Daytona 24-hours date for Scotsposted in MSPOR03 | 01 | 2013
SCOTLAND'S FOUR FASTEST sportscar racers will blow away the festive cobwebs tomorrow when they take part in the first official practice for the 51st running of the Daytona 24 Hours.
America's Blue Riband endurance race, run over 3.56-miles of the the bumpy infield course and the famous Daytona oval, takes place on January 26/27.
But three weeks before the start of the race, past winners Dario Franchitti and Ryan Dalziel, plus fellow Scots Mario Franchitti and Allan McNish, begin their preparations at the Florida track tomorrow.
"Christmas was great with the family," double Le Mans 24-Hours winner McNish said today, "but now it's back to work; and I can't wait."
The Dumfries racer finished second last year, just 5.198secs behind the winner, will again pilot the Starworks Riley-Ford with Wishaw's Dalziel, alongside French F1 racer Sebastien Bourdais and Venezuelan Alex Popow.
"The Riley is a totally different car compared to the Audi R18 I raced at Le Mans last year,” McNish continued.
“Friday is all about reacclimatising myself with the Riley for the first time since this year’s race 11 months ago. For example, I left foot brake in the Riley whereas I right foot brake in the R18.
“Another difference is for me to readjust to the fact I cannot ‘attack’ and ‘push’ into a corner like I can in the Audi due to the Riley’s lack of down force and grip – I have to be significantly more genteel when driving a Daytona Prototype car.
Exclusive interview with Scots F1 ace Paul di Resta
“Day two will be about starting to get on with the other particular parts of the team’s test programme.
"Ryan and Alex will do the majority of driving to find a good set-up as they both contested the entire Grand-Am series for Starworks last year, so they have the most knowledge and experience of the car.”
Dalziel meanwhile, who crowned 2012 by winning the inaugural LMP2 World Endurance Championship after taking the class win at Le Mans, is looking forward to being reunited with McNish.
"The wee man's a legend," Dalziel, who will have a short trip from his home in Windermere, Florida, to the track, smiled. "Allan brings so much professionalism to the team.
"We came mighty close last year, and we're determined to go that one step further this month."
Three-times Indy500 winner and four-times IndyCar champ Dario Franchitti will pilot the Ganassi Riley-BMW alongside former F1 race winner, Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya.
BTCC Speedworks deal for Dave Newsham
Franchitti, who will also be joined by Kiwi Scott Dixon and American Jamie McMurray, is eagerly looking forward to the race.
"For me, the Daytona 24 Hours is a real blast," the 39-year-old from Bathgate admitted. "The fact it's a 24-hours race takes me completely out of my comfort zone.
"This weekend though, like Allan, we'll be concentrating on getting our car set up for qualifying and the race in three weeks."
Franchitti will also lock horns with younger brother Marino, who will forsake his Nissan DeltaWing of last year's Le Mans for a diesel-powered Mazda6.
"This is the first time a diesel-powered car of any type has contested the Daytona 24-Hours," Franchitti, who finished sixth last year with his Speedsource team, said.
"Going from the scream of the rotary engine, which we used in the Mazda RX-8 here last year, to the near silence of the diesel engine is going to be interesting.
"And though it's a completely new car, I definitely think we have the potential to surprise quite a few people."
Roadtest: 2013 Range Rover in the Scottish snow
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill
CAPTION: Wishaw's Ryan Dalziel celebrates clinching the LMP2 World Endurance Championship with his Starworks Motorsport te