Cadillac in hunt at 18-hour mark of Rolex 24 - Speedway Digest

Reigning Grand Touring Prototype champion Pipo Derani took over the wheel of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R from Tom Blomqvist in the wee hours of a cloudy Sunday and promptly retook the point as dawn broke in the 62nd Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Both Cadillac Grand Touring Prototype entries paced the field multiple times for multiple laps on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway course as Cadillac Racing pursues its fifth victory in the North American endurance classic since 2017.

Derani, who earned the pole with a track-record lap during the 15-minute qualifying session January 21, recorded the quickest lap of the race (1 minute, 35.863 seconds) on Lap 2.

Renger van der Zande was making significant headway hours after the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R fell off the lead lap because of a cut tire and drive-thru penalty for a pit lane speed violation when, just shy of 3 a.m. ET, the hybrid racecar lost power and the Dutch driver coasted onto the Turn 1 apron.

After examination in the garage, the Chip Ganassi Racing-campaigned GTP entry retired.

Cadillac Racing issued a statement: The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R experienced a mechanical powertrain issue in the second half of the grueling race that resulted in retirement of the entry. Cadillac Racing will investigate to find the root cause and prepare for the 72nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Flag-to-flag streaming coverage is available on Peacock. USA Network’s coverage continues until noon ET when NBC will telecast the race conclusion.

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Tom Blomqvist: “The car is just working well. It’s difficult out there because the Porsche and BMW are quick at different points. It’s hard work. Sometimes you feel like you’re slow and the next thing you know you feel like you’re fast. We got back to the front though it’s still a long way to go.”

Cadillac Racing PR