Westbrook Leads Daytona Final Practice

Richard Westbrook led Friday’s final one-hour practice session ahead of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season opener on Saturday.

Westbrook, driving the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP, clocked in his best lap of 1:39.256 near the end of the session. It’s the third session the Englishman has led this week, after also leading both Practice 1 and 2.

Rolex 24 at Daytona polesitter Alex Gurney was second in the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP, with a best lap of 1:39.568 in the middle of the session.

A third Corvette DP, driven by Christian Fittipaldi (No. 5 Action Express Racing), rounded out the top three.

Alex Brundle led the P2 runners, within 1.3 seconds of Westbrook, in eighth overall at 1:40.610 in the No. 6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing ORECA 03 Nissan.

After struggling in qualifying, the top P2 car was within 1.3 seconds of Gurney, with Gustavo Yacaman setting the seventh fastest time at 1:40.945 in the No. 42 OAK Racing Morgan Nissan.

Sam Bird led the PC class times at 1:42.176 in the No. 8 Starworks Motorsport ORECA FLM09. The sister No. 7 Starworks PC car (Alex Popow) and No. 87 BAR1 Motorsports (James Kovacic) ORECAs were second and third.

8Star Motorsports’ challenging weekend continued when the No. 25 entry, driven by Enzo Potolicchio, was contacted after just two timed laps by the No. 38 Performance Tech Motorsports car. The 8Star car, which had an axle issue earlier in the week, didn’t complete any further laps.

Risi Competizione led the GTLM class, courtesy of Matteo Malucelli’s 1:45.007 in the No. 62 Ferrari F458 Italia. The No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR and pair of Corvette C7.Rs were second through fourth.

Level 5 Motorsports placed its two Ferrari 458 GT3s first and third in GTD. Milo Valverde led the session in the No. 556 at 1:48.073, ahead of the Dempsey Racing No. 28 Porsche 911 GT America (Christian Engelhart) and No. 555 Level 5 Ferrari (Townsend Bell).

This session marks the final on-track activity until Saturday’s race.

RESULTS: Practice 4