IMSA: the #36 Andretti Autosport Ligier JS P320 on pole position for the Rolex 24!
23rd January 2022 – With a week to go to the start of the 24 Hours of Daytona, the #36 Andretti Autosport Ligier JS P320 has clinched pole position for the race by winning the qualifying event at the Roar Before Daytona.
A week before the 24 Hours of Daytona, the IMSA WeatherTech Championship field met up for Roar Before Daytona. On the schedule: four free practice sessions and a qualifying race to determine the starting grid for the 24-hour race on 29th January. Five Ligier JS P320s took to the track.
The Ligier JS P320 on top of free practices
On 21st January, the #38 Performance Tech Motorsports Ligier JS P320 driven by Dan Goldburg, Hikaru Abe, Garett Grist and Nico Pino dominated the first free practice session with a best lap in 1:43.413s. In the late afternoon, the Ligier JS P320s set the four quickest times in the second free practice session led by #33 run by Sean Creech Motorsport for Joao Barbosa, Malthe Jakobsen, Sebastian “Seb” Priaulx and Lance Willsey who set the fastest time in 1:43.006s. The #33 repeated its performance the next day again topping the time sheets in the third free practice session.
On Sunday 23rd January, it was time for the 1h 40m qualifying race. Only the #36 Andretti Autosport Ligier JS P320 and #33 run by Sean Creech Motorsport decided to go the full distance as the other teams preferred to do just a few laps, return to the pits, finish their preparation and save their strength for the 24-hour event.
Andretti Autosport on pole position
The #36 Ligier JS P320 dominated its rivals. Jarett Andretti did a flawless first stint before handing over to Josh Burdon who weaved his way through the traffic and crossed the finishing line in first place with a lap in hand.
“Things happened to other competitors and we just happened to run the whole race and set the pace and get through traffic right,” said Andretti. "The (LMP3) cars are not meant to go 24 hours. If you have a problem, you have to fight through the problem and get back on track as soon as possible. … Attrition and survival is really the name of the game in this class.”
“It all went to plan,” added Burdon. “We have some little things to work on to be strong in the race, but overall, it's a really good start and good momentum.”
The #33 Ligier JS P320 run by Sean Creech Motorsport was hit by a rival car on lap two putting it a lap behind. It came home in fifth place. But its drivers, Lance Willsey and Joao Barbosa showed that they will be a force to be reckoned in the Daytona race.
The start of the 24 Hours of Daytona will be given on Saturday 29th January at 1:40pm local time.
For the race results, CLICK HERE.