Butch Leitzinger’s career highlights include three overall victories in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. On Saturday, the Pennsylvanian is looking to add another achievement to that list: winning the HSR Classic 24 at Daytona Presented by IMSA, which takes the green flag at 1 p.m.

 

Leitzinger will co-drive the No. 38 Audi R8 with Doug Smith. The car is the defending overall winner of the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR)-sanctioned event, with Smith joined by four-time Rolex 24 winner Andy Wallace at last year’s inaugural race.

 

“I never got to race against an Audi when I was competing in the ALMS, but I’ve raced against them many times,” Leitzinger said. “When I finally got to drive one in HSR competition, it quickly dawned on me why I was always losing to them. This car is a great piece of engineering.”

 

 

The car was the final Audi R8, assembled by Champion Racing in Pompano Beach, Fla. The engine currently in the car once won at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida, while the gearbox was taken from a 24 Hours of Le Mans winner. 

 

Joining Leitzinger in two of his three Rolex 24 victories (1997 and 1999) was Elliott Forbes-Robinson, who will be co-driving the No. 25 Prototype Challenge (PC) ORECA FLM09 this weekend with former Grand-Am driver Larry Huang. 

 

“This is the former 8Star Motorsports car driven last year by Sean Rayhall for Enzo Potolicchio,” said Forbes-Robinson, who works as a driver steward at IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races. “I really enjoy driving the PC car, and this is an interesting event. There are guys here really taking it seriously, while others just are thrilled to be at Daytona, having fun and driving laps here at night. The Classic 24 is a lot of fun, and it’s really neat to see all the great cars here.”

 

Among the drivers getting to experience driving a championship-winning car at Daytona is Juan Gonzalez Jr., co-driving with his father in a former CORE autosport No. 54 ORECA FLM09. 

 

“I enjoy racing in HSR with my dad,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t see him much because of his business [running Mission Foods based in Dallas], so racing here gives us an opportunity to hang out and share our passion. The Classic 24 is competitive but also fun, because the competitors are not as aggressive as other types of racing. You can enjoy the car and enjoy the track.”

 

The Classic 24 features six period-correct run groups rotating through a full 24 hours of racing on the 3.56-mile Daytona road course. The groups – which include various classes of similar-era race cars – each take to the track four times throughout the 24 hours. The competitors in each class covering the most total distance in their group’s four one-hour sessions will be crowned Classic 24 at Daytona champions.

 

Leitzinger, Forbes-Robinson and Gonzalez compete in race Group E, for cars eligible for the Rolex 24 and other major endurance races from 2003-2013, and will take to the track Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. Current WeatherTech Championship driver Eric Curran also competes in the class, and will co-drive the No. 230 Corvette DP with William Hubble.

 

Saturday’s schedule opens with hardship laps at 8 a.m., with HSR Classic 24 competition beginning at 9 a.m. Tickets will be available at the gate. For additional information, please visit www.classic24hour.com.