2026 24 Hours of Daytona: GTD Pro Update
As the 2026 24 Hours of Daytona approaches, the GTD Pro class is shaping up to be a competitive arena with 15 entries from 10 different manufacturers. The recent “Roar Before the 24” served as a critical pre-test, showcasing both raw speed and strategic restraint—an ingrained tactic to avoid revealing full pace. Notably, three GTD cars set faster outright lap times than the fastest GTD Pro entry.
Pre-Test Highlights
The #75 75 Express Mercedes, driven by Kenny Habul, Maro Engel, Will Power, and Chaz Mostert, emerged as the team to beat, securing the top spot with a best lap of 1:47.530 in the final session—a notable achievement for Habul, a Bronze-rated driver. The team dominated the sessions, claiming four session bests despite a minor incident caused by Power in the first session.
Winward Racing’s #48 Mercedes, with a lineup featuring factory drivers, was close behind, marking a cumulative +0.115 off the best time. Meanwhile, the #9 Pfaff Lamborghini and #65 Multimatic Ford also demonstrated competitive pace.
Cumulative GTD Pro Results (Fastest Lap)
- #75 75 Express Mercedes (Habul/Engel/Power/Mostert) – 1:47.530 (Session 6)
- Winward Mercedes #48 (Noble/Hart/Martin/Stolz) +0.115 (Session 3)
- Pfaff Lamborghini #9 (Caldarelli/Mitchell/Bortolotti/Hinchcliffe) +0.189 (Session 3)
- Multimatic Ford #65 (Mies/Vervisch/Priaulx) +0.230 (Session 6)
Engel, racing in Dubai, did not partake in the Roar, leaving the driving to his teammates. In contrast, performance from Porsche and BMW lagged significantly, a surprise considering the latter had podium potential in previous iterations.
Long-Run Analysis
Long-run consistency is paramount in endurance racing. The #75 75 Express Mercedes led the average lap times under 1:53 minutes with an average of 1:48.803 over 130 laps. The closest competitor, Multimatic Ford #65, trailed by +0.213 but completed 135 laps.
Key performers over 100 laps include:
- #75 75 Express Mercedes – 1:48.803 (130 laps)
- Multimatic Ford #65 +0.213 (135 laps)
- Pratt Miller Corvette #3 +0.327 (121 laps)
Top 20% Laps: Sprint Performance
Filtered lap times reveal sprint capability, showing:
- #75 75 Express Mercedes – 1:47.890
- Multimatic Ford #65 +0.275
- Pfaff Lamborghini #9 +0.283
The performance from the Mercedes-AMG contingent underscores their vehicle’s strength, particularly highlighting the substantial number of laps completed in the 1:47s by the #75.
Conclusion
With the 24 Hours of Daytona fast approaching, Mercedes-AMG appears poised as a dominant force, but the true measure will be revealed during race week, particularly regarding potential Balance of Performance adjustments. The results from the Roar provide crucial insights into each manufacturer’s preparedness and strategic capabilities.
