Daytona 24-Hour Update: Porsche Dominates Amid Challenging Conditions
DAYTONA BEACH, FL — As the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona reaches its 11-hour mark, fog and mist continue to complicate racing conditions for drivers, teams, and officials. Despite the challenging visibility, on-track incidents have been minimal, allowing for a competitive atmosphere.
The most significant setback occurred for the #93 Meyer Shank Racing Acura, driven by Kaku Ohta. After an impressive run, the leading contender lost a wheel at the International Horseshoe during its 13th pit stop. This incident forced Ohta to return to the pits for repairs, costing the team crucial time and resulting in a position drop to 10th overall, now a lap down.
Currently, Porsche is asserting its dominance with Laurin Heinrich leading the race in the #7 car, followed by Matt Campbell in the #6, who trails by 22 seconds despite suffering from floor damage. Earl Bamber’s #31 Cadillac sits in third, just three seconds back.
In the LMP2 class, AO Racing holds the lead with Dane Cameron at the wheel, fending off a strong challenge from United Autosports’ #22 car, driven by Paul Di Resta, with the margin under two seconds.
In GTD Pro, Paul Miller Racing has taken the top spot, thanks in part to Dan Harper’s strategic driving. The two Corvettes follow closely in second and third, with a mere 3.8 seconds separating the leading trio. Further back, the #911 Manthey Porsche resides in fourth, while AO Racing’s Rexy Porsche has slipped to sixth due to a front bumper change during its latest stop.
The GTD class sees DXDT leading in a Corvette, followed by the Lone Star Mercedes and Turner BMW in the top three.
As teams navigate the demanding conditions and unexpected challenges, the race remains wide open, promising a vigorous contest as the night unfolds.
