As it’s time to bring thoust curtain Down upon the
DPi era…
Author’s
Note
Full disclosure, this No Fenders Yarn’ was
scribbled several weeks prior to this year’s race, and therefore will most
likely Not include the latest Driver/Team Chane Developments…
Tomaso
As noted, this is just a “Best” Guess at who you
might See running at this year’s 25th unning of the Motil Petit le
Mans race this Saturday, October 1st. Which Arse-sumedly you’ll be
able to catch various portions of the ten Hour race on Big NBC, USA Network and
Frick, Peacock! But I’ll leave it up to Y’all to figure out the How ‘N When to
play Chase the TV Broadcast over multiple outlets…
Starting with the Big Boyz’, in what will be
the series Swan Song for the Daytona Prototype International (DPi) racecars,
which will be replaced next year by IMSA’s GTP Class, although currently known
as LMDH, i.e.; Le Mans Daytona Hypercars,. Thar will be seven entries competing
for the Overall win. With the two Acura’s fighting against five Cadillac’s.
Acura
The Championship leading #10 Wayne Taylor
Racing (WTR) entry features Ricky Taylor and Felipe Albuquerque, along with Endurance
Specialist Will Stevens.
Whilst Meyer Shank Racing’s (MSR) #60 will be
piloted by Tom “the Bomb” Blomquist, Oliver Jarvis and presumably MSR IndyCar
Drivers Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud will be on Hand?
Cadillac
The “Mach 5 Mustang Sally,” err Mustang
Sampling No. 5 JDC Miller Motorsports features “Westie,” aka Richard Westbrook
and Tristan Turbo’ Vautier at it’s controls, presumably with Loic Duvall once
again as it’s Endurance specialist.
Whelen Engineering’s (AXR) #31 entry is
comprised of Pico Derani, Olivier Pla and Mike “Ice Ice, Baby!” Conway. With
the Seester Action Express Racing (AXR) Allied No. 48 entry seeing Jimmie
Johnson and His All Stars, i.e.; K-Squared’, aka Kamui Kobayashi and Mike “rocy”
Rockenfeller at it’s Keyboard.
Lastly, Chip Ganassi Racing’s (CGR) two car
entry sees it’s #01 entry piloted by Renger Van der Zande and le Hamburgualr’,
nee Sebastien Bourdais presumably paired with Scotty the Iceman 2.0’ Dixon.
While the #02 sees Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn
paired with potentially Marcus Ericsson?
GTD Pro/GT Daytona
Thars’ simply Way too Many Gran Torismo
entrants to attempt chronicling! As the GTD Pro and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD)
entrants All competing in GT3 Saloons, albeit the Corvette C8.R’s have been “reversed
Engineered” from Thar GT LM (Le Mans) Specs to comply. While the Pro
designation stands for All Professional Driver lineups…
Some entries of Note include the No. 9, Number
Nine, Numeral Nein? FAB Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R with it’s All Porsche
Penske Motorsports trio of Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet and Felipe Nasr.
Whilst former IndyCar Co-Owners Top Jimmy’ and
Sully’s Vasser Sullivan Racing’s Lexus RC F GT3 Squad runs one Lexus in each
category. With No Clue if (Townsend) T-Bell’ will be Moonlighting aboard the
No. 12? While I’d expect to see IndyCar Driver Kyle Kirkwood once again in the
#14 GTD Pro entry alongside Ben Barnicoat and Union’ Jack Hawksworth.
And then Thars’ for whatever will be my
Homeboyz’ “Team Seattle’s” Heart of Racing Team now campaigning Aston Martin
Vantage AMR GT’s, with it’s iconic No. 23 with Ross gunn, Alex riberas and Maxine
Martin in the GTD Pro category. With it’s Seester’ NO. 27 entry of Roman De Angelis,
Ian James and Darren Turner? In the “lower” tier GTD Ranks.
And you can never count out the No. 16 Wright
Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Jan “Van Hagar” Heylen, Ryan Hardwick and Zach
Rubichon.
And suppose I should also mention Good ‘Ol Bimmer Billy’, aka Bill Auberlen in Turner Motorsports Shiny, New BMW three litre inline six turbo M4 GT3 Chariot with Robby foley and Michael Vinan? At it’s Keyboard…
