Daytona Beach, FL — Numerous Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) competitors and their classic race cars are on the invitation-only list of participants in the Rolex 24 at Daytona Heritage Exhibition 2020, a featured part of pre-race ceremonies for the Jan. 25-26 Rolex 24 at Daytona IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Daytona International Speedway. The Heritage cars will take to the 3.56-mile road course Saturday at 10 a.m. for the tribute 24-minute exhibition.
Photo: Patrick Tremblay (HSR)
More than half of the Rolex 24 Heritage Exhibition’s 28 participants have longstanding and race-winning ties to HSR, but one legendary entry is a clear standout.
Rodrigo Sales and Gunnar Racing are bringing the iconic 1985 Holbert Racing Lowenbrau Special Porsche 962 HR1 back to Daytona International Speedway after a recent victory in the HSR Classic Daytona presented by IMSA in November.
While HR1 owner Sales is set to drive in the Rolex 24 Exhibition, it was his teammate Derek Bell — the now 78-year-old legend who was one of Holbert Racing’s original driving stars — who drove the Porsche 962 to the finish line for the HSR Classic Daytona Group C victory. The win came 30 years after Bell’s last overall Rolex 24 at Daytona win in another Porsche 962 in 1989.
Gunnar Racing will field numerous cars for the Rolex 24 Exhibition, including two more Porsches carrying the legacy and livery of Holbert Racing. The lineup includes a 1973 Porsche 914/6 that will be driven by Todd Holbert, Al’s son, who also drove the car in November’s HSR Daytona Historics.
The other Gunnar entry certain to be popular is a 1985 Porsche 944 — carrying the same Lowenbrau livery of the HR1 — that will be driven by Jennifer Malacarne.
Darek Stennes will bring his 1965 Shelby GT350 back to Daytona where the Mustang has been competing for more than 40 years.
Team owner Carlos de Quesada will drive a 1988 Porsche 962 campaigned in its prime by Dyson Racing. The 962 made three Rolex 24 starts at Daytona in the 1990s and was driven to victory in the 1990 World Challenge of Tampa IMSA Camel GT race.
