DAYTONA BEACH — Friday provided a nice Rolex 24 appetizer.
At four hours, the BMW M Endurance Challenge set the tone ahead of this weekend’s twice-around-the-clock marathon. The season opener for IMSA’s second-tier series, the Michelin Pilot Challenge, got the green flag at 1:45 p.m. at Daytona International Speedway. When the checkers arrived, it was the No. 71 Aston Martin out front.
That came after the morning’s Mazda MX-5 Cup race won by Jeremy Fletcher.
And of course, the WeatherTech Championship cars hit the track for their third and final practice before the Rolex 24.
Watch BMW M Endurance Challenge on Peacock
Rolex 24 at Daytona live updates today
Keep scrolling for a play-by-play recap from Daytona.
Robin Liddell wins BMW Endurance Challenge in Aston Martin
After four hours, the season opener of IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge series came down to a margin of just 2.6 seconds.
Robin Liddell, piloting the No. 71 Aston Martin of Rebel Rock Racing, crossed the finish line first for the overall BMW M Endurance Challenge win and GS class victory, beating runner-up Thomas Merrill (No. 14 Aston Martin) and third-place Daan Arrow (No. 57 Mercedes-AMG).
Liddell’s team, which also included Frank DePew and Andrew Davis, completed 106 laps. They recorded the best lap of the day with a time of 1:53.408.
In the event’s other class (TCR), Denis Dupont and Preston Brown placed atop the heap — and 25th overall — in the No. 76 Hyundai. Cameron Lawrence was second in the No. 89 Honda, following just 0.408 seconds behind Dupont.
1 hour left in BMW Endurance Challenge race at Daytona
Only 60 minutes remain in the BMW M Endurance Challenge.
The green flag just waved after a lengthy caution period. Robin Liddell (No. 71 Aston Martin) has the overall lead while Bryson Morris (No. 33 Hyundai) fronts the TCR pack.
BMW Endurance Challenge reaches halfway point
Two hours down, two more to go. Halfway home in the BMW M Endurance Challenge.
Andrew Davis in the No. 71 Aston Martin (GS class) holds the overall lead. In the TCR class, Denis Dupont is in front in his No. 76 Hyundai Elantra.
BMW Endurance Challenge update: 40 minutes down, Nate Cicero in front
After 40 minutes, Nate Cicero still leads the BMW M Endurance Challenge. He has completed 20 laps.
The driver of the No. 13 Mustang won the pole Thursday and led the field to the starting line this afternoon.
Time for BMW M Endurance Challenge race at Daytona
The four-hour clock has started.
The BMW M Endurance Challenge, a race for IMSA’s second-tier Michelin Pilot Challenge series, began at 1:45 p.m. It will end at 5:45.
Five minutes in, Nate Cicero in the No. 13 Ford Mustang holds the lead.
Scenes from final Rolex 24 practice at Daytona
Final Rolex 24 practice results
The Rolex 24 cars completed their final pre-race practice at 12:20 p.m. Here’s the fastest driver from each class:
Vanthoor’s best lap time was 1:36.475, just clipping Will Stevens’ 1:36.51 in the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac.
NASCAR driver Ross Chastain would love to drive in Rolex 24 at Daytona
During last week’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 test window, NASCAR driver Ross Chastain visited Daytona International Speedway to promote next month’s Daytona 500.
He also received a behind-the-scenes look at a Rolex 24 team.
“I’m jealous of all those drivers,” he told the News-Journal. “Growing up a Florida boy, I’ve always known about that race, but I’d never participated in it, and I don’t really understand all the workings of that garage. I know NASCAR, O’Reilly, Trucks — I know all this stuff, but I don’t know how to navigate that garage. Kind of using my time while I was there talking about the Daytona 500 to just peek in and see and get a lay of the land.
“I have dreams of competing there in that event one day. I don’t know anything of how that would ever look, but I’ve got aspirations to do it.”
Connor Zilisch, Chastain’s NASCAR teammate with Trackhouse Racing, sat down with him and let him listen to the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac radio.
Along with Zilisch, Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger is also participating in this year’s Rolex 24.
Jeremy Fletcher wins Mazda MX-5 Cup race in late flurry
The Mazda Cup races at Daytona rarely disappoint.
Even when the majority of the event takes place under caution, as it did Friday.
In the end, Jeremy Fletcher emerged late and held off a whole group of challengers for the victory in his No. 22 Mazda. He beat runner-up Tyler Gonzalez, third-place Ruben Caceres and fourth-place Ethan Lampe. All three crossed the line within 0.197 seconds of Fletcher.
The drivers completed 17 laps after finishing 20 on Thursday.
Watch Mazda Cup cars race through Daytona road course
The second Mazda MX-5 Cup race is airing live on YouTube and IMSA TV. But here’s a glimpse.
Mazda Cup race leads off Friday’s Rolex 24 schedule
Friday’s first racing of consequence is underway.
The second of this week’s two Mazda MX-5 Cup showcases went green at 10 a.m. At 10:08, Ethan Lampe in the No. 31 has the lead under a yellow flag.
What channel is BMW Endurance Challenge on today? TV streaming info
The BMW M Endurance Challenge will stream live on Peacock, an NBC subscription service.
It will also air globally on YouTube and IMSA TV, as will the Mazda MX-5 Cup race.
IMSA schedule at Daytona today
Why did Rolex 24 lineup change after Thursday qualifying?
The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac qualified first Thursday afternoon but was stripped of pole position after the evening’s technical inspection. The car’s rear skid block had been ground down too much.
As a result, the No. 93 Meyer Shank Acura will lead the field to the starting line of the 64th running of the Rolex 24 Saturday.
The No. 31 will move to the back of the GTP class.
The No. 1 Paul Miller BMW also received a penalty. It will fall to the back of the GTD Pro group due to a tech violation relating to its chassis.
24 Hours of Daytona weather update
As of Thursday afternoon, here is the National Weather Service forecast for the next few days through Sunday’s checkered flag.
When is Rolex 24 at Daytona? Start time, end time
How to watch Rolex 24: TV channel, streaming info
Watch Rolex 24 live on Peacock
When it comes to traditional network television, the 24 Hours of Daytona will air live on NBC from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Coverage will resume from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday.
The entirety of the event, from 1:30 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday, will stream on Peacock, though. It will also be available globally on IMSA TV and YouTube.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Rolex 24 Daytona highlights, BMW Endurance Challenge results
Reporting by Chris Vinel, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
