Orbit’s 2013 Rolex 24 lineup again will feature international talent – this time with another driver from Great Britain, 28-year-old Nick Tandy. Tandy is the 2012 winner of the prestigious Porsche Cup and only the third British winner ever. The Porsche Cup is awarded to the most successful non-factory Porsche driver at the conclusion of each season. Previous British winners were John Fitzpatrick and Tim Sugden.
Other winners include Rolex 24 At Daytona winners Bob Wollek and Henri Pescarolo and Klaus Ludwig, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kevin Buckler won the award in 2002 – one year before his historic overall Rolex 24 victory – while 2007 Rolex Series GT champion Dirk Werner also won the Porsche Cup.
Tandy competed in seven different series – including GRAND-AM – in the German manufacturer’s equipment this season. His successes include wins in the International GT Open and ADAC GT Masters.
“When you look at the names that have won the Porsche Cup, it clearly means something,” said former German Carrera Cup champion Tandy. “It is great to be recognized for your efforts, especially if you don’t end up winning a championship.”
Tandy competed in the past two Rolex 24s with a best GT class finish of 18th in 2012 driving the No. 26 MOMO/NGT Porsche GT3.
Although not a full-time GRAND-AM participant, South Florida’s Orbit Racing has played a significant role in Rolex 24 At Daytona history.
Fans remember great battles and they got one nearly a decade ago.
The fight featured the Porsche 996s of Orbit vs. Flying Lizard Racing. With the race in its final hour, the two were three laps behind the overall leader and two laps ahead of the next highest running GT entry. Orbit’s Johnny Mowlem, an Englishman who shared the entry with Mike Fitzgerald, Robin Liddell and Joe and Jay Policastro, anchored the class-winning stint. He held off Flying Lizard’s onrushing Mike Rockenfeller, who cut the final margin to 6.7 seconds as time ran out.
Fonte: http://www.grand-am.com