Black Swan Takes Remarkable Fifth in Challenging Rolex 24

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 30, 2020) – After suffering a practice setback which forced the Black Swan Racing crew to work their own 24-hour shift before The Rolex 24 at Daytona even started, the drivers and crew of the No. 54 Porsche 911 GT3 R would take a remarkable fifth in the GTD class, a strong testament to the resolve of the entire team.
 
“I’ve never felt this kind of reward with a fifth,” stated Black Swan Racing team owner and co-driver Tim Pappas. “Considering our week leading up to it, crossing the line in fifth feels like a win. While I of course appreciate everyone at Porsche Motorsport North America and especially Wright Motorsports for helping make this possible, it’s really our crew that deserve the biggest accolades. To completely rebuild a car overnight, then turn right around and run a 24-hour race, with no major mechanical hiccups, is beyond commendable.”
 
During the week’s first practice session on Thursday morning, young Porsche standout Trenton Estep would make a small mistake while braking on a wet track, sending the car in to a spin right toward the inside retaining wall of the treacherous Turn One. The impact would cause significant damage to the chassis, well beyond what could be repaired before the race.

With new partner indiGO Auto Group committed to the team for whole of the North American Endurance Championship, the desire to compete in the series’ first round was further enhanced. After examining multiple options, fellow Porsche competitor Wright Motorsports would step up with an arrangement granting the team a spare chassis they had brought, however due to series rules the team would still have to transfer many components over from the previous car. As a result, an exhausting overnight thrash by the team to prepare their new car would prove fruitful, taking to the track on the final Friday practice.
 
Taking the green flag on Saturday for the 24-hour classic, the true victory would lie in the fact that the team’s major drama was now behind them.
 
Joining Pappas and Estep, drivers Jeroen Bleekemolen and Sven Muller would prove their status as some of the greatest in the sport, not missing a beat with the new car and setting some of the fastest times in the event.

Over the course of the race, the pace of the team’s Porsche would actually prove strong, routinely setting some of the fastest laps throughout the event, and largely remaining in the hunt through the entirety of the race, which would see a record pace.
 
Like any race, a series of minor setbacks would ultimately cost the team victory, but the overall pace of the effort coupled with zero mechanical difficulties, a top-five in one of the most competitive years for the category feels like a victory.
 
“This is a fifth we should all be proud of, what a comeback!” stated co-driver Jeroen Bleekemolen. “I’m very proud of the whole team after the setback we had Thursday. The car was great. Had a few small things that prevented us from fighting for the win at the end, but we were so close. We’ll continue the fight at Sebring and beyond.”
 
As stated earlier, this race would serve as the debut event for a new partnership with the indiGO Auto Group, who will work Black Swan Racing through the entirety of the North American Endurance Championship. The next round will take place in seven weeks’ time on Saturday, March 21, with the 12 Hours of Sebring, one of the most notorious endurance races on the planet.