Will Energy is sort of a rookie over again.
A two-time IndyCar Sequence champion and the 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner, Energy is making his IMSA debut on this yr’s Rolex 24 At Daytona. He’s operating with 75 Specific within the GTD Professional class, co-driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with fellow Aussie’s Kenny Habul, Chaz Mostert and German Maro Engel.
“I’m studying the ropes of the motive force modifications and all of the stuff I must do,” Energy informed Motorsport.com. “Maro helps me lots, truly.”
Maro joked that Energy is “loving the motive force modifications,” to which Energy responded, “I am getting good now. I am getting higher. I have never finished the steering wheel but, however I hold forgetting that one. I am a minimum of getting unfastened and getting that up and over, that is the primary factor. I make certain I unclip and put that there, to make it simpler. It is enjoyable. I am having fun with it lots. Loads of studying.”
Will Energy, Group Penske
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Lumen through Getty Photos
Energy, who will drive for Andretti World for the upcoming 2026 IndyCar season, does have one earlier begin in sports activities automobile racing below his belt. Final yr, he drove with 75 Specific within the Indianapolis 8-Hour, a part of the Intercontinental GT Problem.
Habul has loved watching Energy’s adaptability firsthand.
“He is very proficient,” Habul informed Motorsport.com. “He has distinctive expertise. He does not actually perceive GT racing; by no means pushed one. Indy was the primary time. It is a lot slower than what he does. It [the car] does not reply, so it is an adjustment for him.
“It has been attention-grabbing to look at him as a result of he is so proficient that even when he does not know what he is doing and he does not know the automobile, he finds a technique to put in a purple sector. He has that feeling in his arms of 71 IndyCar poles (most all-time). Present me somebody who’s finished that. He simply has the sensation. So it is good to have him.”
Discovering the sting as a 44-year-old ‘rookie’
The 44-year-old Energy admitted that the educational curve on discovering the restrict has been a problem.
“Sure, you perceive the sting, clearly, when it is sliding, however it’s actually understanding what makes the automobile quick,” Energy mentioned. “Do you gradual it lots within the center and get straight drive out? It’s positively a special driving type. It is lots of pitch below braking, which provides lots of entrance to it, so the best way you path brake within the nook, lots of issues are fairly completely different.”
Daytona’s 3.56-mile speedway highway course brings technical challenges that Energy is having fun with, with braking being “tense” going into Flip 1 and on the Bus Cease.
Contemplating the smile that received’t go away on Energy’s face, is there a plan on doing extra racing outdoors of IndyCar like Rolex?
“Perhaps, yeah, however it relies upon how a lot I take pleasure in it and all that,” Energy mentioned. “It has been lots of enjoyable thus far. I do not need it to remove from my IndyCar program in any respect, in order that’s the primary factor. I really want to carry out properly this yr with Andretti. That is the primary focus, after which I take into consideration these different issues after.”
They certified fourth at school among the many GTD Professional vehicles, lining up on the surface of Row 2 for the 24-hour endurance racing basic.
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