In a dramatic turn of events during the eighth hour of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, a multi-car collision disrupted the race as several vehicles were involved in a chaotic incident. The restart following a caution period quickly turned into mayhem when Louis Deletraz lost control of his Cadillac V-Series.R, setting off a chain reaction that resulted in six cars being damaged. Despite the intensity of the crash, all drivers managed to walk away unharmed. Following a 25-minute delay, the race resumed with Jack Aitken leading the GTP class, while Paul Di Resta took the front in LMP2. In GTD PRO, Ford Multimatic regained the lead, and Franck Perera topped the GTD category.

Details of the Incident and Race Progression

During the golden hues of an early morning at Daytona International Speedway, the eighth hour of the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona witnessed an unexpected twist. As the race restarted under caution, Louis Deletraz, driving for Wayne Taylor Racing, encountered trouble exiting Turn 2. His Cadillac V-Series.R spun out of control, striking the barrier before rebounding back into oncoming traffic. This triggered a series of collisions involving multiple cars, including those driven by Nick Boulle, Chris Cumming, Jordan Pepper, Max Hesse, and Sebastien Bourdais. Remarkably, despite the severity of the incident, no drivers sustained injuries.

The race officials promptly called for a full course yellow, halting the action for 25 minutes to clear the debris and ensure safety. Upon resumption, the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, piloted by Jack Aitken, emerged at the front of the GTP class. In the LMP2 division, Paul Di Resta and United Autosports USA's sole surviving ORECA led the pack, followed closely by Paul-Loup Chatin and Jonny Edgar. Meanwhile, in GTD PRO, Ford Multimatic reclaimed the top spots with their Mustangs, while Franck Perera led the GTD category for Forte Racing.

Notably, Heart of Racing faced a setback earlier when Roman de Angelis' Aston Martin lost its left-rear wheel, bringing out another caution period that preceded the multi-car incident. Despite these challenges, the teams remained resilient, continuing their pursuit of victory.

As the race progresses, it serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of endurance racing. The resilience and skill of the drivers and teams are put to the test, highlighting the importance of adaptability and safety measures in such high-stakes competitions.