Daytona 24 Hours: Porsche Dominates as Race Approaches Final Stages
As the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona enters its final hours, Porsche Penske Motorsport has established a commanding presence at the front of the field. With three hours remaining, the #6 Porsche 963, piloted by Kévin Estre, and the #7 car, driven by Julien Andlauer, occupy first and second positions, respectively, following strategic green flag pit stops.
In the battle for podium positions, BMW M Team WRT has positioned itself in third and fourth place, with Marco Wittmann leading the charge in the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, closely followed by Sheldon van der Linde in the #24 entry. Earl Bamber is running fifth in the #31 Cadillac Whelen V-Series.R.
In the LMP2 category, CrowdStrike Racing by APR is reviving hopes for a class victory. Malthe Jakobsen has taken the lead aboard the #04 ORECA 07-Gibson, recently overtaking António Félix da Costa of Inter Europol Competition in the #43 ORECA.
Corvette Racing holds a steady grip on GTD Pro with the #4 Corvette, now driven by Nico Varrone, who has begun to extend his lead. Ayhancan Güven in the #911 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R and Max Hesse in the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO follow closely behind.
In GTD, Robby Foley of Turner Motorsport is strategically positioned with a six-second advantage over Tom Gamble’s #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. Riccardo Pera in the #912 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche is currently third in the class.
Mechanical issues impacted several contenders: the #69 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO faced over 15 minutes in the pits, jeopardizing its podium potential, while the previously leading #36 DXDT Racing Corvette encountered a 40-minute delay due to a suspected transmission fluid leak. Both vehicles have returned to competition, though the #73 Pratt Miller Motorsports ORECA remains sidelined.
As the race unfolds, teams remain on high alert in what promises to be an exhilarating finish to this iconic endurance event.
