Baldwin Gets Head Start for 22nd Rolex 24

The 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will mark the 22nd appearance for Jack Baldwin in the premier endurance race, and the Georgia veteran can’t wait to get going.
In fact, Baldwin was at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of a private test, getting a head start on preparations for the Rolex 24.
Baldwin will return to the Rolex 24 in the No. 17 Foametix Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, co-driving with car owner Claudio Burtin and German star Martin Ragginger.
For 2012, the car will be prepped by Goldcrest Motorsports – the team that prepared the No. 59 Brumos Racing Porsche for the 2011 Rolex 24 and Grand Prix of Miami while the Jacksonville, Fla., team finalized preparations for its in-house team. Brumos went on to capture the Rolex Series team championship with drivers Andrew Davis and Leh Keen.
This will be the fourth year that Burtin Racing will field this car in the Rolex 24 – although the car has undergone extensive upgrades to  2010 specifications since January’s race.
Baldwin won the GTU class in his Rolex 24 debut in 1984. He has one regret, although it’s a small one.
“Back then, we got trophies – not the Rolex watch for winning the class,” Baldwin said. “But to win the Rolex 24 – in any class – is a very big deal. It has been an honor to do this race so many times. I’ve driven in every class, and I can’t wait to do it again in January.  We know we have a good, fast car, but that’s only one little ingredient – you need to have a little luck in a race like the Rolex 24.”