MOMO NGT pleased with first 6 hours at Daytona

MOMO qualifying driver Sean Edwards started the No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsport Porsche GT3 car from last place for the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona race today after the team’s third-place qualifying time was disallowed due to a rules infraction. Edwards exhibited an impressive drive from 31st in class to eighth in class by the end of his second stint at 5:00 p.m.

#30 MOMO/NGT Motorsport Porsche GT3: Jakub Giermaziak, Henrique Cisneros, Sean Edwards, Patrick Pilet

Photo by: Jackie Buys

Porsche factory driver, Frenchman Patrick Pilet continued to elevate the MOMO Porsche into the lead by Lap 95 and just over two hours into the twice-around-the-clock endurance race.

A brief delay on a tire change, cost the team a few extra seconds in the pits, but Pilet managed to bring the Porsche GT3 car from fifth to second place again before handing the car to MOMO owner/driver Henrique Cisneros.

Porsche factory driver, Frenchman Patrick Pilet continued to elevate the MOMO Porsche into the lead by Lap 95 and just over two hours into the twice-around-the-clock endurance race.

Sean Edwards, driver No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsports Porsche GT3: “We had a really good race start. Starting from last we could only go forward. The car was really good. I didn’t push too hard in the first few laps to keep the tires. It was quite easy to overtake most of the guys in the beginning. I knew a couple of people made it hard for me but I could use our top speed to slowly pick them off one at a time in the straight line. I think I made it up to fourth by the end of the first stint, so it was really good. For sure our car has the pace to win, but it’s still a long, long way to go and we’ve got to keep it in one piece with no mistakes and be there at the last of the twenty-four hours. I’m sure we can fight for the win and have a good chance.”

Patrick Pilet, driver No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsports Porsche GT3: “The car was very easy to drive, really consistent during all three of my stints. I had no issues. I was really careful with the brakes. I braked really early compared to the others, but I just tried to save the brakes for the end of the race. I was also easy with the gearbox. Everything works perfectly. We had one small issue with the tire change and we lost some time on the second pit stop, but afterwards it was fine. I had no water for the last hour in the car because it was empty. At least it is not too warm. But the car was fine and I had no problems. I’m really confident for the rest of the race.

“The setting sun was quite difficult because the windshield was really dirty. I had no view in the straightline. I had to put my hand in the front of me, but once the night came there was no problem. On the next pit stop they cleaned the windshield and it was fine. We have a good car and now we need to keep this pace and just wait for the last hours of the race to stay in this position. That’s the goal.”

Henrique Cisneros, MOMO owner/driver No. 30 MOMO NGT Motorsports Porsche GT3: “It was a lot of fun when I first got in. I got the car handed to me in second place. We had a caution and we got a splash of fuel. I felt very comfortable in the car. I was doing fast, consistent laps. I was taking it easy and wasn’t pushing.

“We’re still at the stage where we have to make the car last as long as possible and be easy on it. Overall, I felt great. When I got out of the car, I was happy with the way I drove. Everyone is driving pretty conservative right now. No one is taking any chances. Other than that, we’ll see. It’s going to be a long night.”

MOMO NGT Motorsport Team