After winning the Radical UK Cup and the Sunoco Rolex 24 at Daytona Challenge and months of testing Doran Racing's Daytona Prototype last weekend's 'Roar Before The 24' test was Ross Kaiser's first time driving at Daytona International Speedway.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my first time at Daytona and the driver line up is absolutely awesome,” he said. “It really is a dream come true to be alongside some of the best drivers in the world.”
Before getting his chance on the track Kaiser was able to get tips from Rolex 24 legend Hurley Haywood. The five time winner of the event also gave Kaiser a ride around the track in his 1977 race winning Porsche, Kaiser getting to see the entire track before taking on the track – which includes the formidable 31 degree banking of the Speedway's oval turns.
The three day test was used by most of the teams who will contest the Rolex 24 at Daytona, but the first day began with problems for the team when a brake rotor exploded on the car's first out lap. The time for repairs delayed Kaiser's first laps around the famed road course until the afternoon session.
Initially struggling with the heavy braking necessary around the track Kaiser got up to speed quickly, setting his best time on used tyres, and Kaiser hopes he can gain as much as a second on new tyres when he returns to the track for the Rolex 24 itself on January 29-30.
Team owner Kevin Doran also used the test to confirm the full driving line-up for the no.77 Ford-Dallara, with Brian Frisselle, Californian Matt Bell and Henri Richard joining Kaiser for the race.
The trio bring both Daytona Prototype and Rolex 24 experience to the team. Frisselle has six seasons in the premier class of the Grand-Am Series. Both Bell and Richard made their Rolex 24 debuts last year.
