Rolex 24 resumes after lengthy red flag

The Rolex 24 at Daytona has resumed after a lengthy red flag stoppage following heavy rain in the early hours of the morning.

Showers from 4am onwards initially caused the race to run behind the Safety Car under a full course caution for over an hour before IMSA officials decided to throw a red flag, halting the race with seven hours and 13 minutes left on the clock.

Fernando Alonso led the field at the time of the red flag following a stellar overnight stint that had seen him lead by 40 seconds at one stage, only for the caution period to draw the pair of Penske-run Acura DPi cars closer at the head of the pack.

Race officials gave teams notice of an intention to resume the race at 9am local time (2pm UK), with the race returning to green after two laps behind the Safety Car. The race returned to green with five hours and 28 minutes left until the chequered flag.

However, the race soon returned to a caution period after a crash involving three drivers on the main straight on the restart, with two GTD cars - the #46 EBIMOTORS Lamborghini Huracan GT3 and the #9 PFAFF Motorsports Porsche 911 RSR - being sidelined with damage as a result.