Celebrating its tenth year in 2019, the Sunoco Whelen Challenge has helped a wide range of drivers to experience the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Meet some of the previous winners of this prestigious prize.
2010
Derek Johnston – 24th
Qualifying for the 2010 Rolex 24 At Daytona thanks to his championship victory in the Radical European Masters, Derek Johnston competed with Doran Racing in a Dallara DP01 Ford. He would finish tenth in the DP class and 24th overall, alongside Memo Gidley, Brad Jaeger, and Fabrizio Gollin.
“I can’t sleep and still don’t believe it is actually true. It is a phenomenal experience and a phenomenal prize. This is a phenomenal opportunity, and I can’t wait to get there and see the car and meet the teams.”
2011
Ross Kaiser – 42nd
Another winner of the Sunoco Whelen Challenge thanks to success in Radicals, Ross Kaiser beat Jean-Eric Vergne, Matt Griffin, and Jody Firth to the prize of a drive in the 2011 Rolex 24. Sadly Ross, alongside American trio Brian Frisselle, Henri Richard, and Matt Bell finished down the order in the race after a couple of incidents.
“Winning this challenge has been fantastic, I can’t get used to people wanting my autograph and photos but it’s an experience I never want to end!”
2012
Felipe Nasr – 3rd
British Formula 3 International Series champion Felipe Nasr produced stunning drives in practice to top the timing sheets. In the 2012 Rolex 24 itself, Felipe dig deep to help himself, Jorge Goncalvez, Michael McDowell, and Gustavo Yacamán to an overall podium finish just 50 seconds behind the race winners after 761 laps of racing.
“I have no words to describe. It’s amazing. It’s something completely different that you can’t find in Europe or Brazil.”
2013
Ivan Bellarosa – DNF
Italian Ivan Bellarosa was well-placed to tackle the 2013 Rolex 24 after his title success in SPEED EuroSeries in 2012, but things wouldn’t quite go to plan for the experienced racer. In a five-driver line-up featuring Gaetano Ardagna, Brendon Hartley, Scott Mayer, and Jan Charouz, the team would fail to finish the race, retiring after 441 laps.
“This race is absolutely fantastic. I’ve had a great experience and I am hoping there will be the possibility to return. It wasn’t the ideal race but that’s the nature of the sport and I am just grateful to Daytona, GRAND-AM and Sunoco for giving me this opportunity.”
2014
Bradley Smith – 41st
Thanks to a strong performance in his family-run Mectech Motorsport team in the Radical SR3 Challenge, talented then 22-year old Bradley Smith had the honour of taking the Marsh Racing DP across the line for the end of the race. Unfortunately, two technical problems relegated the outfit down the order to tenth in the Prototype class.
“The build-up, the atmosphere, the huge number of spectators and the competition on the track was amazing. I am very pleased with the way things went and with the pace I was able maintain. However, it is a team event, so it was important to drive with that in mind. I therefore have to thank all the guys at Whelen Motorsports and Marsh Racing, IMSA and, of course, Sunoco for providing me with this fantastic opportunity.”
2015
Phil Keen – 6th
Radical SR3 Challenge champion Phil Keen made his mark on the world stage at the 2015 Rolex 24, taking over for the first time in the night after the car had experienced problems early in the race. At one point it had dropped back to 51st position, before Phil and his team-mates fought back to sixth place at the flag.
“Everything went well up to the race. The more laps you do the more you get used to competing at Daytona and it was good to get to the finish. We could have been up there. Everyone has been really good to me. It’s a great event and good to be part of it.”
2016
Jonny Adam – 6th
Reigning British GT champion Jonny Adam more than held his own at the 2016 Rolex 24. Setting the race’s fastest lap during his initial quadruple three-hour stint, Jonny was again on the pace during the night, but a small pit fire and rear axle assembly failure put the team on the back foot, though they valiantly battled back to sixth place after 24 hours of racing.
“What an experience Daytona was! Action Express Racing did an amazing job throughout the weekend. We ran right at the front, and at one point were leading the Rolex 24. I loved every moment of my driving stints in the car and was very happy with the pace compared to world class drivers.”
2017
Seb Morris – 14th
Despite reliability issues affecting the car’s performance in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, then 21-year old Seb Morris proved his credentials with a superb performance. Climbing aboard the Action Express Racing Cadillac Dpi, Seb not only took the lead of the race but opened up a 20-second lead as darkness fell. His final stint, early on Sunday morning, was similarly impressive as he set the fastest times of anyone on track.
“The whole process, from winning the Sunoco Whelen Challenge to testing the car for the first time before Christmas, the official Roar test two weeks ago and finally racing this weekend, has been an incredible experience. I didn’t fully appreciate the magnitude of what would be involved. I felt really comfortable in the car – certainly taking the lead and extending our advantage on Saturday afternoon will go down as one of, if not the biggest, moment in my career.”
2018
Stuart Middleton – 2nd
Some might have wondered if reigning GT4 Champion in the British GT Championship, Stuart Middleton, might struggle to adapt to racing a Daytona Prototype in the 2018 Rolex 24, but the 18-year old drove masterfully to become the race’s youngest podium visitor in a generation, and highest-placed Sunoco Whelen Challenge winner to date.
“The opportunity to race in the Rolex 24 is crazy. It’s something I couldn’t picture this time last year so to finish in P2 is just unbelievable, it has been an incredible 24 hours. To race against some of the best drivers in the prototype world is insane to me.”
2019
Linus Lundqvist
Winning the Sunoco Whelen Challenge by becoming the latest BRDC British Formula 3 champion, Linus Lundqvist will make history by being the first winner of the prize to compete in the GT class as he climbs aboard a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO. How will the young Swede get on in the race?
