24 May Nick Tandy claims pole-position for 24 Hours of Daytona

Konrad Motorsport’s comeback in American motorsports is going according to plan. In the qualifying of the 51th edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona Nick Tandy claimed the pole-position in the extremely competitive GT-class. Immediately before the endurance classic the team is now full of confidence.

Already in the free practice Nick Tandy has posted the fastest lap-time and therefore hinted at the great potential of Konrad Motorsport in Daytona. “It is great that we could cover the first position also in qualifying,” the Brit showed his elation. “It is a nice feeling to be back in my old team. The pole-position is my personal thank-you for the great work the team has done.”

The 28-year-old made his way against around 30 opponents in the GT-class. „His performance was fantastic,“ team principal Franz Konrad praised his driver. But before the team could celebrate, high tension was in the air of Konrad Motorsport’s garage. For a long time Tandy only covered one of the last positions until he laid down his best lap-time. “It for sure took a load off our minds, when we found out that our strategy was working,” Franz Konrad explains.

But in spite of the pole-position for the popular endurance race in Florida Nick Tandy advises against exaggerated enthusiasm. “The trophy is not handed out before Sunday afternoon – until then many things can happen,” says the Porsche Carrera Cup Champion of 2011. “But the pole-position increased the team’s motivaton.”

Saturday will show how Konrad Motorsport will acquit itself in the USA’s most popular 24-hour race. In the afternoon the lights of the “Rolex 24 at Daytona” will turn green for Nick Tandy and his three team-mates Michael Christensen, Christian Engelhart and Lance Willsey. The race will be broadcasted live on the event’s official website www.grand-am.com at 03:30 PM (9:30 PM CET).