SBRS: Barber Sponsors Win Rolex 24 at Daytona

A few pundits had postulated prior to this year's Rolex 24 at Daytona may just be won by the ORECA Dodge Vipers. The factory supported French ORECA crew did just that winning by the closest margin in race history. The Dodge Viper and Michelin are the official car and tire of the Skip Barber Racing School, the Dodge/Skip Barber Driving School and the Barber Dodge Pro Series.

The ORECA Vipers and Michelin now add a Daytona trophy to their class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The phenomenal preparation and synergy of the Dodge Viper crew of Karl Wendlinger, Olivier Beretta, and Dominique Dupuy along with the almost unheard of attrition in the normally faster Sports Racer class contributed to the Viper victory.

"Winning this race demonstrates that Dodge technology provides a winning edge in motorsports around the world," Lou Patane, Vice President of Motorsports for Daimler Chrysler, said in victory circle.

The 24 hour enduro went down to the wire thanks to the hard charge put in by second-place finishing Corvette C5 R which was co-driven by the two highest placed Skip Barber Trained drivers in Justin Bell and Chris Kneifel.

In third place overall was another of the ORECA Vipers which included Skip Barber alum David Donohue.

Finally in the American Grand touring class Skip Barber alum Andy McNeil shared in the class victory.

The Viper victory represents the first ever by an American made production car and only the second ever overall victory by a GTO class car in the in the 24-year history of the Rolex 24 at Daytona

-George Tamayo