"This Alonso guy seems alright…"

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Fernando Alonso and his Wayne Taylor Racing team mates were running strong in the Rolex 24 over fourteen hours into the endurance classic at the wheel of their #10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R.

The crew held its own in the opening hours of the race on Saturday before Alonso put in a 'master class' stint that put the Cadillac into the lead.

Thanks to a succession of fastest laps, and displaying the skills of a seasoned sports car driver as he negotiated traffic, the two-time F1 world champion was the class of the field.

Watching from the Wayne Taylor Racing pit, the display wasn't lost on team mate Jordan Taylor who offered a few words of praise on Twitter.

With a little over nine hours to go, the #10 Cadillac was in command, but with a furious three-car pack snapping at his heels, with the top four cars on the same lap. And rain to contend with. Stay tuned...

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.