SCOTS endurance racing ace Jonny Adam helped Aston Martin record its best ever finish in the famous Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona last weekend.
The experienced Kirkcaldy driver and his Magnus Racing team-mates charged through the field to second place in the highly contested GTD class at the Florida circuit.
The race saw plenty of highs and lows for the Vantage GT3 crew, who had to deal with an unexpected pit stop in the fifth hour and being punted off the track in the 16th hour.
Aston Martin has been represented at Daytona sporadically since 1964 and, while it has frequently led its class, until 2022 misfortune had denied it podium glory.
Adam, an Aston Martin Racing works driver and double Le Mans class winner, said: “This was an amazing result for Magnus Racing in this big American season opener.
“It’s a tough race and it means a great deal to be one of the drivers who stands on the podium for Aston Martin for the first time at Daytona.
“The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 provided us with a strong package all weekend and was competitive throughout the race. I have to say a massive thank you to the whole team and my superstar fellow drivers John Potter, Spencer Pumpelly and Andy Lally.”
In contrast, there was heartbreak for Airdrie’s Ryan Dalziel and his Era Motorsport outfit in the LMP2 class – as they battled to defend their 2021 Daytona title.
The Oreca racers fought back from early setbacks but a mechanical issue with the gearbox ended the team’s quest just 30 minutes before the checkered flag.
Forfar 21-year-old Sandy Mitchell’s debut at America’s Blue Riband 24-hour race also ended in frustration.
He had set an early fastest lap in the GTD class and held the division lead in the Peregrine Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo. But a number of damaging clashes forced the team to retire the car after 15 hours.
He said: “The team did a fantastic job. We proved how quick the car is by leading the GTD class at the start of the race and posting the fastest lap before the incidents. I was really happy with that. It just wasn’t our race this time around.”
Looking ahead, Paul Di Resta is returning to the United Autosports team to contest the second weekend of the Asian Le Mans Series in Abu Dhabi later this month.
The West Lothian driver will also be part of the outfit in its Oreca at the opening round of the World Endurance Championship at Sebring in Florida in March.
And one of Scotland’s most exciting young racing drivers has signed up for a second year with Praga after a strong debut season at the wheel of the Czech manufacturer’s R1 prototype.
Gordie Mutch, 19, of Lockerbie, will reunite with sim-racer and YouTube star Jimmy Broadbent as they look to win the inaugural Praga Cup in a campaign starting on March 12-13 at Silverstone.
Backed by Eco Group and the John Clark Motor Group, Gordie said: “I’m really excited to be racing with Jimmy and Praga again this year.
“I can’t thank Praga enough for the opportunity to join them again for a second season, and I’ll be aiming to reward the faith they and my family and sponsors have shown me with some strong results this year.”
