Rolex 24, Hour 22: Porsche vs Cadillac fight to the finish building

After some intense on-track battles early this morning, the 62nd Rolex 24 At Daytona has been rather settled as the race heads into its final two hours.

With the GTPs within their final three stints, all signs point to a Porsche vs. Cadillac battle. The No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport currently seems to have the measure of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing V-Series.R, although it’s entirely possible the 31 has been playing a waiting game. Felipe Nasr is freshly installed in the No. 6 and will likely finish. Tom Blomqvist was wheeling the No. 31 entering the final two hours, but expect Pipo Derani to take the car to the finish.

Louis Deletraz is in the third-place No. 40 WTRAndretti Acura ARX-06, but hasn’t shown any potential to run the two leaders down. The Acura has been stopping several laps sooner than the other two, so if it comes down to a fuel contest, WTRAndretti is likely to lose out. The No. 5 Proton Competition Porsche 963 is waiting to pounce should the top three experience any issues.

Winward Racing appears firmly in control of GTD unless a caution should erase Philip Ellis’s more than 20s margin to his closest competitor, which was the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F in the hands of Aaron Telitz. The Lexus driver, though, was at the head of a potential three-way battle for second among the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari with Kei Cozzolino at the wheel and the No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes AMG currently wheeled by Maxi Goetz.

Triarsi Competizione’s chances of a GTD victory have been hurt by the team having too many crew over the wall during its last pit stop, incurring a drive-through penalty.