Acura, Shank, Helio sweep Rolex 24 as hybrid era gets started

Acura dominated the debut of hybrid engines in North American sports car racing with a 1-2 finish Sunday at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where Helio Castroneves and the automaker won the endurance race for a third consecutive year. Castroneves won the Rolex in 2021 in an Acura with Wayne Taylor Racing and won with Meyer Shank Racing the last two seasons. Castroneves, who turns 48 in May, was overcome with emotion after Tom Blomqvist closed out the victory. The Brazilian then led his teammates, which included Simon Pagenaud and MSR newcomer Colin Braun, in his signature “Spiderman” celebratory climbing of the fence.

“I love climbing the fence with Helio,” said Pagenaud, who won for the second consecutive year and is teammates with Castroneves in Indycar. Team owner Michael Shank said during Pagenaud’s final drive in the car, “Simon is driving the stint of his life.” Castroneves acknowledged he got emotional at becoming the first driver to win three consecutive Rolex 24s.“it’s a very tough sport. You lose more than you win,” Castroneves said.

Despite being the reigning champions, MSR and Acura were a bit of an unknown ahead of Daytona. The twice-round-theclock endurance race this year marked the launch of a new hybrid era of racing, and the change in technology for IMSA’S top GTP class makes it the only motor sports series in North America to race with hybrid engines. The top GTP class doubled its manufacturers from last year’s Rolex to four this season, and Daytona International Speedway said its crowd for the Saturday-tosunday race was the largest in its 61 years.