The Rolex 24 is all set to mark its precedent from 23rd to 26th January. Given that it is a variant of endurance racing, drivers must be on their toes for the entire run to ensure they finish well. This year, Austin Cindric has had a truly fortunate opportunity. Cindric is a 2022 Daytona 500 Champion. However, the competition seems quite tough given that 61 drivers will be taking on the track. 

The Rolex 24 is one of the most difficult races in the world and it takes a pool of energy and resources to prepare for the same. Cindric currently is a part of Team Penske and drives the No. 2 car. His 2024 season ended with a finish of 11th in the total standing and an exit from the playoffs after the Round of 16. 

Roger Penske’s team driver assures that participation at Rolex 24 is more than an “exhibition”

Given the nature of the race, some drivers show up on the tracks just for the sake of it. The nature of the race demands a 24-hour drive, which could get physically exhilarating. This year, Austin Cindric has made it to the forefront, and it was quite unanticipated that he would be making it to the forefront. He would take up the role alongside Seb Priaulx and Mike Rockenfeller in the Ford Multimatic Motorsports lineup, driving the No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3. 

However, Austin Cindric was not supposed to be the one driving for this. He has come up as a replacement for Ben Barker, who broke his collarbone. This happened while he was on a holiday and was taking on a skiing expedition.

In a recent interview, Austin Cindric shared how this opportunity is important for him and he will leave no stone unturned to make the best happen for the team. He said, “It’s not an exhibition for me — I’m committed. I’m committed to doing whatever it takes. If that means letting [teammates] Rocky [Mike Rockenfeller] and Seb [Priaulx] do their thing, because it’s their car, I’m committed to that”. 

Cindric does have his fair share of experience in the world of endurance racing. He had appeared for the Michelin Pilot Challenge four times at Daytona as a Ford development driver. Speaking of how he can add more value to the team, the Roger Penske driver said, “If I got to give them a foot rub in the middle of the night, hell, I’ll do that. I’ve done this race enough times, I have enough experience where I definitely feel like I will be an asset to this team. I’ll be the one-off, so I’m excited to get to work and see where I fit into that fold. But, yeah, it’s an important race for me”. 

Cindric’s dedication to the team shines through, as he not only steps in as a replacement but also fully embraces the challenge of a race that demands both physical and mental endurance. If he continues to showcase such zeal on the tracks, and given his prior experience of winning at Daytona, things could turn in his favor. 

Cindric expresses his wish to own a “Rolex watch”

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Austin Cindric has been quite open about the opportunity that has come to his hand and how he envisions making it happen. He also expressed the wish to own one of the Rolex watches. He said, “The 24 Hours of Daytona has become a very meaningful event for me and my career. This will be my sixth opportunity to run this race, and it’s one of the best chances I’ll have had at taking one of those watches home. It’s important that I wish Ben all the best in his recovery as I keep his seat warm”. 

Austin Cindric has had a long-standing connection with Multimatic Motorsports, which began early in his racing career. It was in 2015 that he joined the team to run full-time in the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (CTSCC). His journey with the team kicked off almost a decade ago at Daytona in the Michelin Pilot Challenge, where he made his debut. Cindric’s success continued as he secured a win at Road Atlanta in 2019 alongside Andy Priaulx.

With his determination and experience, Roger Penske’s team driver is ready to seize this opportunity, keeping both his team’s success and personal ambitions in sight.