Rolex 24 GT poleman Gavin: “Any one of 10 cars can win”

Daytona Beach, Fla. –  Corvette Racing’s Rolex 24 at Daytona GTLM pole-position setter Oliver Gavin believes that this year’s field is the most competitive he’s ever experienced in a 24-hour race.

“Any one of the 10 GTLM cars can win this race,” Gavin told motorsport.com straight after the pre-race drivers’ briefing on Saturday morning. “I think back to all the Le Mans 24 Hours that I’ve done, and Daytonas, and I can’t remember another time when it’s been this competitive, where every single car in the class could win.

“Everybody is a competitor, and we’re going to fighting tooth and nail for every last scrap of space on the track. That’s what everybody wants to see, and it’s going to be great.” 

A 24 hour sprint race

“There’s no let-up, it’s going to be flat-out all the way. Everybody will be approaching it exactly the same way, and you’ve got to ensure that you’ve got the strongest stuff right until the end to fight out the victory in the last couple of hours. You just hope for a clean, fast and troublefree race.”

Gavin believes that his Corvette C7.R, now in its second season of competition, is in its best shape ever, but is concerned that overnight rain might upset its balance.

“The car has been quick all week, we’ve been in the top four throughout practice,” he said. “I think we’ve got a good car and we’re right there. Things have changed now; it’s rained overnight, and it’s a lot cooler today. Things might change with how our car is working, we’ve just got to see.”

Gavin earns maiden TUDOR pole

Gavin set pole by three tenths of a second over the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia, but admits that will count for little with a 24-hour race looming.

“I’m delighted to be on pole, it’s great for the team and us all on the #4 car,” added Gavin. “It’s been since 2000 when the Corvette was last on the pole for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Nice to get it done, and everything fell into place on that lap, I was able to tow up to Jan [Magnussen, in the #3 Corvette) – it was the lap you dream of. The tyre really game up to temperature and pressure just at the right point and it sealed the pole for me.

“Getting a tow here does make a difference, and it does five you something. Whether we’d have been able to beat Gimmi [Bruni in the Ferrari] without that, it would have been tight. As always, you get one day of grace with being on the pole and all the bragging rights that come with it; then all bets are off on raceday when the green flag drops.”