In a chaotic qualifying session with a purple flag and almost a uncommon multicar crash, BMW backed up its spectacular velocity with the general pole place for the 63rd Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Crew RLL BMW driver Dries Vanthoor turned a lap of 1 minute, 33.895 seconds across the 12-turn, 3.56-mile street course to qualify first within the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8. Nick Yelloly certified second (1:34.186) within the No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06. Felipe Nasr, driving the No. 7 963 for defending winner Porsche Penske Motorsport was third (1:34.280).
It is the primary pole place for BMW within the Grand Touring Prototype hybrid class. The premier division started in 2023 and ushered within the LMDh period of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“Very glad, very good,” Vanthoor advised NBC Sports activities’ Kevin Lee. “Once more, I imply doesn’t suggest a lot. It is a lengthy race to go nonetheless, however yeah it’s nice to start out on pole. It’s the primary pole for our program so very glad I received it performed, however it’s nonetheless a protracted race to go so loads can nonetheless occur, however it’s the perfect beginning place we are able to get, so cannot get far more than that.”BMW was the final producer to announce plans to enter the GTP class and struggled by way of the previous two seasons to match the outcomes of Acura, Porsche and Cadillac. Crew RLL BMW had managed one win in every of the previous two seasons as BMW completed final among the many producers within the 2023-24 championship standings.
However because the Roar Earlier than the Rolex 24 check final weekend at Daytona Worldwide Speedway, as Vanthoor turned the quickest lap (1:35.424) over seven periods final Friday by way of Sunday.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing co-owner Bobby Rahal mentioned the workforce’s tempo had fostered a “very constructive, very calm” ambiance internally.
Key info on the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona, which might be held Jan. 25-26 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
“Actually, because the Roar this previous weekend, it has been a trouble-free week thus far,” workforce proprietor Bobby Rahal advised Lee earlier than qualifying started. “The vehicles have been fast. After all, that makes me all of the extra nervous when every part’s going so nicely. You are ready for the opposite shoe to drop.”
It appeared it might need early in qualifying as a mechanical downside for Crew RLL’s different automobile, the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8, introduced out a purple flag for five minutes (and negated any hope of BMW driver Sheldon van der Linde posting a lap time).
With solely Mirko Bortolotti of the No. 63 Lamborghini SC63 having accomplished a lap earlier than the stoppage, the GTP session turned a scamble when the inexperienced flag waved with 6 minutes left.
BMW’s two entries have been quick all through the Roar earlier than the Rolex 24 at Daytona check.
Vanthoor, who co-drives with Philipp Eng, Raffaele Marciello and Kevin Magnussen, captured the pole a minute after the checkered flag (having begun his last lap whereas nonetheless below inexperienced).
“It was fairly difficult, particularly to get the tire pressures up and the brakes to start out the lap,” he mentioned. “It is not at all times been our energy, But it surely seems to be like we have been going nicely bettering that fairly nicely. After which it was simply case of simply getting a clear lap.”
That wasn’t the case for Tom Blomqvist, who held the quickest time getting into the ultimate minute and appeared prepared to enhance on his last lap within the No. 60 Acura. However the Meyer Shank Racing driver almost collided Bortolotti whereas turning onto the backstretch. The motion continued as Blomqvist and Bortolotti almost made contact a number of instances earlier than the Le Mans Chicane.
“I had fairly a giant hole and clearly I used to be on fairly lap and had such a lot better drive,” Blomqvist advised NBC Sports activities’ Matt Yocum. “Once I go to move it in, he tries to squeeze me down. Yeah, I get it, he is attempting to guard his lap, however they’re 2 seconds off the tempo. So yeah, it was unlucky for each of us.“I used to be in a foul place there with the monitor place. I needed to make a cut up determination, the lap earlier than, if I again off and hope that the final one’s OK or not. I have been burned so many instances by not setting a lap after which hoping to get the final one and there is been a purple or no matter. So I made the choice there in that case, which was in all probability the mistaken one. After which clearly I hoped I may get by however he tried to squeeze me, and it is qualifying. That (stuff) should not occur. It was only a dangerous place to be in from my place. We have been a a lot quicker automobile and sadly for him like he is attempting to do his job after which he tries to dam me. I imply it will have been tremendous if he simply let me go”
Blomqvist, who certified sixth behind the No. 31 Cadillac of Jack Aitken (1:34.350) and the No. 85 Porsche of Gianmaria Burni (1:34.374), appeared poised to repeat his qualifying efficiency from 2023 when he turned a large last lap to win the Rolex 24 pole (and in addition received the race in MSR’s most up-to-date begin at Daytona).
