In the previous season, Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims formed a formidable partnership that led their team to clinch the GTP title in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. Jack Aitken also joined the duo to secure the Endurance Cup.
However, this year’s full-time lineup will witness a change, with Derani and Aitken continuing while Sims has moved on to Corvette’s GTD program. Furthermore, Tom Blomqvist, the reigning IMSA DPi champion and two-time Daytona 24 winner, will co-drive during endurance rounds that do not clash with his rookie campaign in the IndyCar Series for Meyer Shank Racing.
As the team gears up for the upcoming Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Chris Mitchum, the director of operations for Action Express Racing overseeing the factory program No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R, anticipates significant developments in the second year of their GTP program.
Mitchum expressed his confidence in the team’s progress, stating, “There is a huge advantage from where we were 12 months ago to where we are now. In racing years, if you can make the comparison to dog years, I think we’ve achieved at least three years’ worth of work in one year’s time across the entire Cadillac program. A tip of the cap to IMSA with how they structured everything. We’re equally prepared to go to Daytona now as we were in every other championship year we’ve had.”
Highlighting the team’s continuous efforts, Mitchum mentioned, “Everything that we can prepare in the shop – and it’s racing, so you’re never done; you can always pick another layer of onion – but I’d say we’re further down the road in preparation not only compared to last year but further down the road in preparation than my expectations the Monday after the ’23 season-ending.”
The team took advantage of the off-season to shake off any rust and integrate Blomqvist into the lineup. According to Mitchum, getting on the track during the December test was beneficial, especially with Blomqvist joining the team. He emphasized, “For him to be able to learn the team, get the time on track with the car after being in the simulator, it allows us to go into the 24 with a team member who knows how we operate, knows the preparation.”
Mitchum also expressed his enthusiasm for the team’s driver lineup, stating, “It’s fair to say it’s one of the best driver lineups we’ve had as a team.” He highlighted the pre-existing relationships and understanding among the three drivers, emphasizing the camaraderie and competition within the team.
Mitchum praised Blomqvist’s professionalism and the positive dynamics among the drivers, stating, “The lap times may be the same, but they’re getting there in different ways. They can learn from each other to get faster, which every team looks for and hopes for. We’ve had that at times throughout our history, so I couldn’t be more excited to see it again.”
