TexSAW CTF 2026 You Snoze You Loze
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
The recorded coordinates and date suggest The 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona as the event. The original image, metadata extraction output, and event source are not retained here, so the identification cannot be independently checked from this note.
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
No timestamp-matched timing record or readable car identifiers from the photograph are retained. The proposed #6/#7 pairing is a candidate inferred from the team clue, not a verified lead order. The LED color assignments are also unsupported by retained evidence and are not used to identify the cars. Verification requires the original image plus a source for the running order at that exact time; an acceptance response would separately establish the required answer order.
Flag
The answer below is retained from the existing note. Neither the trial order nor a platform acceptance response is available; no new submission was made.
texsaw{6_7}