Zilisch: Daytona the “Perfect Place” for First Laps in GTP Car

Photo: John Dagys

Connor Zilisch said his first laps in a Cadillac V-Series.R was “a lot of fun” ahead of his potential GTP debut in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The 19-year-old sports car-turned NASCAR rising star turned 33 laps at the wheel of the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac in Saturday morning’s session at the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway.

It comes ahead of a possible inclusion in the team’s lineup as a fourth driver for next year’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener.

“It was awesome,” he told reporters. “It’s very different, but at the same time similar to things I’ve driven in the past. It’s kind of a mixture between the P2 car and the GT3 I drove this year.

“It’s a little heavier than the P2, more power, but really cool. There’s a lot of new controls and things I have to learn.

“It was a lot of fun getting to feel it out and run a lot of laps.”

While initially set to get his first experience of the Dallara-chassied LMDh car in last weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship Bahrain rookie test, Zilisch was denied a FIA A license due to the NASCAR Xfinity Series title slipping away in the final race at Phoenix International Raceway the previous weekend.

Zilisch, who won the Rolex 24 and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in an Era Motorsport LMP2 entry in 2024, admitted Daytona is actually the most ideal setting to make his top-class prototype debut.

“This is still a perfect place to get my first laps in the car,” he said. “Daytona is a relatively simple track when it comes to all the tracks that there are in the world.

“This one is one of the easier ones. It was a pretty chill first session.”

Zilisch, who will graduate to full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition with the Justin Marks co-owned Trackhouse squad next year, said getting a chance to do the Rolex 24 in a third different class would be “really cool.”

He took part in this year’s Florida endurance classic at the wheel of a Trackhouse by TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in GTD Pro.

“The first time I came to Daytona racing on this weekend was in MX-5 Cup in 2022,” he said. “I’ve loved it ever since.

“Being able to race in the 24 Hours is something I’ve dreamed of as a kid. That’s why I always come back and keep doing it.

“It’s my third time doing it in my third different car that I’ve done it in.

“Actually, I don’t know if I’m doing it but if I do end up getting to do it and I do well enough today, then that would be cool.

“I’m just excited for the opportunity to even be here today and get this chance to test the car. It’s been such a dream of mine to get to drive in the highest class of IMSA.

“Doing that today has been really cool.”

Action Express’ director of operations Chris Mitchum said he was very pleased with Zilisch’s initial run in their Cadillac.

“He did great,” Mitchum told Sportscar365. “He got in the car on some older tires.

“We’re trying to space out when we use the tires and getting him a long run in some mixed traffic was great.

“He didn’t take any big bites at the apple but had constant improvement. I’d say the pace he ran was equal to the life of the tires.

“It was pretty comfortable. There were no earth-shattering moments or issues at all. It was a good comfortable run to get a good number of laps.”

Zilisch: “Nice to See” People Backing Me Up After Bahrain Rookie Test No-Go

Zilisch said the disappointment of not being allowed to do the WEC Bahrain test was made up by the level of support he received from the motorsports world.

“I wish I could have been in Bahrain but obviously it didn’t work out how we wanted it to,” he said.

“It made me feel a little bit better about what happened in Phoenix.

“Obviously it didn’t go the way we wanted it to and I didn’t win the championship, which ended up not giving me enough FIA license points to go do the test in Bahrain.

“It was nice to see a bunch of people backing me up and giving me some motivation.

“It all worked out. Although it was a little upsetting that I didn’t get to over there and drive with JOTA, it’s all part of it.”

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