Ten years after winning the GT class of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Alegra Motorsport is proud to have added another class win at the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona in their inSync sponsored Porsche 911 GT3 R powered by Porsche Centre Oakville.
The multi-championship winning team was made up of Carlos de Quesada (2007 Daytona GT winner), Michael de Quesada (2016 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Gold Champion), Jesse Lazare (2016 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Platinum Champion), Daniel Morad (2016 Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama and IMSA North American Champion), and Michael Christensen (Porsche Factory Driver).
After successfully testing at the Roar Before the Rolex 24, earlier this month, the team went into qualifying with quiet confidence. Ultimately, it was Daniel Morad that qualified the car eighth in the GT Daytona (GTD) class, with a lap of 1:48.341.
The Alegra drivers had one plan for the race – take it easy and don’t scratch the car. Daniel executed a clean start, and soon settled into ninth place. Unfortunately, once Carlos took over, a GTLM car had different ideas and Carlos soon found himself spinning into the runoff in turn one. After eventually restarting the car, the team found themselves a lap down.
As the drivers cycled through into the evening, unfortunate luck and timing in pit lane resulted in the team briefly falling two laps down and in 22nd place. Rain started to all in the evening at times placing the race under several weather related full course yellows. The time behind the pace car ended up working in the team’s favour. “Our time behind the pace car brought us back onto the lead lap, so that’s always a plus.” Michael de Quesada, who at 17 years old is the youngest driver in the grid, said.
Now only one lap down, the Alegra mantra that carried the team through the 2016 season returned – #nevergiveup.
Each driver was able to claw back track position and eventually found the #28 Alegra 911 GT3 R on the lead lap. Michael Christensen took over for the final stint, taking the team from third place to first.
Michael was successfully able to defend his position on multiple restarts following various caution periods, and ultimately crossed the finish line just .293 seconds ahead of the second-place Christopher Mies in the #29 Audi R8 LMS of Land Motorsports.
“It was just unbelievable for us. We had the right team, the right drivers, the right equipment.” said C. de Quesada.