DAYTONA BEACH — History was made at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday.
The inaugural IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda race was staged over the Speedway’s 3.56-mile road course, with driver Roman De Angelis emerging with the overall trophy.
De Angelis wheeled the No. 4 Ligier JS-P3 to the top of the Le Mans Prototype 3 class.
“I am lost for words right now,” De Angelis, 16, said. “I did not expect this at the beginning of the week. We did not have too much pace.
“But I knew right from the very beginning we had the car to beat, a consistent car. Not only is it big to win at Daytona, but in the inaugural event it's huge. I’m really, really happy.”
His margin of victory was only 4.511 seconds ahead of Austin McCusker and David Droux in the No. 47 Norma M30.
Rounding out the top-3 finishers was Kris Wright in the No. 30 Ligier JS P3.
“I have never driven this long in a car by myself, so it was pretty exhausting,” De Angelis said. “Keeping my mental focus was the hardest part.
“There was times when no one was around me, so I focused on being consistent and hitting my marks were the keys.”
Racing competition continues Sunday with Rolex 24 At Daytona qualifying rounds for GT Daytona, GT Le Mans and Prototypes.
Each class will have 15 minutes to post a speed that will determine garage and pit box selection for the Jan. 27-28 twice-around-the-clock endurance classic.
The Prototype Championship cars have their own series this season after years of running as a class in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which are the cars used in the Rolex 24.
The 1-hour, 45-minute race was added to the Speedway’s Roar Before The Rolex 24 program to the delight of thousands of spectators who watched the action from infield vantage points.
Dr. Robert Masson, driving the No. 11 Elan DP02, captured the Mazda PC Class victory Saturday. He was ninth overall in the 25-car field.
“This was an incredible win,” said Masson, 54, who is a neurosurgeon in the Orlando Health system. “I had a lot of friends, family and patients and a lot of people I know from the hospital where I work.
“We had an incredible experience here. This event has been phenomenal. I really like the new format (as a stand-alone race). It makes it very interesting. I had a very good time.”
Masson made a solo run because his son 20-year-old Kyle Masson has moved up to the IMSA Prototype class. They were co-drivers in 2017.
The No. 21 Elan DP02 driven by Stuart Rettie was second behind Robert Masson. Rounding out the top-3 in class was the No. 28 Elon DP02 shared by Bart Wolf and Tazio Ottis.