Mercedes-AMG Dominates Final Day of Daytona IMSA Test
The final day of the November IMSA Sanctioned Test at Daytona showcased the strength of Mercedes-AMG teams, with standout performances across both GTD PRO and GTD classes.
In the four-hour morning session, Maxime Martin set the fastest time overall in the GTD PRO No. 48 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, clocking a 1m47.152s. Dean MacDonald followed closely with a 1m47.684s in the No. 59 RLL Team McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, and Will Power secured a time of 1m47.699s in the No. 75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG.
In the GTD class, Philip Ellis led with a 1m47.323s in the No. 57 Winward Mercedes-AMG, briefly holding the fastest time of the entire test before being bested by Martin. Nicki Thiim recorded the second-fastest time in the No. 44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, with Callum Ilott’s No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche finishing fourth.
The afternoon session concluded with Mikaël Grenier in the No. 75 Express Mercedes taking the top spot for the session at 1m47.187s. Thomas Preining, driving the No. 911 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R, not only posted a competitive time but also led the day with a total of 174 laps.
The top five in GTD PRO included rivals from Winward Racing and Vasser Sullivan Racing, indicating a competitive field moving forward. The No. 28 RS1 Porsche experienced a red flag due to debris but managed to recover. Jan Heylen’s 1m47.750s time remained the fastest in GTD.
Additionally, the Myers Riley Motorsports No. 16 Ford Mustang GT3 Evo faced technical issues, stopping after just eight laps. Romain Grosjean’s best time of 1m47.956s from Saturday remained the fastest among updated Mustangs. The No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini improved its best lap to 1m48.102s throughout the test.
The No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo also made strides, with Tomasso Mosca achieving a 1m48.146s on the final day.
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will next convene at the Roar Before The 24, scheduled from January 16-18, as teams prepare for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. This test period has set the stage for a highly competitive season ahead.
