Photo: HSRIn Group E, a familiar and former HSR Classics-winning car and driver duo have returned to the top of the standings for the first time in several years. Juan Gonzalez purchased the ex-Rollcentre Racing 2007 No. 18 Pescarolo Judd in 2017 and won the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour with co-driver Butch Leitzinger in his first race in the car.

Gonzalez has been looking for a Classic Daytona win to go with his Sebring triumph ever since, and was halfway to reaching that goal in Sunday’s early hours. Gonzalez and Leitzinger had a one-lap lead over a stout field of Group E competitors at the mid-race mark.

The Group F halfway leader was William Hubbell (Hudson Historics 2012 No. 230 Corvette Daytona Prototype) while Scott Kee and Ron Zitza (Zotz Racing 2016 No. 351 Porsche Cayman GT4) paced a tight Group G field.
Photo: HSRNotable Classic Daytona competitors knocked from winning contention or retired from the race include the GMT Racing 2007 No. 7 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of David Porter and Joao Barbosa, which overcame a pre-race hydraulics system issue to take the green flag and battle for the lead in both of Saturday’s race opening rounds.

Barbosa was at the wheel of the 908 late in the second Group E race when the hydraulics issue returned just before the checkered flag. The Peugeot was retired, ending a four-race HSR Classics win streak for the car, team and drivers at Sebring and Daytona dating back to Porter’s 2019 debut.

Meanwhile, a rear suspension issue struck down the Robillard Racing ex-Wynn’s/Hotchkis Racing 1986 No. 10 Porsche 962 of Joe Robillard just a couple of laps into the first Group C race of the day. It was repaired in time for Race 2, but was 20 laps behind the group leader at half distance.
Photo: HSRIn case you missed them, here are the recaps from Thursday and Friday along with a photo gallery from those days.