Pappas Tests Positive for COVID; Black Swan Pulls Rolex Entry

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Black Swan Racing has withdrawn from next weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona due to team owner/driver Tim Pappas testing positive for COVID-19.

Pappas was due to share the team’s No. 540 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Patrick Pilet, Larry ten Voorde and Patrick Lindsey although had decided to pull the entry after inadvertently contracting the virus from one of his co-drivers in last weekend’s Hankook 24 Hours of Dubai.

“Unfortunately, my teammate in Dubai was COVID positive and didn’t know it,” Pappas told Sportscar365. “Despite my best efforts to be safe, I now have tested positive and have mild symptoms.

“There was no way that I could see to isolate for the CDC recommended time and make the race. So, I made the decision to withdraw.”

Pappas is understood to be one of several drivers that have recently tested positive for COVID-19 that had planned to contest the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opener.

Black Swan’s withdrawal has resulted in a 49-car field and 19 entries in GT Daytona.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John