NEWS

SUNOCO CHALLENGE 20 JANUARY 2012: British Formula 3 Champion Felipe Nasr underlined his talent yet again yesterday with a stirring third-place finish in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. It may have been the Brazilian’s first time in a sports car but the 19-year-old showed no novice nerves at any stage during the 24-hour classic and was more than matched with his experienced team mates.

Nasr was at the wheel of the Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley for the finish, and was on the same lap as the team’s victorious sister car. On the pit wall, Felipe’s co-drivers Michael McDowell, Gustavo Yacaman and Jorge Goncalvez cheered him across the line.

Nasr won his seat at Daytona in the Sunoco Challenge. His successes in the 2011 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series helped him out-point rivals from the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and other UK series.

Said Nasr: “It's been great. I'm surprised to be on the podium with these guys. I think we all did a good job. For my first ever time doing a 24, I'm surprised, I need to say. It was an unbelievable experience for me, and I just can't wait to come back here in the next years.”

Provisional results

1 Allmendinger/Negri/Pew/Wilson Michael Shank Ford Riley 24h 0m 36.793s

2 Dalziel/Luhr/McNish/Popow/Potolicchio Starworks Ford Riley +5.198s

3 Goncalvez/McDowell/Nasr/Yacaman Michael Shank Ford Riley +49.439s

4 Dixon/Franchitti/McMurray/Montoya Ganassi BMW Riley +1 lap