By Dylan Spaulding
The 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona lived up to its reputation as one of the most challenging endurance races in the world. With 61 cars across four classes battling around the clock, fans were treated to a thrilling mix of strategy, close racing, and dramatic moments.
The back-to-back feat marks the first time since 2022-2023 that a team has won consecutive Rolex 24s, with Meyer Shank Racing earning the honors. It was also Porsche’s 20th race win in the Rolex 24.
In LMP2, Sebastian Bourdais outlasted the rest of the field in his first race behind the wheel of the #8 Tower Motorsports Oreca to bring home the team’s first Rolex 24 triumph.
The GT classes saw a pair of American manufacturers take home class honors. The #65 Multimatic Motorsports Mustang earned the Ford Mustang GT3’s first-ever win after an impressive two weeks, while the customer-Corvette team, #13 AWA, brought home the GT3 Z06.R’s first IMSA win.
The race came down to the wire, with every class up for grabs after a late caution from the #45 Wayne Taylor Racing GTD Lamborghini, which created an all-time classic finish.
Early Race Highlights
From the green flag, the #24 RLL BMW, piloted by polesitter Dries Vanthoor, established an early lead in the GTP class. Meanwhile, the race nearly had its first major incident when Nick Boulle in the #2 United Autosports LMP2 spun on the opening lap, forcing GTD Pro polesitter Mike Rockenfeller in the #64 Multimatic Mustang to make a near-miraculous dodge. Vanthoor’s strong opening stint set the tone for a race full of bold moves and tense battles.
In the GTD Pro class, the first hour saw chaos, with Ben Keating in the #52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports sliding into the grass and P.J. Hyett in the #99 AO Racing LMP2 pitting early due to a faulty transponder.
Mechanical Woes and Early Retirements
As the race progressed, attrition began to take its toll. The #63 Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse was the first major retirement, suffering from mechanical issues early in Hour 2. Later, the #75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG faced overheating issues, ending its run prematurely.
The GTP class, which boasts the latest hybrid technology, saw several high-profile incidents. Dries Vanthoor brought the #24 BMW into the pits too hot, hitting the wall during Hour 2. Meanwhile, the #6 Porsche Penske endured multiple setbacks, including a nose replacement and penalties for pit lane infractions.
Tight Battles and Yellow Flags
The first full-course yellow came during Hour 3 when the #11 TDS Racing LMP2 slid off track. As the race continued, the competition intensified, with GTP cars like the #7 Porsche Penske, #31 Whelen Cadillac, and #60 Acura MSR trading leads. A massive crash in Hour 8 involving multiple cars, including the #40 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac the #48 Paul Miller Racing BMW, and the #9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini which underscored the race’s unpredictability.
The GTD Pro and GTD classes were just as fierce. The #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus had a rough outing, earning multiple black flags for tire-related issues. The GTD Pro class saw frequent leader changes, with standout performances from the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW and #65 Multimatic Mustang.
Mid-Race Drama
As night fell, the traditional Rolex 24 fireworks lit up the Daytona sky, but the action on track remained the main spectacle. The #31 Whelen Cadillac, driven by Jack Aitken, suffered a suspension failure while leading in Hour 11, briefly derailing their race. The #43 Inter Europol LMP2 team, which had dominated its class for hours, retired after an issue during Hour 15.
The GTP battle remained intense, with Porsche Penske holding a 1-2 for several stints, only to be challenged by the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac and the #60 Acura MSR. Meanwhile, the GTD classes continued to provide close racing, with Daniel Morad in the #32 Korthoff Competition Mercedes-AMG taking the lead in GTD during Hour 15.
Corvette-BMW Drama
The battle for the GTD Pro class heated up with two hours to go as Tommy Milner in the #4 Pratt Miller Corvette Racing and Connor De Phillippi in the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW fought tooth and nail for the top position. However, interference from the #48 Paul Miller Racing team led to back-left bumper damage for the #4 Corvette, opening the door in class.
After the incident, there was much debate on whether or not Farfus was blocking due to team orders, but the moment came at a pivotal point in the race.
Farfus was forced to take a penalty, which allowed Milner to shake off the #48 due to the blocking. But unfortunately, due to the damage caused during the incident, Tommy Milner was handed a black flag for the bumper hanging off the car, pushing them further down the ranks.
However, Milner gave fans arguably the imagery of the weekend with his “friendly” gesture to Farfus after the incident. It will be interesting to see how this heat between the two teams plays out heading into Sebring.
The Final Hour
By Hour 24, the drama reached its peak. Danny Formal from Wayne Taylor Racing suffered a suspension failure, causing a spin and bringing out a full-course yellow (FCY). During the ensuing pit cycle, the #7 Porsche Penske, driven by Felipe Nasr, briefly regained the lead, but the #24 BMW M Team RLL of Dries Vanthoor battled hard to close the gap.
It was clear that BMW and Corvette were in a head-to-head battle in the final moments of the race. With the #7 Porsche Penske of Nasr and the #3 Corvette Racing of Alexander Sims hot on the heels of the #1 BMW of van der Linde, the pressure mounted. It was a full-on American-made showdown, with the #65 Multimatic Mustang also in the mix, trying to capitalize on any mistake from the top two.
As the hours ticked down, the tension was palpable. The #4 Corvette Racing team was handed another penalty, and a collision between van der Linde’s BMW and Sims’ Corvette added to the chaos. The field saw further twists, with Mattia Drudi in the #27 Heart of Racing Corvette making crucial passes, while the #13 AWA Corvette’s Matthew Bell continued to hold strong in the GTD class.
In a moment of high drama, the #7 Porsche Penske of Felipe Nasr made a gutsy move to retake the lead from Matt Campbell in the #6 Porsche. But the biggest shock came when a late-race collision between Dries Vanthoor and the #021 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari left the #24 BMW struggling to maintain its position.
In the final moments of the race, the #7 Porsche Penske, driven by Nasr, held off fierce competition to secure victory for the second consecutive year. The #60 Acura MSR of Tom Blomqvist collected second, while the #6 Porsche Penske, driven by Campbell at the end, secured third. The LMP2 class was claimed by Sebastian Bourdais and the #8 Tower Motorsports Oreca, while the #64 Multimatic Mustang took the GTD Pro class win. In GTD, it was the #13 AWA Corvette that claimed the class victory.
It was a race filled with drama, strategy, and fierce battles. The Rolex 24 at Daytona proved once again why it remains one of the most exciting and unpredictable events in the world of motorsport.
Please consider making a donation so we can keep bringing you our best content from the racetrack.