The style of defeat within the Rolex 24 is changing into too acquainted for Jack Aitken.
Within the sixty fourth version of IMSA’s twice-around-the-clock crown jewel at Daytona, the 30-year-old London-born product spent the ultimate hour making an attempt to run down Porsche Penske Motorsport’s Felipe Nasr for the general win. Regardless of his greatest efforts, which included a determined inside transfer that put his No. 31 Whelen Cadillac on the frontstretch apron with 21 minutes to go, he was left ending 1.569 seconds behind within the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac.
Commercial
“I had a few moments the place I caught my nostril in there nevertheless it was all the time from a bit additional again and a little bit of simply making an attempt to make one thing occur,” Aitken stated. “I by no means received an excellent nice run on him into Flip 1; it was all the time creeping as much as his nook.
“I used to be looking for a gap right here or there and it was a superb line between opening it, making a niche open up and simply inflicting a little bit of an accident. I attempted as greatest I may to get alongside however could not get stage, could not make the transfer stick. I attempted however could not do it.”
The rollercoaster nature of issues for the staff occurred even earlier than the race started. On Thursday, Aitken put the Cadillac V-Sequence.R on pole in qualifying, nevertheless it was stripped after a technical infraction after officers discovered the rear skid block had been floor down an excessive amount of. After which the battle from the again of the GTP beginning grid was in play on tempo till co-driver Conner Zilisch, making his class debut, acquired a stop-and-hold 60-second penalty for operating the pink mild at pit exit.
Commercial
#31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Sequence.R: Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti, Connor Zilisch
#31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Sequence.R: Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti, Connor Zilisch
And time to battle again grew to become harder courtesy of an in a single day fog that offered an occasion report warning of six hours, 33 minutes and 53 seconds. Nonetheless, the mixture of Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti and Zilisch continued to press on.
“We had a extremely robust 24 hours,” Aitken stated. “I’d say it was not easy in any respect and fairly just a few setbacks. The blokes throughout from the staff within the pit field to my teammates right here did a unbelievable job to get us again right into a race successful place on the finish of the race.
Commercial
“Having stated that, the Porsches have been very sturdy all race. It was spectacular. We got here as much as them and tried to problem as greatest as we may. I received shut just a few occasions however simply did not fairly have sufficient to get the transfer finished. I feel each Felipe and I have been combating tires and the warmth.
“It was a little bit of forwards and backwards all the best way, however simply sadly fell a bit quick which is basically, actually heartbreaking. However we put an important run collectively and I am happy with that.”
Aitken’s physique language through the post-race press convention displayed the combination of feelings. Even with the ache of the result, although, there was little doubt about maximizing the hand they have been dealt.
Commercial
“I felt like I gave it every part, similar to just about any time we’re getting in these vehicles,” Aitken stated. “I feel it is simply human.”
The extra sting comes additionally from ending runner-up within the endurance traditional once more, together with his earlier being in 2024. Whereas each defeats got here by the hands of acquainted foes in Nasr, Penske and Porsche, this one was totally different as Aitken was the nearer, versus two years in the past when he was left helplessly watching from the pits when then-teammate Tom Blomqvist got here up quick.
“That is the second time I have been second at this race,” Aitken stated. “All of us would have been over the moon to beat such a tricky race and formidable opponents, so it is only a bit bitter for the time being. “As a staff we did every part that we may have. I am probably not trying again at something with remorse.”
Commercial
Aitken did have one thought in reflection that raised a second of laughter, nevertheless it was admittedly temporary.
“Once I simply received out of the automobile I used to be pondering that perhaps I ought to have simply hit him, however that clearly handed and pale,” he stated.
“It was a superb truthful race. Yeah, it is simply bitter proper now as a result of it is contemporary however I feel we might be actually proud, and I am proud as effectively.”
Learn Additionally:
To learn extra Motorsport.com articles .
