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Porsche Reigns Supreme! 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona Race Report
Ken Pearson
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IMSA
26 Jan 2025
Porsche Reigns Supreme! 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona Race Report
Features, Racing, IMSA

The 2025 IMSA season got underway in dramatic fashion with the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Ken Pearson watched the action, and brings you the story of the race.
The 2025 IMSA season got underway in dramatic fashion with the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Ken Pearson watched the action, and brings you the story of the race.
The 2025 IMSA season got underway in dramatic fashion with the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Ken Pearson watched the action, and brings you the story of the race.
Images courtesy of IMSA.
The IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship season has begun with one of its toughest challenges: 24 hours around the Daytona International Speedway. Although the track is best known for its 2.5-mile tri-oval layout, the 3.56-mile road course with its infield section, and chicane on the back straight is used for the multi-class endurance event.
Along with the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona is part of the endurance racing triple crown, taken on this year by 61 cars split across four classes. Two prototype, and two production-based categories made up the grid, with the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class at the top of the performance standings.
The cars: GTP
Similar to the FIA WEC’s Hypercar class, GTP allows teams and manufacturers to enter purpose-built hybrid racers built to LMH or LMDh specifications. At this year’s race, all 12 GTP entries fell into the latter ruleset, where a chassis is picked from one of four suppliers, and a manufacturer’s choice of engine and styling forms the machine. All cars use a spec gearbox and hybrid system, with combined power capped at 691bhp. The Aston Martin Valkyrie, which will join the IMSA grid from Sebring onwards, is built to the LMH specification that is favoured by teams in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The sights and sounds of the class are varied, with the Acura ARX-06 using a twin-turbocharged V6, the BMW M HYBRID V8, Lamborghini SC63, and Porsche 963 powered by twin-turbo V8s, while the fan-favourite Cadillac V-Series.R LMDh is propelled by a thunderous 5.5-litre naturally aspirated V8. Porsche scored its 19th Daytona win in 2024, finally beating the Acura and Cadillac efforts that had dominated the speedway since 2017. 12 cars are entered in the GTP class, and all display black number panels.

The cars: LMP2
The second tier of international prototype racing is the Le Mans Prototype 2 class, which is entirely made up of the ORECA 07 closed-cockpit coupé. All cars use standardised bodywork and are powered by the same Derbyshire-built Gibson Technologies GK428 naturally aspirated V8 engine. The difference is made in the set-up, and the drivers - with the LMP2 class using mixed-ability crews. Experienced professionals, rising stars, and skilled amateurs all share the driving time.
12 cars make up the class, with teams from the European Le Mans Series like AF Corse, Inter Europol, and TDS Racing taking the fight to established American operations like Pratt Miller, PR1 Mathiasen, and Tower Motorsports. The cars all have a white sun strip displaying the class name, blue number panels, mirrors, and rear wing endplates.

The cars: GTD and GTD Pro
Two production-based categories account for 37 spaces on the 61-car grid. Using racers built to GT3 regulations, the Grand Touring Daytona classes have the greatest variety of shapes, sizes, and powertrains at this year’s Daytona 24 Hours. The Aston Martin Vantage, BMW M4, Ford Mustang, Lexus RC F, and Mercedes-AMG GT are the front-engined contenders, while the Corvette Z06, Ferrari 296, and Lamborghini Huracan form the mid-engined contingent. The four Porsche 911s are the only rear-engined cars on track.
The GTD and GTD Pro entries are identical other than the colour of the mirrors, rear wing endplates, and number panels, and the skill of the drivers. GTD Pro cars carry red accents, and have fully professional line-ups, while GTD cars have mixed-ability crews just like LMP2.

The Rules
All cars are piloted by crews of three, or four drivers who take turns at the wheel. A stint typically lasts two hours, although some drivers will push this towards three hours. The cars have a limited amount of Michelin tyres to use throughout the event, so “double stinting” their rubber is an essential part of the strategy. Two compounds are available, with “medium” and “soft” variants available, although the latter is only permitted to be used at night. (check this) Pit stops happen in a similar fashion to those at Le Mans, with a handful of mechanics able to work on the car at one time. Unlike at Le Mans, the FIA WEC, and the European Le Mans Series, refuelling can take place while the tyres are being changed.
The race can be neutralised with a caution period - often referred to as a yellow, full-course yellow, FCY, or full-course caution. These periods in IMSA racing close the pit lane, with cars only able to come in for “emergency service” stops only; a car can take 10-seconds worth of fuel, or carry out vital repair works if required. A pace car picks up the field, and the pit lane opens in two stages: first for the prototype categories, then the GTs. Any car that had an emergency service must stop when the pit lane opens again. Once the stops are completed, lapped cars are permitted to pass the field and rejoin the back of the queue - so delayed entries don’t just have to rely on pace to get back into contention. The field is split by class before the green flag flies and racing resumes.
The Race: Early Hours
With the prototype and GT categories split, Dries Vanthoor’s #24 BMWM Hybrid V8 led the way to the green flag, with the #7 Porsche 963 trying to make an early jump from fourth to second. No car gave up an inch as they entered the infield section, but the side-by-side running didn’t result in any paint being traded early on. The #2 United Autosports LMP2 spun at the first turn, forcing the field to split around it. Miraculously, the stricken car was avoided by the entire GT class that came through moments later, and the car began its recovery drive unscathed.


