Daytona 24: Ryan Dalziel preview

Dalziel set for Daytona marathon

Orlando, Florida (January 24, 2006) -- This weekend's 44th running of the Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona (26-29 January) ticks another check-box on Ryan Dalziel's racing resume as the 23-year-old Scot makes his debut in America's twice round the clock endurance classic at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Dalziel forms part of an accomplished quartet of drivers hoping to steer the Pacific Coast Motorsports-entered #89 Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype to victory lane come 12pm on Sunday as twenty four hours of grueling non-stop track action comes to an end with the welcome waiving of the checkered flag.

Together with team-mates Alex Figge (USA), Jon Fogarty (USA) and David Empringham (Canada), Ryan's looking to Daytona to build on a successful Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series debut for the team back in the final round of the 2005 season, where together with Figge he powered the #89 Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype to a sixth place finish in Mexico City.

"I'm really looking forward to my first Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona career start," said Dalziel. "We have a strong driver line-up at Pacific Coast Motorsports, including a previous Daytona Prototype winner! That level of experience combined with sheer pace, I believe, will allow us to challenge at the front of the pack."

He continued, "We had a pretty good test at the start of the year and I'm hoping that the gains we've made in the off-season will also allow us to run competitively this weekend. I don't think Daytona's necessarily going to be our strongest circuit but we should be up there. It's important to us to finish the race and start collecting championship points right from the off. Everyone wants to win this event, we're no different, but given the strength of the competition if we come away with a top five finish and a handful of points we'll be reasonably satisfied."

Saturday's race marks the opening round of the 2006 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. Ryan, prior to making his Daytona Prototype debut in the series last November, made several GT appearances in 2005 with two previous trips to the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway, including a podium finish partnering his brother John in a Porsche GT3 Cup car back in June.

Dalziel hits the track on Thursday morning for official practice before the Daytona Prototype qualifying session later in the afternoon. Friday holds further practice sessions before the 44th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona gets underway at 12pm on Saturday (28th January).J Speed TV will host live broadcast coverage in three segments over the course of the twenty four hours of competition. For further information please log on to www.speedtv.com and www.grandamerican.com.

-- www.ryandalziel.com