Porsche Penske Motorsport clinched a remarkable win at the 63rd Rolex 24 At Daytona International Speedway, winning for the second consecutive year.
The No. 7 Porsche 963, driven by Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Laurens Vanthoor, not only claimed the overall victory but also took home the Grand Touring Prototype, GTP, class win, solidifying their place at the forefront of endurance racing.
Roger Penske expressed his delight with the performance, via Speedway Media:
“It’s amazing to see the work we’ve done with this Porsche program the last couple years, winning the (IMSA) championship last year, and with the relationship we have with Porsche, our organization, I’m thrilled.
“It was quite something there at the end!”
This win also proved Penske’s love for the sport and support for his team, as he stayed awake throughout the entire 24-hour event, overseeing the race from the timing stand at the young age of 87.
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The excitement reached its peak when Felipe Nasr overtook Matt Campbell’s No. 6 Porsche 963M in the last 22 minutes of the race. Nasr managed to maintain a 1.335-second lead over Tom Blomqvist’s No. 60 Acura ARX-06M, securing his place in history with his 11th IMSA victory.
Nasr was unsurprisingly elated:
“And it’s just an incredible, incredible feeling. I just cried in the car. I don’t know what to say. Incredible.”
This was his second consecutive Rolex 24 win.
This year’s race featured a highly competitive grid, with 61 cars and 235 drivers from 31 countries, including 14 former Formula 1 drivers.
Porsche, with this win, extended their record to 20 overall victories at Daytona, further solidifying their position as the most successful manufacturer in the event’s history. Team Penske’s victory at this iconic track, where they debuted in 1966, was a nostalgic moment for the squad.
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Nick Tandy made history by becoming the first driver to win all four major 24-hour endurance races: Le Mans, Daytona, Nürburgring, and Spa. He shared:
“It’s one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and we just emerged victorious. I had a chance here to win before in class, but the overall is something different, and it’s something that I’ve been wanting to try for a long time.”
However, it wasn’t exclusively a tale of victory for all. Other teams faced plenty hurdles. Earl Bamber, part of Cadillac Racing, voiced his disappointment.
“I think we were very competitive and had something to fight at the front. We led laps. It’s a shame. I guess we all just have to come back next year.”
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The race reached a vast digital audience, with the official YouTube livestream garnering over 2 million views by the end of the event.
The excitement will continue with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 15th. This race, held at the 3.74-mile, 17-turn Sebring International Raceway, will present another opportunity for teams to showcase their performance. With a competitive season unfolding, the teams will aim to capitalize on their Daytona performances and carry momentum into the future.
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