Rolex 24, Hour 23: Blomqvist retakes lead, eyeing final hour

In the penultimate hour, Tom Blomqvist chased down Felipe Nasr, getting the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing V-Series.R within a second of Matt Campbell’s No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports 963 before pitting earlier than necessary, but well within the window to make it to the end on one more stop. Nasr brought the Porsche in three laps later for full energy and fresh tires, emerging from the pits ahead of Blomqvist. However, with the Cadillac having warm tires and Nasr’s still coming up to temperature, he was able to squeeze by heading into Turn 1.

Nasr had a big lockup heading into the International Horseshoe immediately after, possibly flatspotting a tire. He had reported a vibration to the team before the lockup.

Blomqvist has put a bit of space between the Cadillac and Porsche. Speculation had Derani finishing the race, but team may opt to leave Blomqvist in for a third stint given his pace.

Mathieu Jaminet put the second PPM Porsche into fourth behind Louis Deletraz’s No. 40 WTRAndretti Acura, but he’s 24s off Deletraz, who in turn is a more than a minute behind Nasr. Jaminet was under threat of going a lap down with Blomqvist on his tail, although there’s also the danger of Jaminet backing Blomqvist up to Nasr.

Era Motorsports is asserting itself at the front of LMP2, Christian Rasmussen enjoying a 14s lead in the No. 18 ORECA over Malthe Jakobsen in the No. 04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA. Tom Dillman was another 50s back in the No. 52 Euro Interpol with PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA.

Mikael Grenier had moved the No. 32 Korthoff/Preston Motorsports into second in GTD, but the Ferraris were on a tear. The 296 GT3s from several teams had proven effective in the heat, and Grenier was soon dispatched first Alberto Costa Blaboa in the No. 34 Conquest Racing Ferrari and then Miguel Molina in the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari. All three were running nose to tail, but Daniel Morad in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG was 30s down the road, and the 2021 GTD-winning team looks firmly in control.

Risi Competizione remains firmly in control of GTD PRO with a Daniel Serra holding a lap over the second-place AO Racing in the hands of Laurin Heinrich.

Class leaders after 23 hours

GTP: Tom Blomqvist, No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing V-Series.R

LMP2: Christian Rasmussen, No. 18 Era Motorsports ORECA 07

GTD PRO: Daniel Serra, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3

GTD: Daniel Morad, No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG GT3

HOUR 23 STANDINGS

Story originally appeared on Racer