Taylor Retakes Lead with Four Hours to Go

Photo: John Dagys

Jordan Taylor has retaken the lead following a hard-fought battle as the Rolex 24 at Daytona heads into the final four hours.

The No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP holds a 13-second gap over the No. 5 Action Express Racing entry of Christian Fittipaldi, in what’s turned into a two-horse race in the closing stages.

Taylor managed to muscle his way past Joao Barbosa on the entry into pit lane halfway through the 20th hour, with the two Corvette DPs making slight contact.

While the Taylor remained in the Konica Minolta-sponsored entry, the Action Express crew lost more than 10 seconds in the pits due to a driver change to Fittipaldi.

The pair of Chip Ganassi Racing Riley-Fords run third and fourth overall and in the Prototype class, also on the lead lap, while the No. 90 VisitFlorida.com Racing Corvette DP of Michael Valiante is in fifth.

Corvette Racing has regained control of GT Le Mans, with the Corvette C7.Rs running 1-2, led by Jan Magnussen, who is ahead of teammate Tommy Milner.

The No. 4 Corvette got back on the lead lap following the race’s 16th and most recent full-course caution, due to a heavy accident by Francisco Longo in the once-class leading No. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.

Longo spun on oil laid down by the No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT America of Andy Lally, who had hit a possum, which struck through the car’s radiator.

GT Daytona has been reduced into a three-way fight due to the Longo’s retirement, with Shane van Gisbergen out front in the No. 22 Alex Job Racing Porsche.

The No. 93 Riley Motorsports Dodge Viper GT3-R of Kuno Wittmer and Townsend Bell’s No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari run second and third, respectively, and both on the lead lap.

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