Navigating traffic is key to success in multi-class racing, and after 11 minutes the leading BMW caught the back of the GTD field, beginning the almost neverending task of passing lapped cars. The #7 Porsche Penske 963 lost two positions, with the #31 Whelen Racing Cadillac moving up to third, and the #60 Acura taking fourth.
The first round of pit stops began with 40 minutes raced, as the LMP2 cars were the first to refuel. “Spike” - the dragon-liveried #99 - had its nose removed as the mechanics checked the onboard transponder, but the car driven by team-owner PJ Hyett would return to the track at the head of its category, and enjoy a lead of over 30 seconds. The first penalty of the race was awarded to the #8 Tower Motorsports LMP2 entry for exceeding the pitlane speed limit by 0.6mph - it wouldn’t be the last, with multiple cars falling foul of the 37mph limit by the slimmest of margins.
GTP cars entered the pit lane a few minutes later, with fuel-only stops for almost all of the cars. The sole Lamborghini in class - the #63 - had its rear bodywork removed for investigation, before driving into the paddock where a terminal cooling system failure was discovered. After only 38 laps, the #63 was the first retirement of the race.

The action began to heat up in the GT classes, with both categories seeing the top-9 cars running nose to tail before their first round of stops. With all cars back on track, the #007 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage made a brilliant pass down the inside of the #75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the first turn. The AMG lost a further three places as it developed a braking issue, ultimately heading behind the pit wall for repairs.
With 100 minutes elapsed, the overall lead finally changed. After a faultless start and a 40-second advantage built over the chasing #93 Meyer Shank Racing Acura, a mistake on pit entry cost the #24 BMW precious time. Entering its box at a 45-degree angle, the car tapped the wall, thus the crew had to reposition the M Hybrid V8 twice as it was worked on. A “full service” stop saw the tyres, and driver changed, and the lead passed to the #93.
Otherwise, the first two hours were relatively uneventful by Daytona’s standards; it was green flag running all the way, with just one instance of two Ferraris becoming one - but no noticeable trading of paint as both the cars were yellow. The #99 extended its lead to just under a minute in LMP2, while the #48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 and the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG led the way in GTD Pro, and GTD respectively.
Fate Intervenes

After two hours, eight minutes and thirty seconds, the first full-course caution - or “yellow” - period was called after the #11 TDS LMP2 entry couldn’t slow down in time for the Western Horseshoe corner. Wedging itself into the tyre wall, the prototype was eventually towed out and made its way back to the pits, sans-headlight.
As the Acura Integra Type S safety car released the field, the #31 Whelen Cadillac led the way, with the two factory-backed Porsches and BMWs in hot pursuit. The #7 Porsche snatched the lead, and the #31 fell further down the order as the #25 BMW took second place. The former leader of the GTD category - the #57 Winward Racing AMG GT - was forced behind the wall for repairs, suffering from a stuck throttle pedal, but in the true spirit of the race, the team wouldn’t throw in the towel. In GTD Pro, the #65 and #64 Ford Mustangs were keeping the #48 BMW M4 GT3 Evo at bay, and in GTD, the leading #78 Lamborghini Huracan Evo extended its advantage to 7-seconds over the 2nd place #27 Aston Martin.

