There was only a single one-hour practice session for the ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA participants on the 25th (Fri) as the track was packed with various other programs including support races. All three Mazda GX6-equipped teams carried out preparation programs including practicing driver changes.

Sylvain Tremblay, team owner of the #70 SpeedSource Mazda 6 machine, made a final check by running a few laps in the car. Afterwards, the team concentrated on pit work and practicing driver changes. The #00 VISIT Florida entry spent the whole session confirming details of the pit-in protocols. For the young drivers, the Saturday-Sunday race is their very first experience of a 24-hour event, complete with driver changes. They both gave maximum effort learning the steps necessary to pull off smooth and rapid pilot switches by practicing as many times as they could. The #25 Freedom Autosport Mazda 6 stayed in the garage and the team crew worked on every detail of the car to make sure damage to the power unit suffered during the nighttime session has been resolved.

Today's sessions wrapped up before lunchtime. The drivers and mechanics all need to go back to their hotels to rest up before the onslaught of work that begins tomorrow. Yojiro Terada, driving the #00 VISIT Florida Mazda 6 as a “teacher” to the young drivers, couldn't rest sufficiently due to the steady stream of well-wishers coming to see him. Jim Downing and Roger Mandeville, both Mazda Motorsports “old boys” from the ‘80s were among those who paid courtesy calls. It's really surprising when one thinks about just how long he's been in the sport.

When the team's work had almost finished, he gave a lecture to the four young drivers:
“You are here because you are fast. I know that. But the race tomorrow is not about showing your speed. Your job is to drive the car with care and to hand it over to your teammate. Just imagine us all cheering for each other after bringing our car to the checkered flag at 3:30 on Sunday. Remember to remain in control.” All four young tigers agreed and shook hands with Terada. Their ability to compete as a team will be tested tomorrow.

The ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA gets underway at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday the 26th.