Shane Lewis completed the perfect start to 2013, adding victory at the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona to his victory at the Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai.
Lewis, who took a Lotus Evora GT4 to victory in Dubai, claimed the inaugural victory at Daytona for the new GX class for Napleton Racing in a Porsche Cayman S. The car, sporting the famous “hippie” livery of the 1970 Porsche 917, shared with David Donohue, Nelson Canache and Dr. Jim Norman was the strongest by far in the six-car GX field.
The Napleton Racing machine spent the majority of the 635 race laps in the lead of the class, at one point holding a lead of nine laps over second position, and was never seriously threatened for the win.
“Never in your dreams could you imagine winning two major 24-hour races all in the same month.” said Lewis. “The magnitude of this will take a while to set in. I didn’t really get to celebrate Dubai because I had to prep for Daytona.”
“I have won so many races at Daytona but never the 24. I am so proud to have been part of this team and want to thank Napleton and my co-drivers David, Jim, and Nelson. It hasn’t settled in that we won yet. Maybe if I keep looking at this Rolex watch long enough maybe it will finally settle in.”
“Probably the best note I got right after the podium here at Daytona was from my long time friend and many race-winning co-driver Vic Rice. He said ‘Congratulations, now do you want to go for three in May?’ He was referring to the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Oh yeah baby! Let’s go for the triple crown!”
