Curran returned to the lead during the pit-stop cycle when teammate Fittipaldi's rear bodywork was replaced due to rear-light failure, but later lost it to Angelelli.
[64][81] Dayson crashed into the inside barrier, sustaining right-side suspension damage which hampered his return to the pit lane before he was moved by a recovery vehicle.
[82] During the caution, Conway's WER Cadillac was forced behind the pit-lane wall with a starter-motor problem which required a push start after two refueling stops.
[68][83] Light rain began during the sixth hour, increasing in intensity, and several teams brought their cars into the pit lane for wet-weather tires.
[68][84] A sixth, over-20-minute caution was needed when Kyle Masson lost control of the PC-class leading Performance Tech car at the International Horseshoe turn in front of Conway, who avoided him.
[63] The WER vehicle was later forced into the garage for six laps to repair steering wheel and suspension damage from its fifth-hour accident with Dayson by replacing the right front toe link.
911 car to counter Ford's strategy switch; MSR's Acura of Jeff Segal led in GTD, with De Phillipi lapping about three seconds faster in Land's second-place Audi.
[95] The ninth caution was issued when Niclas Jönsson was apparently hit from behind by an Audi on the entry to the Bus Stop chicane, and his car's left corner was damaged by the barrier.
[92] In the early morning a 13th caution was deployed for one hour and 42 minutes due to heavy rain just before the Risi Ferrari of James Calado overtook Werner's No.
[103] French had an anxious moment when he lost control of the PC-leading Performance Tech car at the International Horseshoe turn, but he recovered without losing the category lead.
Ricky Taylor passed Albuquerque for the lead before VisitFlorida's car of Renger van der Zande was issued a drive-through penalty for repeatedly shortcutting the Bus Stop chicane after IMSA race director Beaux Barfield told teams that it was unacceptable.
Angelelli had an anxious moment when he struck a damp curb and lost control of WTR's Cadillac entering the Bus Stop chicane, but he retained his lead over Barbosa.
33 Mercedes led the GTD before it was passed by De Phillipi's Land Audi and Christensen's Alegra Porsche due to poor grip.
[63][64] He tried again while braking into turn one; the WTR Cadillac's right front hit the Mustang Sampling car's left rear, moving Taylor to the lead and making Albuquerque spin.
"[123] Bourdais and Hand paid tribute to their teammate, Müller, for passing García's Corvette and Calado's Ferrari and fending off Pilet's Porsche to secure the No.
"[127] Gounon said that the reason Land Motorsports did not win in GTD was because IMSA installed a smaller fuel restrictor on their Audi, which lengthened their pit stops.
"[127] Atherton said that three of the four categories seeing race-long battles demonstrated the effectiveness of IMSA's Technical Committee getting their calculations correct when establishing regulations and restrictions: "While we recognize it will always be a topic of great debate, we believe it was extremely fair and equitable for all involved.
Nicholas Boulle, French, Masson and O'Ward led the PC points standings, ahead of Cheng, Hindman, Adam Merzon, Mowlem and Tom Papadopoulos.
