“Operation Daytona 200”: Contact established!

Finally, we entered the Daytona International Speedway. After a good hour with the TOBC team staff completing all the administrative paperwork, we are now equipped with all the authorizations allowing us to be able to bring you this unique race from the inside.

Team title holder obliges, it is in stand number 1 that TOBC establishes its quarters. The 14 members of the team are busy and although it is the first race of the season we feel that the ballet is well regulated because everyone knows what they have to do under the authority of Scott Harwell, the team manager, who also gets his hands dirty like when you have to climb on the roof of the team's huge truck to help with the maneuver of setting up the tarpaulin for the no less huge awning.

Little by little, things take place and the motorcycles, as stars would do, are the last to come out of the truck. Cédric Tangre, impatient to be able to touch his Suzuki GSXR600 "tuned in USA", inspects it with his eyes and notes the differences with the one which allowed him to become French champion last year and the one which he will ride in the championship of Supersport world this year. The quick wheel change systems are the subject of all his attention, especially as they meet specific regulations that are a little removed from the Endurance World Championship that he is used to. It will remain, early tomorrow morning, to affix the stickers of the sponsors motivated by this Franco-American adventure.

The discussion quickly begins with Timmy, his chief mechanic and Bobby, his mechanic. The flow seems to be going well just like a little later with Philip, the chassis engineer. The level of technical precision goes up several notches very quickly, which is a good sign. Dany Eslick, the other driver and winner of the 2014 and 2015 editions, joins the conversation. Observation round from the two pilots who gauge each other to find out what rivalry or complicity will guide their relationship in the next three days.

The night is now here and it is around a well-deserved meal that all the staff and the two pilots say to themselves that tomorrow, finally, it will begin. Thursday's menu will be very different with two 50-minute free practice sessions at noon and 16:10 p.m. It may seem long but it won't be too much for Cédric to start understanding this very special circuit.

We'll be there.