"Any opportunity where we're allowed to test, we like to take advantage of it, especially when there are new cars, new bodywork and new tyres involved," he explained, "For a race as big as the 24 Hours, we'll definitely take advantage of any preparation we can. Farnbacher Loles always brings great cars but, with so many new things, this will be a very useful test. I'm looking forward to the 24."
Lux wasn't the only one from the Farnbacher Loles camp excited to be at the track, as JLowe Racing veterans Jim Lowe and Jim Pace drove the #64 Porsche GT3 throughout the day, along with Tim Sugden and Johannes van Overbeek, after agreeing to Farnbacher Loles Racing preparing the car.
"We started working on this race for '09 about 15 minutes after the chequered flag dropped for the last one," Lowe said, "First, we drove a lot, with the focus on longer stints, double stints, endurance at speed. The next component was deciding what we were going to do and who we were going to do it with. Then execute early. That's why we have our whole driving team and everybody we need to be involved with for the '09 effort already together. It's the only approach I know to apply to something..."
Ian James, meanwhile, was back in old colours, having spent several years with the Blackforest Motorsports stable and now returning to partner Tom Nastasi in the #15 Ford Mustang GT.
A regular on the Rolex Series circuit for several seasons, James moved to the Daytona Prototype class full-time in 2007 after showing speed in the GT class, but has returned to run and assist the Blackforest team in preparing the Mustang during the November test days.
"They're kind of like family and they needed a hand, so I came down to test the car," the ex-pat Briton said, "It's running pretty good - I think we were only off the fastest time this morning by about a tenth of a second - and has great potential. It just needs a bit of massaging."
James is unlikely to race the Mustang at Daytona next January, however, Having competed in the DP class with Michael Shank Racing - and taken his first overall race win at the season finale at Miller Motorsports Park - he is making his plans to run full-time in the series in 2009, and has his sights set on returning to a prototype at the Rolex 24.
The first incident of the test befell Atlantic Series graduate Mike Forest, whose first laps at Daytona in the #32 PR1 Motorsports Pontiac GXP.R were among those he'd rather forget.
Just 13 minutes into the opening session, the Canadian hit a bump in the chicane and spun. Although he kept the car from hitting the wall, it suffered slight right front damage, which the crew repairs when the car returned to the garage area.
"Not the way to start the day," Forest admitted, as he watched co-drivers Thomas Merrill, Al Salvo and Jeff Westphal wait for their chance to drive the car.
