Riley Technologies Wins Fifth Consecutive Rolex 24 At Daytona
After a fierce final two hours of racing, David Donahue brought the Brumos Racing Riley-Porsche home ahead of Juan Montoya in the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus-Riley, as Joao Barbosa made it an all-Riley podium by crossing the line just over five seconds after the winner.
Riley machines led 703 of the 735 laps completed as the race also produced a record-setting 53 driver lead changes in the first round of the 2009 Rolex Sports Car Series championship.
“To have four cars battling for the lead in the final hour of the Rolex 24 was just incredible," said Riley Technologies VP Bill Riley. “And to leave here with an all-Riley podium is something that everyone in this company is very proud of. The competition keeps getting tougher and closer in the Rolex Series and this race was a great example of that, so we are very excited about taking five in a row!"
The Riley Tech Daytona Prototype won pole position for the very first Rolex 24 At Daytona it contested in 2004 before racing into Daytona Speedway’s Gatorade Victory Lane in 2005 with SunTrust Racing. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus-Riley established an amazing three-year win streak from 2006 to 2008 before Brumos Racing scored the dramatic race win on Sunday.
Showing that the manufacturer builds machines that have both speed and longevity, the same Riley chassis (001) that won the pole in 2004 was also a factor in the 2009 Rolex event as the No. 61 AIM Autosport machine, boasting the full Riley updates package, led the race before a motor issue sidelined the effort.
Not all of the Riley Technologies presence was on the track during the race weekend, as in addition to the normal support that the manufacturer provides for teams contesting the grueling 24, Riley also had the new Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge Chevrolet Camaro on display at Daytona International Speedway. The iconic blue and gold-liveried KONI racer generated significant interest from fans and teams alike.
The Riley Track Day Car (TDC) will be the next Riley Tech product to hit the track, as the high-performance machine is slated for its first delivery at the end of February. The TDC provides Daytona Prototype-like performance with a high emphasis on safety, speed, and reliability.