The race began to settle into its rhythm as the dry but chilly Daytona set a perfect stage for close but fair racing. The #7 Porsche’s lead was eaten away by the chasing BMWs, with the #25 M Hybrid V8 making a lunge for first at turn 1. The #7 kept the inside line and defended fiercely, using lapped cars to its advantage. Over the course of the next 10 minutes, the Porsche got away on the long straights, and the BMW caught up through the infield section. Another round of pit stops reset the order, with the Penske #7, and #6, and the Proton Competition-run #5 Porsche 963s locking out the top 3. Nevertheless, continuing to show its impressive pace in the second half of a stint, the two BMWs forced themselves back to the sharp end of the field.
The prolonged green flag running came to an abrupt halt as the #8 Tower Motorsports LMP2 ORECA spun on the exit of the infield section, and the #93 Acura ARX-06 stopped a few hundred yards from it. The two incidents were unrelated; the #8 spun on its own, and the #93 lost drive after its left rear suspension collapsed. Both cars would continue, but the Acura would require a tow back to the paddock for some lengthy repairs.
Another caution period ensued, and when the green flag flew the #31 Cadillac led the restart once more. Again, its time at the head of the field was short lived, as the #6 Porsche swiftly retook the lead, but as the sun set over Florida, the Cadillacs came alive. The #40 from Wayne Taylor Racing leapt from third to second with a move on the #31, before 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner Kamui Kobayashi steered his chrome-coloured Cadillac into the lead. In GTD, the #120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 ran within a second of the #70 Inception Racing Ferrari 296, before claiming first place. Further back in the category, heartbreak struck for the #44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin. In their final event before their racing programme is paused, the car stopped on track, prompting another caution period. The car was recovered to the pits, but its retirement was confirmed shortly after.
Night Riders

Another restart once again saw the #31 Cadillac take the green flag, but its lead lasted a matter of feet as three GTPs from three brands dived into turn 1. The #60 Acura vaulted to first place, and a Porsche took second. Kamui Kobayashi in his #40 Cadillac was a man on a mission, working his way through the pack before making an epic divebomb for the lead into turn 1, and the #60 slid back in the order.
LMP2 remained too close to call, with the ebbs and flows of the one-make class seeing all the pre-race favourites cycling to the front in the first six hours of the race. AO Racing, United Autosports, and Crowdstrike by Algarve Pro Racing all spent time leading the category. Fresh from its victory at the Dubai 24 Hours earlier in the month, the BMW M4 GT3 Evos made their way past the Mustangs to take command of the GTD Pro class. The two cars from Paul Miller Racing - the #48 and #1 - shared the lead, but the #4 Corvette was closing in.
The gaps between the class leaders remained relatively consistent as the race entered its seventh hour, but the 2.5-second advantage held by the leading #40 Cadillac was eaten away by the #25 BMW. Benefitting from a strong slipstream, the M Hybrid V8 passed the V-Series.R near the start line, and gained an instant advantage by braking as late as possible. However, the BMW couldn’t build too much of a lead as another caution period was triggered by the #007 Aston Martin losing a wheel and stopping on the entry to turn 1. Opting to change the brakes in the pits, the #25 ceded its lead, and for the fourth time in seven hours, the #31 took the green flag to restart the race.
There’s a saying in American motor racing: “Yellows breed yellows.” This is down to countless incidents happening immediately after a race restart, necessitating another yellow flag to fly straight away. With fresh tyres at each corner, the #40 Cadillac snapped to the right at turn two, catapulting Louis Delatraz into the wall. His car bounced back across the narrowest part of the track, straight into the path of the #2 United, #8 Tower, and #73 Pratt Miller LMP2s. Taking avoiding action, the #9 Lamborghini collided with the #48 BMW which had been leading the GTD Pro class prior to the caution. The race was over for the #2, #9, and #40.
With the mess cleared, the #31 increased its restart lead tally to five, and Jack Aitken executed it perfectly, ending the first lap with a 1.8-second advantage to the chasing #7 Porsche driven by Nick Tandy. The #25 BMW was tapped at turn two by the #5 Porsche, spinning but recovering to continue, and the Iron Dames #83 Porsche picked up a puncture, costing the all-female driver crew a lap on the GTD field. Thankfully, a third caution in a row didn’t materialise.

As quickly as Aitken’s #31 gained a sizable advantage, the gap disappeared. Running wide at the International Horseshoe corner - so called because the flags of every entrants’ nationality are flown here - he allowed Tandy’s Porsche to grab the inside line and retake the lead.
United Autosports returned to the lead of LMP2 with Paul di Resta’s #22 holding a slim advantage over the #18 Era Motorsport entry driven by Paul-Loup Chatin. In GTD Pro, the top seven were separated by just 3-seconds, with the #65 Ford Mustang leading the way. In GTD, the #78 Forte Racing Lamborghini edged out a 1-second lead over the #27 Aston Martin.
The field spread out once again, and the bright light signatures metronomically pounded around the 3.56-mile circuit. The bright white and yellow headlights were accompanied by glowing brake discs, the distinctive illuminated kidney grilles of the BMW GTPs, the horizontal light bars of the Porsches, and the full spectrum of coloured indicator lights used for easy identification by the teams. While fatigue set in for the mechanics, some took the opportunity to catch a nap in their garages, but for those tasked with repairing crash damage, a long night became even longer.

