Risi Competizione may have missed the pre-season Roar before the 24 test here at Daytona International Speedway but that didn’t stop the new Ferrari 488 GTE from leading the GTLM class pack in this morning’s first practice session for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
In fact, the Risi car almost led the entire field. Oswaldo Negri set the fastest time of the session in his Michael Shank Racing Ligier (pictured right) but it was only on his next to last lap that he dislodged the GTLM pack from the top of the times.
The Michelin-Equipped GTLM cars filled second through ninth positions on the timing sheet – excelling in the wet conditions today here at Daytona.
Toni Vilander set the time for Risi this morning followed by the Porsche Fred Makowiecki and the SMP Ferrari of Gianmaria Bruni.
The result mirrored the GTLM pace from Petit Le Mans where the Porsche of Nick Tandy and Patrick Pilet were able to take the overall victory in the rain-shortened event.
In the prototype ranks the Le Mans LM P2-style machines all outpaced the Daytona Prototypes in the wet. The Russian-entered SMP Nissan-powered BR01 chassis was second fastest ahead of the No.55 factory Mazda.
Teams are back on track from 1:20pm this afternoon before qualifying kicks off from 4:00pm.
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship squads also have a night practice tonight from 6:30pm to 8:00pm
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