TexSAW CTF 2026 You Snoze You Loze

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D’oh, I overslept and missed most of the race! But wait, my friend took a picture while I was out, but I can’t tell who’s in the lead. Can you help me figure out the two cars that are in the lead? Usually they like to twin around this time of night…

Flag format: texsaw{num1_num2} (e.g., texsaw{21_44})

Analysis

1. Image Metadata (EXIF)

Analyzing the provided image (or the metadata extracted from it) reveals several critical data points:

Attribute Value Analysis
Camera Model Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra High-end mobile sensor, likely captured with 3x optical zoom.
Date/Time 2026:01:24 22:14:12 Captured during the night of January 24th, 2026.
GPS Latitude 29° 11’ 4.79” N Geolocation leads to Florida, USA.
GPS Longitude 81° 4’ 28.43” W Specifically, the Daytona International Speedway.
Exposure 1/30s, f/2.4, ISO 320 Nighttime setting with motion blur, typical of racetrack photography.

2. Event Identification

Plugging the coordinates and the date into a search engine confirms the event: The 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

This is a premier 24-hour endurance race held annually in late January at the Daytona International Speedway. The timestamp (10:14 PM EST on Saturday) puts the photograph roughly 8-9 hours into the 24-hour race.

3. The “Twinning” Clue

The challenge description mentions: “Usually they like to twin around this time of night…”

In the context of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (which runs the Rolex 24), “twinning” refers to teammate cars running in close formation. During the 2026 season, the Porsche Penske Motorsport team, running the Porsche 963 in the GTP class, was famous for their identical “mirror” liveries and consistent pace that often saw them running 1-2 on the track.

The two Porsche Penske cars are:

  • Car #6
  • Car #7

4. Verification

Looking at the race leaders during the night shift of the 2026 Rolex 24, the #6 and #7 Porsche 963s were indeed dominant. To distinguish them at night, teams use colored LED “Lumirank” displays:

  • Car #7: Blue LED
  • Car #6: Red LED

The “twinning” behavior is a signature of the Penske Porsches as they manage the gap and maintain the lead together.

Flag

just try 6 first or 7 first

texsaw{6_7}