The first stints are in for the GTLM cars and best lap times show just how tight the factory dominated class competition is here at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. No one is in cruise mode.

In the first hour, the class leading SRT Viper of Jonathan Bomarito had a best lap of 145.861.

His teammate, class pole winner, Marc (The Goose) Goossens had 1:45.907

Risi Ferrari’s Gimi Bruni was running third with a best 1:45.631.

The #911 Porsche of Nick Tandy ran fourth and had a best of 1:46.081

Corvette Racing’s Oliver Gavin put a strong 1:45.640 on the board.

Pat Long was next in the #912 Porsche at 1:46.227

After starting at the back of the field, Corvette’s Jan Magnussen worked through traffic and still had a best at 1:45.867

The BMW Team RLL Z4 stopped at the first yellow just ten minutes into the race, and were at 1:46.743 for Dirk Mueller and a 1:46.616 for Bill Auberlen who took the lead as the others pitted.

All are Michelin GTLM technical partners. Chris Baker, Michelin motorsports director for North America advises that after starting on qualifying tires, all are now on the medium Michelin tire compound as track temperatures are in the mid-80s under the sunny, 72 degree skies.