The relentless but respectful racing continued as the traditional mid-race fireworks added even more colour to the track. Trains of GTD cars ran line astern along Daytona’s famous banked corners at over 170mph, which is fast by any standard, but the GTP cars breezed by the production-based entries as if they were going backwards, reaching speeds close to 200mph on the straights. Continuing to benefit from its straight-line speed advantage, the #7 Porsche stretched out its lead to 13-seconds over #24 BMW, #31 Cadillac, and its sister car - the #6 - which were squabbling over second place.
With braking forces of up to 3G being generated, the hybrid GTPs work just as hard slowing down as they do when deploying 671bhp to accelerate. The contenders for the overall win reduced in number overnight, as both the #31 Cadillac and the #5 Porsche suffered suspension failures on the banking. Both cars were repaired, and eventually rejoined the race many laps down. The ensuing caution periods dashed any remaining hopes of the 833-lap distance record of 2020 being bettered this year.
As the sun rose over England and this writer rose from his short sofa slumber, the #60 Acura made a daring pass on the #24 BMW into the Le Mans Chicane on the back straight; Colin Braun braked late to secure the position from Kevin Magnussen. With just under 11 hours to go, 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Nicklas Nielsen led the LMP2 category, and “Rexy” - the dinosaur-liveried #77 Porsche - was at the head of the GTD Pro field for AO Racing. The #13 was proving lucky for the AWA team, as their Corvette held a 3.5-second advantage over the #45 Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini. The conditions remained clear and chilly throughout the night in Florida, and there was still no clear favourite in any class to take home top honours.
Throughout the night, the Porsche 963s, BMW M Hybrid V8s, and the highest-placed Cadillac V-Series.R and Acura ARX-06 all took turns at the head of the field, with the Porsches being the fastest on the straights, the BMWs quickest through the infield, and the Cadillac and Acura maintaining consistent pace across the length of a stint. In a repeat of previous restarts, the #6 Porsche switched on its tyres quickly, building a gap to the chasing #60 Acura, but before long Mathieu Jaminet’s mirrors were filled with the light signature of Tom Blomqvist’s resurgent Acura.
As two GTD Ferraris ran side-by-side on the banking, Jaminet hesitated for a split second as he moved to the top of the curve to pass them. Blomqvist kept his foot firmly down, running within inches of the Porsche ahead. The pair pulled away from the rest of the field, slicing through traffic as their fight for first heated up, before enjoying a few laps of uninterrupted clear track running where the #6 gained 1.5-seconds over the #60. The white and blue Acura went from the hunter to the hunted, defending from the #7 Porsche which had arrived on the scene from 2.5-seconds behind. Four bumper-to-bumper laps through traffic saw the #7 make a move around the outside of the #60 into the first corner, before quickly departing the scene. Again, the Acura came back as the stint went on, returning to striking distance as the leading trio built a 33-second advantage over the fourth-place #25 BMW.
Green flag running continued at pace, with gaggles of GTDs continuing to lap the circuit together. Their close running was briefly interrupted as the faster prototypes made their way past. The #77 Porsche took control of the GTD Pro field, maintaining a healthy lead to the #65 Mustang and #1 M4 which were locked into a fight for second place.
A New Day

Thirteen hours of darkness came to an end as just under seven hours of the race remained, with the bright sky dulling the glow of the orange exhaust pipes of the remaining competitors. The sun rose over the Penske Porsches battling for first place overall, and the #24 BMW bringing itself back into contention as the air temperature rose. Meanwhile, the LMP2 lead continued to oscillate between the #8, #04, #22, #99, and #18 - all of which were still on the lead lap.
As the leading #8 and #99 LMP2s ran side-by-side for the best part of a lap, the third place #04 Crowdstrike entry lost control with Indycar star Colton Herta at the wheel. Making contact with the wall at high speed, the rear wing left the car, and the right rear wishbone snapped. The ORECA lost nine laps to repairs, and was taken out of contention for the class win.

