DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The final push is on. The 2016 WeatherTech Rolex 24 at Daytona is into its final few hours, and the race is tighter than it has been all day—and half of yesterday.
The top three cars in the Prototype class are on the same lap and fighting for the win. The top five cars in GTLM are on the same lap, and similarly engaged. The top three cars in GTD …
These are the hours for which every team has been waiting. These are the stints for which they have saved their best. Any mistake now could throw away 20-plus hours of effort and months of preparation. A mechanical failure, a timing error, an instant of inattention, and the entire year’s effort could end in failure and despair.
The cars are dirty, the crews are sleepy, the drivers are sore. Adrenaline propels these weary warriors to focus through the fatigue or to function properly almost unconsciously.
