IMSA Weathertech Championship Daytona Interim Report #2

January 26, 2025


Double lead for the Porsche factory team in Daytona

  • Porsche 963 driven by Campbell/Jaminet/Estre leads after 16 hours
  • Teammates Nasr/Tandy/Vanthoor in second place
  • "Rexy" Porsche 911 GT3 R ahead in GTD Pro class


The two Porsche 963 entries fielded by Porsche Penske Motorsport are running first and second in Daytona shortly before dawn. After 16 of 24 hours, Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet, and Kévin Estre maintain the lead ahead of teammates Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Laurens Vanthoor. In the GTD Pro category, another Porsche leads the field: Laurin Heinrich, Klaus Bachler, and Alessio Picariello are at the front in the AO Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 R. Seven out of eight Porsche race cars are still in the race.


Stuttgart.  After two thirds of the 24-hour race, the Porsche Penske Motorsport factory team is still battling for a second consecutive overall victory at the Daytona International Speedway. In cool air and track temperatures of around 8 degrees Celsius, the 520 kW (707 PS) Porsche 963 showed strong competitiveness during the night. Despite several yellow and safety car phases compressing the field, the cars consistently held the top two positions. The hybrid prototype from customer team Proton Competition briefly took the lead after midnight but had to retire shortly thereafter due to suspension damage. The cause is currently under investigation.

"Eight hours before the finish, we're holding first and second place - that's a solid double lead," summarized Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh. "We're competing against Acura and BMW, both of which are very fast. Thanks to smart tactics, we're in a strong position regarding tire strategy. If we can stay out of trouble, things are looking good."

 

GT categories: Porsche 911 GT3 R amidst the fight for the lead in both classes
After a challenging start to the race, AO Racing's 911 GT3 R, nicknamed "Rexy" by fans due to its dinosaur livery, found its rhythm in the cooler night-time conditions, climbing to first place in the GTD Pro class after midnight. The identical car fielded by Proton Competition also briefly led the field. In the GTD category, Wright Motorsports' #120 car repeatedly fought its way to the top and remains a strong contender for a top finish.

 

Race progress overview
For up-to-date information on the Daytona action, visit Pitnotes.org.

 

The classic race streamed for free
IMSA.tv offers a free livestream of the 63rd edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona outside the USA and Canada. Live timing is available at scoring.imsa.com.

 

Drivers' comments after the night phase
Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #6): "My double stint in the middle of the night went smoothly without any issues or contact with other cars. Our Porsche 963 is running perfectly, and the cooler temperatures seem to be enhancing our performance - I was able to repeatedly take the lead. The race has seen a relatively high attrition rate, with many GTP cars encountering issues. We are focusing on staying cautious."

Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 963 #7): "So far, so good. Our Porsche is running flawlessly and remains unscathed. We have avoided trouble and managed to fight our way back to the front. During my second stint, I spent a long time behind Mathieu Jaminet, who was slightly held up by an Acura that didn't want to be overtaken. I stayed out of it to avoid taking any risks."

 

All interim results are available at https://results.imsa.com.


Further information, film and photo material in the Porsche Newsroom: newsroom.porsche.com

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