With the gaps between competitors nullified, the curse of yellows breeding yellows struck again. The prototype categories made it through the first corner cleanly, but the GTD field saw a muti-car incident brought about by the #21 AF Corse Ferrari spinning, and sideswiping the #78 Forte Racing Lamborghini that had run wide of its own accord; the impact dislodged the door from the blue Huracan. Also spinning was the #80 Lone Star AMG GT3, which limped back to the pits at a reduced pace and smoke coming from the rear corner.
At the second time of asking, the race restarted with five hours to go, and the #7 Porsche made quick work of getting away from the chasing field. The #10 Cadillac locked up, tapping the rear of the #25 BMW, causing a spin and a puncture in the process. The battle for the lead of LMP2 reignited with the #99 AO Racing and #88 AF Corse machines being within a second of each other for multiple laps, but the blue #88 couldn’t get past the purple dragon. The leads in GTD Pro and GTD were claimed by the #1 BMW and #13 Corvette respectively, with the top four cars separated by less than five seconds in both classes.
Four to go.

Having been a close-fought contest between Porsche and Acura overnight, the race pivoted to a battle between Porsche and BMW during the day. The #24 kept in touch with the leading #7, taking the lead when the Porsche stopped for fuel. The pit cycle returned the #7 to the head of the field, with the gap growing to 14 seconds with four hours to go.
Eventually, the #6 Porsche rose to second place overall behind its sister car, and the #88 finally took the lead in LMP2, enjoying an advantage of 26-seconds to the trailing #8. True to form, the Pratt Miller-run Corvettes came into their own in the latter stages of the race, as the #4 finally got past the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW to lead GTD Pro.
Controversy soon followed, as Tommy Milner’s Corvette caught the #48 BMW driven by Augusto Farfus - the sister car to the #1 of Connor De Phillipi who had got within half a second of the class lead. While lapped cars are not obliged to make way for the leaders, they aren’t allowed to block their competitors. The #48 backed the #4 into the clutches of the #1, with Tommy Milner having to defend his position from the BMW behind, while trying to get past the lapped BMW ahead.


Tensions rose, with the Corvette making some do-or-die defensive moves, but eventually the #48 was penalised by the Race Directors for blocking. The on-track action was thrilling, but the tension boiled over with an understandably miffed Milner parking his Corvette ahead of the chasing BMW as he was blocked once more by Farfus. Contact was made, and the right rear corner of the Corvette was bent out of shape. Undeterred, Milner clung on to the lead, and extended a one-fingered salute to the #48 as it slowed to serve its penalty.
The wounded ‘Vette continued, as the #1 stopped for fuel and tyres. The #4 subsequently stopped for fuel, and black tape to get its rear bumper back into the right place. Moments after leaving the pit lane, the Corvette lost its place to the #1 BMW, and had to pit for more tape 30 minutes later.
Sprint Finish
Daytona often brings long periods of uninterrupted racing, allowing the teams, drivers and cars to press on at pace. The last few years have seen caution periods negating the leads, and resetting the order multiple times in the final hours, and this year would be no different. Endurance racing can be a cruel sport, with a dose of poor luck seeing AF Corse’s LMP2 lead evaporate as the car ground to a halt. As a result, the #99 returned to first in class.
Thanks to the thirteenth FCY of the weekend, the #25 BMW was thrust back into contention as the race restarted with just under two hours to go. The #7 Porsche led the field back to green, but by the end of the first lap, the #24 lined up a move around the outside into turn 1. Dries Vanthoor couldn’t make the move stick, so Felipe Nasr retook the lead a few moments later.

The gloves were off in all classes. In both the mixed-ability categories - LMP2 and GTD - the professional drivers were at the wheel of their machines, and the racing was relentless. In GTD Pro, the #1 BMW defended valiantly to keep the entire class behind its rear bumper, until the #65 Ford took the lead at turn 1. The late lunge forced the Mustang wide, so the M4 held the inside line and retook the class lead.
Shortly after, yet more drama unfolded in LMP2 as the #99 AO Racing entry pitted from the lead, with an electrical issue. “Spike” forfeited the lead, dropping to sixth in class where it would eventually finish. This brought the remaining four cars on the lead lap back into contention - provided they’d survive the race of attrition.

A tantalising half-second away from the overall lead, the #24 BMW outbraked itself at the first corner, running wide and becoming a 691bhp lawnmower, letting the leading #6 Porsche edge away. Just as the race seemed to be settling down, the #45 Wayne Taylor Racing GTD Lamborghini stopped agonisingly close to the pit entry, meaning another caution period followed.
The strategists went into overdrive, making race-defining decisions of whether to pit to push harder, or stay out to maintain track position but rely on fuel saving to reach the chequered flag. With the pit stops, wave-by, and class splits complete, all that remained was a flat-out 38 minutes to decide who would be written into the history books.
Now or never.
The green fla