The ‘Roar’ take a look at for the 24 Hours of Daytona was dominated by Porsche. All three 963s secured no less than one session-best time, together with the non-public JDC-Miller Porsche working final 12 months’s spec.
The remaining session finest occasions went to the #24 WRT BMW and the #10 WTR Cadillac.
GTP automobiles participated in six of the seven periods, as the ultimate one was reserved for Bronze-rated drivers. Within the cumulative standings periods all three Porsches occupy the highest three spots:
Cumulative GTP Total Outcomes (Quickest Lap):
Penske Porsche #7 (Nasr/Andlauer/Heinrich) – 1m36.327s (Session 1)
JDC-Miller Porsche #85 (Pino/Frederick/van der Helm) +0.004 sec (Session 1)
Penske Porsche #6 (L. Vanthoor/Estre/Campbell) +0.108 (Session 1)
WTR Cadillac #10 (R. Taylor/Albuquerque/Stevens) +0.404 (Session 4)
WRT BMW #24 (S. van der Linde/D. Vanthoor/Frijns/Rast) +0.415 (Session 2)
WTR Cadillac #40 (J. Taylor/Deletraz/Herta) +0.574 (Session 1)
Motion Specific Cadillac #31 (Aitken/Bamber/Vesti/Zilisch) +0.659 (Session 4)
WRT BMW #25 (Marciello/Eng/Wittmann/Magnussen) +0.820 (Session 4)
Meyer Shank Acura #60 (Blomqvist/Braun/Dixon/Allmendinger) +0.968 (Session 3)
HRC Acura #93 (van der Zande/Yelloly/Palou/Ohta) +1.017 (Session 4)
THOR Aston Martin #23 (Gunn/de Angelis/Riberas) +1.202 (Session 3)
Porsche made its mark as early because the very first session on Friday. The lap occasions within the low 1m36s vary would show sufficient to safe the highest three spots within the general standings.
All laptimes had been achieved in race trim, as 1m34ss and even 1m33s are anticipated for qualifying.
Lengthy-run evaluation: Porsche outpaces rivals
Consistency is, after all, far more necessary than single lap occasions. To maintain it easy, we now have factored in all laps from all periods accomplished beneath 1m40s.
Since slower automobiles naturally recorded extra laps within the 1m40s vary than the quick ones, the gaps right here are usually reasonably underestimated – reasonably than overestimated. However, a transparent image emerges:
Penske Porsche #7: 1m38.095s (113 laps beneath 1:40)
Penske Porsche #6: +0.096 (119 laps)
WTR Cadillac #10: +0.358 (125 laps)
JDC Miller Porsche #85: +0.372 (99 laps)
WTR Cadillac #40: +0.382 (120 laps)
WRT BMW #24: +0.397 (162 laps)
Meyer Shank Acura #60 (Blomqvist/Braun/Dixon/Allmendinger) +0.439 (111 laps)
HRC Acura #93 (van der Zande/Yelloly/Palou/Ohta) +0.528 (128 laps)
Motion Specific Cadillac #31 (Aitken/Bamber/Vesti/Zilisch) +0.567 (169 laps)
WRT BMW #25 (Marciello/Eng/Wittmann/Magnussen) +0.627 (138 laps)
THOR Aston Martin #23 (Gunn/de Angelis/Riberas) +0.835 (36 laps)
The Aston Martin missed Classes 3 and 4 on account of an engine change and due to this fact recorded only a few consultant laps.
Each Acura ARX-06s missed massive elements of the primary session on account of unspecified minor points however gained momentum afterwards.
Porsche clearly dictates the tempo within the lengthy runs. The 2 Penske manufacturing facility automobiles have considerably pulled away on the entrance.
The sturdy efficiency of the privately entered JDC-Miller Porsche in 2025 spec comes as a shock. It reveals that Porsche clearly had the higher hand throughout the pre-test.
To place the occasions into perspective: Felipe Nasr’s 1m36.327s would have solely ranked seventh-fastest within the 2025 Daytona 24 Hours.
Which means there’s nonetheless room for enchancment, particularly since Cadillac and Acura acquired higher power-to-weight ratios in each pace ranges and Porsche within the high-speed vary in comparison with final 12 months’s BoP.
Moreover, the updates to all 4 LMDh automobiles definitely have not made them any slower.
Cadillac has established itself because the second-strongest drive with each automobiles. The #24 WRT BMW and #60 MSR Acura are additionally inside a tenth of a second of the third-placed Cadillac by way of common lap occasions.
In fact, WRT had to make use of the take a look at periods to get began in IMSA competitors. The brand new-for 2026 manufacturing facility outfit must be granted a little bit of a “rookie bonus” for the race weekend.
Aston Martin, then again, appears to be struggling. The engine change resulted in a big lack of monitor time, however the hole to the opposite producers is substantial.
Prime 20 per cent laps: Cadillac closes in
With the 24 Hours of Daytona usually being determined in a dash to the end, we additionally took a take a look at the quickest 20 p.c of all lap occasions beneath 1m40s. The outcome largely confirms the earlier observations:
Penske Porsche #6 – 1m37.135s
JDC Miller Porsche #85 +0.102 sec
WTR Cadillac #10 +0.133
Penske Porsche #7 +0.177
WTR Cadillac #40 (J. Taylor/Deletraz/Herta) +0.341
WRT BMW #24 (S. van der Linde/D. Vanthoor/Frijns/Rast) +0.457
Meyer Shank Acura #60 (Blomqvist/Braun/Dixon/Allmendinger) +0.545
WRT BMW #25 (Marciello/Eng/Wittmann/Magnussen) +0.595
Motion Specific Cadillac #31 (Aitken/Bamber/Vesti/Zilisch) +0.598
HRC Acura #93 (van der Zande/Yelloly/Palou/Ohta) +0.670
THOR Aston Martin #23 (Gunn/de Angelis/Riberas) +0.936
Porsche stays on the high, however Cadillac can shut the hole in terms of absolutely the quickest laps.
This sample was seen repeatedly within the 2025 World Endurance Championship, the place Cadillac proved to be extraordinarily aggressive in qualifying and on quick particular person laps.
BMW and Acura stay at roughly in the identical spot as within the lengthy runs, the hole even tends to be barely bigger.
What the groups say
“We accomplished the take a look at programme cleanly and had been in a position to focus completely on our plan all through. The Porsche 963 ran flawlessly, and the drivers delivered sturdy performances.” mentioned Porsche’s LMDh undertaking chief Urs Kuratle,
“The outcomes from JDC-Miller MotorSports present that our buyer staff has additionally made noticeable progress over the winter. We’re ideally ready for the season opener, though we’ll solely actually be capable to assess the aggressive order throughout race week.”
Filipe Albuquerque from the Cadillac #10 additionally expressed satisfaction: “Proud of the automobile steadiness and with how every thing went. Now it’s time to analyse information from today and prepare for the race.”
Sheldon van der Linde hinted that BMW may not have proven its full potential but: “We’ve spent the previous few days working by means of the preliminary changes as new staff members joined, setting a robust basis shifting ahead.
“Within the apply periods earlier than the race, the main focus will now be on efficiency, in order that we now have a quick automobile within the race, which we will hopefully battle for victory with.”
If the BoP stays unchanged, Porsche is the clear favourite for the win. With all producers besides Aston Martin having fun with a easy take a look at, IMSA ought to have a very good understanding of the place the up to date automobiles stand.
Three extra apply periods and qualifying are scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Photographs from The Roar Earlier than The 24 – Sunday
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