IMSA – Alonso and Norris want to improve after the Roar

For their first taste of banking in Daytona (Florida) during the Roar before the Rolex 24 Hours, Fernando Alonso and his teammate Lando Norris preferred to adopt a patient and laborious attitude rather than an all-out attack. This is evident if we look at the time sheet with a mixed 11th time at the end of the last practice session, more than a second behind the leaders from Wayne Taylor Racing.

The double world champion Formula 1 dedicated his driving time to understanding the 4,39 km long track as well as testing a new aerodynamic package at the front of the Ligier JS P217. “The test was positive, but we need to improve our pace”, confides the Spaniard. “Riding the Daytona circuit for the very first time was a good experience. I now feel better equipped for the race, especially in the area of ​​compromise due to the presence of two other drivers in the same car. » Fernando Alonso has in fact never shared a steering wheel due to his career in car.

“Driving in the middle of the night didn't make much difference due to the artificial lighting. In F1, we have some night races like in Singapore and Abu Dhabi. So I had no problem with that or with traffic management. The American fans also gave me a very warm welcome, and I look forward to meeting them again for the 24 Hours (January 27-28).”, hopes the United Autosports driver.

His young partner Lando Norris (18 years old) shares a similar analysis. “We improved with each session. We work well together but there is still ground to be covered in terms of the performance of the prototype. I arrived at Daytona with less than 400 km of driving at Paul-Ricard (Var). We are running behind the rivals because of the new front end for the Ligier, which we are showing here for the first time. Even though we had a lot of running time, with three drivers the time passes quickly. But for now, it’s a fun experience”, explains the Briton, FIA champion F3 Europe in 2017.

The owner of United Autosports, Zak Brown, also wants to be reasonable. “I’m so excited to compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona for the second time! We have had some busy tests, the race will undoubtedly be difficult but it will allow us to display our talents. »