Yesterday, Nick Tandy was already probably the most adorned sports activities automotive drivers of all time. At this time, he’s accomplished one thing nobody else has; gained the Le Mans 24, Nürburgring 24, Spa 24 and now, the Rolex 24 at Daytona total.
The 40-year-old Briton joined the full-time IMSA WeatherTech season pairing of Felipe Nasr and Laurens Vanthoor within the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 GTP for this yr’s Rolex 24. It’s two Rolex 24s in a row for the No. 7 automotive and Nasr, too.
“To be the primary particular person ever to do one thing is sort of unbelievable actually,” Tandy mentioned in a post-race press convention. “To begin with you’ve received to be proud that you just’ve been put ready to compete in these races, then be in a automotive to compete for the win. It by no means actually dawned on me, data and stuff like this till [I] gained Spa.”
An total win at Nürburgring got here in 2018 with Manthey Racing in a 911 GT3 R and that Spa 24 Hours victory was in 2020, once more in a 911. Different drivers have a mixture of total and sophistication victories in these 24-hour classics, however Tandy is the one one to win these 4 outright.
“It’s one thing since that day in 2020 that I’ve wished to test off the checklist,” Tandy mentioned.
His chase for the general Daytona win was getting extra severe in 2023, when he rejoined Porsche after a pair years with Corvette Racing. Prior, he had a category win on the race in 2014, driving the manufacturing facility Porsche 911 RSR within the GTLM class. His total Le Mans win got here with Porsche in 2015, the primary victory for the 919 LMP1 automotive. Later that yr, he was a part of certainly one of Porsche’s most exceptional fashionable victories, as a part of the group that piloted a GTLM 911 RSR to an total win at Petit Le Mans.
Whereas the No. 7 Porsche dominated a lot of the race, it was not a simple victory for Tandy, Vanthoor, and Nasr. The No. 24 BMW was among the many quickest automobiles within the subject, although its race got here unraveled when driver Dries Vanthoor — brother of Laurens — had contact with a GTD Ferrari, and later, the No. 6 Porsche.
Race winner #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, Laurens Vanthoor
Photograph by: Andreas Beil
The No. 6 and No. 7 automobiles battled fiercely within the closing hour of the race, swapping positions a pair occasions. That additionally let the exhausting charging Tom Blomqvist within the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing make a late try for the win, taking the 2nd from the No. 6. However by that time, Nasr within the No. 7 had pulled what ended up being an insurmountable lead.
“To get the massive 4 24-hour wins, I imply one would simply be an unimaginable profession, so to have the ability to get 4 and some Sebrings and some Petits, it’s simply dream stuff,” Tandy mentioned.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Chris Perkins
IMSA
Nick Tandy
Porsche Penske Motorsport
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