Ford Performance may be back in full swing at the Rolex 24. (Photo: Jared Bokanoski | The Podium Finish)
It has been seven years since the familiar Blue Oval stood atop the podium at Daytona International Speedway for the Michelin Pilot Challenge season opener.
If the Roar Before the 24 is any indication, that could change this weekend.
Ford turned the fastest Grand Sport (GS) class lap in four of the five test sessions. The only time a Ford Mustang GT4 did not set the pace was when a practice session was shortened due to rain.
Luca Mars, a 16-year-old driver with a quickly rising stock in sports car racing, clocked the best overall lap of the weekend in the opening test session on Friday, at 1 minute and 53.042 seconds (113.373 mph), driving the No. 59 KohR Motorsports Mustang at the 12-turn, 3.56-mile Daytona road course.
Mars set the top lap in another session with Zane Smith, the defending NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, in the No. 42 PF Racing Ford Mustang.
Michelin Pilot Challenge veteran Chad McCumbee (No. 13 McCumbee McAleer Racing with AEROSPORT) put a Ford atop the scoring pylon in other sessions.
Mars will have an opportunity to continue Ford’s success that he’s seen early in his career as he will team up with Bob Michaelian in the No. 59 KohR entry throughout the season.
Certainly, Mars, along his Ford teammates, remains optimistic about his chances in Friday’s four-hour race.
“This track really plays into Ford’s favor because the car just has a crazy midrange coming onto all the banking,” Mars said. “The car just takes off. I think a Ford can win here; hopefully it’s us.”
There are five Mustangs in the 32-car GS class for the season opener, the first of 11 races on the 2023 Michelin Pilot Challenge calendar.
Aston Martin leads with eight Vantage GT4s entered while there are six Mercedes-AMG GT GT4s.
With the Volt Racing team and GS champion drivers, Alan Brynjolfsson and Trent Hindman, moving to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this year and IMSA great Bill Auberlen focusing on the WeatherTech Championship, the GS season chase appears wide open.
