Rolex 24, Hour 9: Trouble strikes WTR Andretti No. 10

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emailBy Richard S. James | January 27, 2024 11:04 PM ET

After eight hours of relatively trouble-free running for the GTPs, Filipe Albuquerque rolled to a stop in the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06 during the ninth hour. Albuquerque exited the car before getting back in to try something, but eventually the car had to be delivered to the garage on a rollback under a full-course caution.

“I started smelling something in the car,” said Albuquerque. “Actually I reported, ‘Yeah, something strange here and like feel some smell,’ and literally the second after, the car completely shut down — nothing left. I couldn’t pick it back again. I tried to put the emergency buttons on the outside but that was it, it died. We couldn’t even go to neutral we could not tow, nothing.”

The problem has been traced to the wiring harness, and the team is attempting a replacement, but says it will be a long repair.

The No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 received its second drive-through penalty for failure to adhere to the controlled power train parameters, and since this was the second time, it was increased from a drive-through to a stop plus 10s. "If you damn cheaters don't stop fooling around, we are going to start really kicking in the balls."

Pipo Derani was still out front in the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac Racing V-Series.R as the race entered its 10th hour. Sebastien Bourdais had been running second until he locked up the brakes and sailed off in the International Horseshoe. Bourdais continued, but had a puncture on the left front, the cause of the lockup.

The GT that was in front of me coming up to [Turn] 3, swerved to the right and there was a pile of debris right there,” Bourdais explained. “I don’t know what it was. It was, I think, a mirror and something else. Initially I thought it was just a piece of debris under the car but it slashed the tire right away and I was lucky not to hit the tires, because I didn’t think I was going to stop it.”

The debris likely came from contact between Dennis Andersen in the No. 20 High Class Racing ORECA that eventually re-emerged from the garage and the No. 83 Iron Dames Lamborghini with Rahel Frey at the wheel.

Derani was being pursued by Felipe Nasr in the No. 7 PPM Porsche 963 and Connor De Phillippi in the No. 25 BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8. The leaders have completed 285 laps of the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway.

The No. 2 United Autosports ORECA leads LMP2 with Pato O’Ward at the wheel, being chased by Josh Burdon in the No. 74 Riley Motorsports ORECA.

The GTD PRO and GTD cars on the lead lap have been separated by the wave-around process during the Albuquerque caution, and the GTD cars are now a lap behind. Antonio Garcia is at the head of the GTD PRO field in the No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Z06 GT3.R, ahead of Andrea Caldarelli in the No. 19 Iron Lynx Lamborghini and Davide Rigon in the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari. Philip Ellis leads GTD in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG, followed by Tom Gamble in the No. 70 Inception Racing McLaren.

The GTD PRO No. 75 SunEnergy1 Mercedes AMG that has had repeated trips to the garage has finally gone behind the wall for good and has been retired.

Class leaders after nine hours:

GTP: Pipo Derani, No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac Racing V-Series.R

LMP2: Pato O’Ward, No. 2 United Autosports ORECA 07

GTD PRO: Antonio Garcia, No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Z06 GT3.R

GTD: Philip Ellis, No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG

HOUR 9 STANDINGS