Wolf Henzler Tops Rolex GT Testing Times for Rolex 24 At Daytona

The No. 64 TRG Pontiac GTO.R for Paul Edwards, Kelly Collins, Jan Magnussen, and Andy Pilgrim clocked the third fastest GT class time in testing for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. (Photo courtesy of Grand American)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Wolf Henzler pulled off the hat trick for the Tafel Racing at the Daytona Test Days in preparation for the Rolex 24 At Daytona later this month.

Henzler made it three days in-a-row for the No. 74 Tafel Racing Porsche GT3 atop the Rolex Sports Car Series GT time charts after posting a class-best lap at 1 minute, 52.704 seconds (113.714 mph) The No. 74 machine will be driven by Andrew Davis, Eric Lux, Graham Rahal and Charles Espenlaub in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The No. 82 Farnbacher Porsche GT3 Cup driven by Dominik Farnbacher, Mike Fitzgerald, Pierre Ehret and Marc Basseng was second during the three day test session at Daytona International Speedway. Third fastest was the No. 64 TRG Pontiac GTO.R for Paul Edwards, Kelly Collins, Jan Magnussen, and Andy Pilgrim.

The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series GT class will anchor Lime Rock’s longstanding Memorial Day weekend sports car event on May 26-29. The Memorial Day Grand American Challenge will also include the fast-growing Grand-Am Cup Series with its two ultra-competitive classes of race cars, Grand Sport and Sport Touring.

Davis was excited with the progress of his team’s Porsche GT3.

"The amount of progress we've made is pretty astounding," Davis said. "The team has expanded quite a bit from last year, but (team manager) Tony Dowe and the guys at the shop have hit the ground running. We've got an aggressive plan, and we want to come out and take charge in the championship. We want to be contenders all year long. We're excited about everything."

Rahal, 17-year-old son of former Rolex 24 At Daytona winner, took his first laps at Daytona on Saturday morning.

"The first few laps were interesting getting up to speed, but the car felt good and handled well," Rahal said. "I think we're in the ballpark with the GTOs. I've driven at Indianapolis, Sebring, Road Atlanta and now, Daytona.

2005 Rolex Series GT champ Craig Stanton and Mark Plummer drover this Porsche 996 to the best overall time in Grand-Am Cup Series testing. (Photo courtesy of Grand American)

“It's always great to get to get experience at another great track, and Daytona's history makes it really special. I know dad won here. This will also be my first experience racing at night, but everyone said with all the lights, it's really not like driving at night."

The younger Rahal will be hoping that history can repeat at Daytona. His father was a relatively unknown sports car racer when he shared the winning Porsche with Brian Redman and Bob Garretson in the 1981 Rolex 24. The victory helped him land a ride in Indy Cars, and he went on to the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner and three CART championships.

After running a pair of Daytona Prototypes in the Rolex 24 last year, Kevin Buckler's TRG operation will concentrate on the GT class this season.

TRG tested six cars, including four Porsches, using the same driver combinations it plans to bring back for the Rolex 24. The team will have a pair of Pontiac GTO.Rs, the No. 64 for Edwards, Collins, Magnussen and Pilgrim, and the No. 65 for Andy Lally, Marc Bunting, R.J. Valentine and Johnny O'Connell.

"I think we're in good shape for the race," said Magnussen. 'The car's got good speed, and it's real easy to drive."

Buckler, who captured Rolex 24 GT honors in 2002 and won the event overall the following year, said: "The GTOs are running fantastic. We're really down on our straightaway speed compared to the Porsches - our car just doesn't have enough grunt. But it's good on the infield.

“It's all going to come down to being a good, reliable package, like it always does here. Enjoying success at the Rolex 24 means staying out of trouble."

In Grand-Am Cup testing, 2005 Rolex Series GT champ Craig Stanton and Mark Plummer cruised to the top of the charts with a lap of 2:01.900 (105.135 mph) in a Porsche 996. Next fastest was the Mustang GT for Valerie Limoges, David Empringham and Tom Nastasi of Stamford, Conn.

"Craig and I drove together last year at Barber when my former co-driver, Guy Cosmo, had a schedule conflict," Plummer said. "We're going to be together all year. We're a good fit. He brings a lot of experience to the team."