Derek Johnston is in the race!

Derek Johnston is in the 2010 Rolex 24 At Daytona. His teammate Memo Gidley set the pace at the start of the 48th Rolex 24 and led for the first hour.

Brad Jaeger and Fabrizio Gollin kept the pace up, but mechanical problems caused Gollin to nurse the Doran Racing #77 back to the pit for more than 90 minutes of repairs, which involved changing the gearbox and rear assembly. However, at just after 0015hrs, Johnston was competing in the most prestigious endurance race in North America.

Weather conditions are dry with a strong breeze.

Johnston has returned to the pits for a tyre change and is currently 36^th out of 44 competitors despite a spin in the chicane. The Doran Racing Ford Dallara number 77 is a good 60 laps off the leading car, the Michael Shank Racing Daytona Prototype, but with 14 hours to go, the race remains wide open.

A further report will follow.