The Rolex 24 at Daytona has once again captured the attention of motorsport enthusiasts as it celebrates another year of intense endurance racing. Following last year’s debut of the GTP class, the 2024 event promised an exciting showdown, with the entire GTP field separated by a mere 0.8 seconds in qualifying, an impressive feat that highlighted the competitive nature of this year’s race.
As the green flag waved, Felipe Nasr quickly maneuvered the #7 Penske Porsche 963 into second place, trailing the #31 Whelen Action Express Cadillac. In the early hours of the race, the Cadillac set the tone for the competition, achieving the fastest lap of the event at an impressive 1:35.863.
Throughout the night, the cooler conditions seemed to favor the Penske Porsche, allowing it to surge ahead and lead for a significant portion of the dark hours. As daybreak arrived, the dynamics shifted once more. The #31 Cadillac reclaimed the lead, maintaining a narrow 1.4 second advantage over the #7 Porsche.
The final hours of the race turned into a nail-biting contest, with the outcome hanging in the balance. In a strategic move, the #31 Action Express Cadillac made a pit stop to attempt an undercut on the Porsche. Unfortunately for them, a late yellow flag disrupted their strategy, allowing the #7 Penske Porsche 963 to emerge victorious after an intense battle that lasted until the final minutes.
Completing the podium, the #40 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-06 secured third place, while the competition among the Porsche 963s remained fierce. The #6 Penske Porsche finished fourth, followed closely by the #5 Proton Competition and the #85 JDC Miller Motorsports Porsche 963, which took fifth and sixth, respectively.
In the LMP2 category, the #18 Era Motorsports Gibson Oreca 07 claimed the class win, demonstrating strong performance throughout the race. Meanwhile, in GTD Pro, the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 took the top honors, with AO Racing’s #77 Porsche 992 GT3R finishing just one lap behind. In GTD, Win Ward Racing’s Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo secured the class victory.
With thrilling battles and a competitive spirit, the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona proved once again why it is the premier American endurance race. The event set the stage for an exhilarating season ahead, with fans eagerly anticipating what’s next for the GTP class and beyond.
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