“So it is only a disgrace the qualy for us, as a result of I feel we had automobile,” he mentioned. “I feel pole place was undoubtedly up for grabs at this time. We have been a bit one lap later than the others on the tires, so I needed to actually get them as much as temp, so it wasn’t supreme. So clearly disappointing as a result of I feel the automobile undoubtedly had an opportunity to combat for pole, however anyway, it is a lengthy race, so it is only a little bit of an ego factor proper now. It is not the top of the world, so we have to crack on, and we now have race automobile.”
QUALIFYING: l l l l
Rahal and Vanthoor additionally have been preaching endurance, particularly provided that the chilly temperatures that lowered speeds Thursday are anticipated to persist by way of the weekend.
“It’s going to simply be a brand new factor for everybody within the race to see the way it goes in sizzling situations, chilly situations and possibly quite a lot of drama,” Vanthoor mentioned.
Rolex 24 pole qualifying in different classes:
LMP2
Daniel Goldburg claimed the highest spot for the No. 22 United Autosports ORECA LMP2 07, turning a lap of 1 minute, 38.676 seconds. Ben Keating, who’s racing in each the LMP2 and GTD Professional classes, certified second (1:39.00) within the No. 52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA.
“It was just about proper heading in the right direction, however that is nice,” Goldburg, who co-drives with Paul di Resta, Rasmus Lindh and James Allen, advised NBC Sports activities’ Yocum. “I have been near pole a complete bunch of instances final yr. Put quite a lot of work in on the offseason, quite a lot of work on within the Roar and the check again in November. The workforce, the boys put collectively an superior automobile and simply put all of it collectively on the market at this time.
“I am actually, actually enthusiastic about this. I have been coming and watching this race for shut to twenty years and competing. Lengthy race forward. So that is this is only one little notch. And now I received an important workforce, an important bunch of co drivers, and we’ll go to work on Saturday.”
Nick Boulle (1:39.203) was third within the No. 2, adopted by Chris Cumming (1:39.217) and Steven Thomas (1:39.389).
GTD Professional
Ford Mustang GT3s swept the entrance row as Mike Rockenfeller turned a lap of 1 minute, 45.523 seconds in his No. 64 to prime Multimatic Motorsports teammate Frederic Vercisch (1:45.855) within the No. 65. The Ford manufacturing unit effort reshuffled its driving lineup after a lackluster return to the GT class final yr.
“We have been pushing actually laborious for certain the entire week,” Rockenfeller, who will co-drive with Sebastian Priaulx and NASCAR Cup driver Austin Cindric, advised NBC Sports activities’ Lee. “I might say the Roar (check) already has been good. The Mustang was good, however everyone knows it is an important place to be, however we actually need to be (first) on Sunday, so now we simply give attention to the race. Qualifying is sweet, and it is good to be right here to get the eye, however no person remembers that subsequent week so it is all in regards to the race now.
“I feel the automobile was operating incredible I received a extremely clear lap I feel we did form of a special technique to everyone else on our facet and that was paying off with these chilly situations. For us as a workforce, it means loads as a result of we actually had a tricky first yr. We had some highlights clearly, however it’s regular if you include a brand new automobile to one of many hardest championships on the earth with the perfect competitors on the market So you may’t count on that you’re proper there from the start and I feel in 12 months 2 now to indicate the tempo in qualifying is superb. Now we have to give attention to the race.”
The highest 5 was rounded out by Dan Harper (1:46.005) within the No. 48 BMW M4 GT3, Alexander Sims (1:46.012) within the No. 3 Corvette Zo6 GT3.R and Andrea Caldarelli (1:46.136) within the No. 9 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.
GTD
With 4 minutes remaining, Elliott Skeer turned a lap of 1 minute, 46.634 seconds within the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, nipping Philip Ellis (1:46.652) within the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 that received the GTD championship final yr.
“This can be a race with quite a lot of unknowns, clearly, with the brand new (torque) sensors and every part we now have within the automobile,” Skeen, who co-drives with Adam Adelson, , Tom Sargent, and Ayhancan Güven, advised Yocum. “So to have a Porsche lastly sturdy at Daytona once more, feels nice. As a workforce at Wright, we now have put a lot work into getting these sensors dialed, get the chassis dialed. And it takes loads to place all of it collectively. And in the end, it was what I wanted on the lap. Get fortunate with a draft right here or there and simply hit my marks in any other case.
“After all, It is a 24-hour race. However what a great way to start out the yr by having our Wright motorsports for Porsche up entrance.”
Trent Hindman certified third within the No. 45 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, adopted by Parker Thompson within the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 and Franck Perera within the No. 78 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.
The 63rd Rolex 24 .
