Double lead for the Porsche factory team in Daytona

Double lead for the Porsche factory team in Daytona

26/01/2025

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.

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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 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."

Gianmaria Bruni (Porsche 963 #85): ‟Since the start of the race, we've been struggling with a braking issue. Both the front and rear brakes are not reaching optimal temperatures, which impacts our performance, particularly before Turn 1 and the Le Mans chicane, where we arrive at high speed."

Alessio Picariello (Porsche 911 GT3 R #77): ‟The race started somewhat challenging for us with a few minor issues. But the team responded well, and now we are back in the fight for the class win. At the end of my stint, we were still leading. Of course, anything can happen. We're managing our pace to ensure the car remains competitive until the end."

Thomas Preining (Porsche 963 #20): ‟I had a few good restarts after yellow phases, which helped us move up significantly at times. However, the race remains tough for us. Compared to the other 911 GT3 R, we are still lacking top speed, and we can't pinpoint the cause."

Ayhancan Güven (Porsche 911 GT3 R #120): ‟We are battling for the lead in the GTD category. I have already been in first place but had to repeat a pit stop. Now we're fighting our way back. The team is doing an excellent job, the car is performing well, and we are managing to get the tyres into their optimal working range."

Michelle Gatting (Porsche 911 GT3 R #83): ‟Unfortunately, we lost significant time due to a tyre puncture and are also dealing with an aerodynamic issue involving a splitter. The performance is there, but we are not gaining positions despite pushing hard. Nonetheless, we are not giving up - we owe it to ourselves and the entire project to keep fighting. It would be better, of course, if we had something more tangible to fight for."

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