For Immediate Release
Daytona, FL - At 6:03 a.m. Guardian Angel Motorsports was forced to withdraw from the 48th running of the Rolex24hr at Daytona. The car suffered a catastrophic gearbox failure resulting of the loss of gears; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5 & 6…yes, that’s ALL of them. The 3rd gear cog had suffered some difficult shifts earlier in the race which led to it’s split into three pieces which then navigated around the gearbox taking everything with it.
Driver Bruce Ledoux was completing his double stint which had begun at 3:53am. Ledoux was quoted as saying, “…the car was handling superbly, the crew & team had done an excellent job…” Ledoux was able to set fast lap of the day at 4:47a.m. on the 93rd lap for the tires. When asked about his feelings on the team’s defeat, he replied, “…it’s so sad……We coulda’ been a contenda’s…” The team was in 14th position at the time they withdrew.
When the team was asked what they wanted people to recall about their valiant effort to complete Laps for Love146, they’re reply was one of solidarity and unanimity, they drew upon their iconic idol, Theodore Roosevelt and his speech from Sorbonne, Paris that they had all recently attended…;)
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer
of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
As dusty, sweaty, bloody men, we humbly admit the tie score: Daytona 1 (’10) - Guardian Angel Motorsports 1 (’09). See you all in June at the 6 hours of Watkins Glen. In the meantime, please consider helping us win this battle in the paddock by supporting our Laps for Love146 and contributing to our charitable effort.
Donate Here
Bruce Ledoux
Rolex GT #18
Guardian Angel Motorsports
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you guys kicked ass. made it thru the night and no major offs all the while. big difference from last year, you guys have come a long way - be proud! great team, great crew, great car.
What a fabulous run! I love the look of the car too. I noticed it immediately in the fanzone before the race. Love your cause - my son had Down’s and struggled with Hirschsprung’s disease. KEEP IT UP!
So sorry to see this news. Went to bed with Toby in 18th and woke up to news of retirement. Hope to be back with the team next year and getting no sleep and cheering for the car at 24:01:00. Did I see the word “defeat” in this blog???? NO WAY!! Even not finishing, this is a huge victory for very worthy causes. Congrats to everyone involved.
Wow. What an amazing showing. Bruce, you and the rest of the team should be so very proud. Can’t wait to see you guys at the Glen!!!
Bruce, the times you were putting down for laps last night put you in the same league with anyone on that track. That, simply put, is awesome. You can come away from this year with some excellent lessons learned, and I am really looking forward to seeing you and your team progress in races to come.
+++++++ Applause ++++++
Amazing race Bruce. I fell asleep watching you online. I continue to be awed and impressed with the drive of you and your team.
I have never been prouder to be a small part of such a wonderfully nobel effort. Bruce, you learned a lot from you first run at the 24 and applied it to your second. The team is getting better and better. You proved that you can run with the “big-boys!” Next year the GAM team will be in the top 10 (closer to top 5 actually.)
Well done. Having watched lap by lap on SPEED and online, I can say that you and the team learned from the feedback provided by TRG. The strategy, to preserve the car, was sound, and with better execution, WILL result in a top 10 finish next year.
Beyond the car race, your commitment and passion is an example for all of us. Thank you