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Roar Before 24 Saturday Notebook

Tony DiZinno’s Saturday notebook from the Roar Before the Rolex 24…

Photo: IMSA

Photo: IMSA

***Wayne Taylor told Sportscar365 the team’s current 24 Hours of Le Mans plans are at “70-30” in terms of materializing, with the team likely to partner with a European-based effort assuming the squad takes up its IMSA at-large selection for the race. Two weeks ago, Taylor said he would have pegged it at “50-50.”

***After its accident Saturday, the Doran-run Highway to Help operation has also left the track. It marks the second team to pack up early from this year’s Roar, along with the DeltaWing, which had an accident later Saturday. Both are expected back for the Rolex 24 at Daytona itself.

***While those two have left, Turner Motorsport arrived at the track late Saturday night. The team had originally not planned to run, but should be out with its No. 97 BMW Z4 GT3 on Sunday.

***TRG-AMR had a thrash overnight to put together its backup car for Saturday’s running, after Christoffer Nygaard had a rare incident on Friday. Nygaard lost the car exiting out of Bus Stop, and the chassis sustained major structural damage. The backup car the team switched to today is the chassis run in a handful of World Challenge races last year.

***The new low downforce aero package for the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 Honda arrived late Friday afternoon from Onroak Automotive, and was put on the car before Friday’s second test session. Additionally, Curb Records returns as a partner for 2015, and the team name continues as Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian.

***Chip Ganassi Racing only expects to run one car for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The majority of the team’s personnel will be in the midst of a hectic preseason IndyCar testing schedule. The third driver for that car alongside Scott Pruett and Joey Hand will be announced at a later date.

***A new round of FIA driver rating updates was issued on Thursday, however there were no drivers actually changed; a host of those running the Rolex 24 or the full TUDOR Championship season were added. Notable drivers added include Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Sylvain Tremblay all as Golds, with Brian Alder, Sam Brabham, Nick Mancuso, Jon Miller and Robert Thorne all added as Silvers. You can view the latest listings here.

***Historic Sportscar Racing, Ltd.’s Classic 24 at Daytona has been renewed for a second season, and will return November 14-15, 2015. “Entries and attendance at the inaugural Classic 24 exceeded all our expectations,” said David Hinton, HSR president, and a co-driver in the aforementioned No. 50 Highway to Help Riley-BMW.

Tony DiZinno (@tonydizinno) is Sportscar365's North American Editor, focusing on coverage of the IMSA-sanctioned championships as well as Pirelli World Challenge. DiZinno also contributes to NBCSports.com and other motorsports outlets. Contact Tony

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