Daniel Goldburg, Paul di Resta explain how rebuilding from early Rolex 24 exit last year led to better comeback showing

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Paul di Resta said a renewed focus and approach around Bronze-rated driver Daniel Goldburg after an early exit from last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona was an important part of United Autosports’ improved showing at this year’s race, which ultimately led to the LMP2 class win.

The No. 22 Oreca 07 Gibson, which di Resta and Goldburg shared with Rasmus Lindh and James Allen, was awarded the victory, having been promoted following Tower Motorsports’ post-race penalty after initially finishing second on the road.

Even prior to the promotion, the result already marked a significant improvement for both United and Goldburg compared to last year’s edition of the event, when the No. 22 car retired early on after an off for Goldburg caused suspension damage.

“I had a pretty disastrous 24 last year,” Goldburg said.

“It was a lot of thinking from there through the rest of last year and coming into this year.

“Coming into the event, I said I wanted to give everything I had in quali and then take it to a a little different notch for the race.

“Just stay clean, stay consistent, stay at a certain pace that the team and I kind of wanted.

“When I got out of the car at about ten or eleven o’clock on Saturday night, I had a very big sense of relief at that moment that I had done my job [and] done exactly what I came there to do [and] kept it clean.

“So personally speaking, it was very much what I was there to do and was pleased that I did my part.”

Di Resta, who remained on board as Goldburg’s full-season co-driver after Daytona and was the only other member from the 2024 lineup to stay on this year, echoed the Bronze-rated driver’s comments.

The Peugeot Hypercar driver explained that, together with Goldburg, he focused on building as strong a base for Daytona as possible after the previous setback.

“There is a lot of emotions that go through it, especially after last year being out so early after the mistake he made,” said di Resta.

“I think from that point on, we’ve set about construction on him and what his job is to do in each race and then what the next person’s job is and all the way through it.

“I said to him even after the test in November, ‘Why break up any of the team that you’ve worked so hard with over the last 14 months before you go to a race like this.’

“Because it is the most important race of the year, the first one on the calendar and I think we set about it the right way, going about it the best possible direction and I think that’s on the back of where we left where last year.

“I think we remained calm and collected all the way through the event.

“There was times we were very strong, times when we struggled a bit but at the same point you need to be there at the end of that race to take it. We put ourselves in a position for that.”

The No. 22 car initially finished 44.697 second behind the Tower Oreca on the road, largely down due to a drive-through penalty for impeding another competitor in the pits, which di Resta claimed was incorrectly handed out.

“I don’t think that should have happened,” di Resta said.

“Through Bourdais hitting our pit board when we were bumper to bumper pitting, we somehow got a drive-through penalty for him hitting our board.

“So it made the race to the end all about fuel saving and maintaining position because you always have to keep in the back of your mind that you’ve got to get through all the necessary checks at the end.”

Allen: “Feels Fantastic” to Add Second Rolex 24 Class Win

While United’s promotion meant Goldburg, di Resta and Lindh all captured their first victories in the Florida endurance classic, Allen was able to add a second Rolex 24 win to his record.

His maiden victory came in memorable fashion with a photo finish driving for Proton Competition in 2023, where he beat CrowdStrike Racing by APR’s Ben Hanley by a mere 0.016 seconds.

“It feels fantastic to be a two-time winner,” Allen said.

“I would definitely argue it is not as exciting as the first time I won it, but it still doesn’t take anything away from the effort from everyone at United and Dan, Paul and Rasmus.

“Just all the hard work they’ve put together since the end of last year and even leading up to now.

“It’s really incredible and they deserve every bit of the win that they got these last two weeks and I’m really proud to have been a part of it.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be joining them for the rest of the season, but I wish them all the best and they deserve to have all the success for this year as well.”