Tower Motorsports strongly contests IMSA's decision to strip their LMP2 class victory at the 2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona due to a technical violation involving the car's skid block wear.

Post-race inspections revealed the No. 8 ORECA 07's skid block had worn beyond IMSA's maximum allowable rate of five millimeters, as specified in FIA Technical Regulations. This resulted in the team's demotion to last place in their class, despite crossing the finish line first.

Team manager Rick Capone emphasized that the violation was unintentional, stating the excessive wear resulted from natural circumstances during the intense 24-hour race. The team's formal protest was denied by IMSA.

Driver Sebastien Bourdais, who lost what would have been his third Rolex 24 victory, attributed the technical failure to a faulty rear third damper that affected the car's ride height. He expressed frustration with IMSA's decision, noting that similar technical failures had been treated with more leniency in the past.

The team maintains their commitment to racing integrity while expressing disappointment in a ruling they believe unfairly portrays them as rule-breakers. Tower Motorsports has confirmed they are reviewing all options in response to the penalty while thanking their supporters during this challenging situation.

The incident highlights the strict enforcement of technical regulations in endurance racing, even when violations may result from mechanical failures rather than intentional rule-breaking.

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