no 39 Daytona Prototype 'Rocks'

No 39 Daytona Prototype "Rocks" midway through the British F3 and GT season

At Rockingham British F3 and GT Drivers could for the first time see a Daytona Prototype in the flesh. The car on display was the  no 39 Porsche Crawford car that raced in the 2006 Grand-Am Rolex Series raced by Christian Fittipaldi, Eddie Cheever, Jr, Patrick Carpentier, Lucas Luhr, Sasha Maassen and Emanuel Collard. The car lead the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona at mid-way point of the race before engine expired.

From word go the word was that it would be nearly impossible for a British F3 driver to win the Sunoco Daytona Challenge due to the very stiff competition and the need of consistently score fastest laps, pole positions and race wins. Yet, last year’s British F3 Daniel Ricciardo Champion had the Challenge within his grasp just loosing out by 2 points to the winner Derek Johnston who raced his Radical SR8 to the glory in both the Radical UK Cup and Radical European Masters. Red Bull driver Jean-Eric certainly has the skill to be at the top!

Both Daytona Challenge front runners Jean-Eric Vergne and Matt Griffin are very excited over the prospect of winning the 2011 Sunoco Daytona Challenge (the 2011 challenge is run during the 2010 season and the winner races in the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona thereof the 2011 year at the title). Jean-Eric is after a first, a second and fastest lap at Rockingham leading the Challenge on 98 points. Second is Ross Kaiser on 90 points racing with 360 Racing in the Radical UK Cup and third is Jody Firth on 72.75 points. British F3 racer Oli Webb is 4th on 69.50 points whereas Matt Griffin is top British GT scorer on 69.29 points.

The above picture show Matt Griffin (left) and Jean-Eric Vergne (right) in front of the #39 Daytona Prototype showing off the Sunoco Rolex 24 At Daytona Challenge official logo. A prize both are putting their efforts behind to win alongside their F3 and GT seasons.