Daytona 24 Hours: Porsche holds on for third consecutive win

Felipe Nasr came under pressure in the closing stages by Jack Aitken, but held firm en route to guiding Porsche Penske Motorsport to victory in the Daytona 24 Hours - a the third consecutive win for team owner Roger Penske, Porsche and Nasr.

The Brazilian, piloting the #7 Porsche 963, was left pulling off a repeat of last year's heroics, but this time the rival being fended off was Aitken in the #31 Whelen Cadillac. Nasr crossed the finish line 1.569s ahead of the Brit. 

Dries Vanthoor wheeled BMW M Team WRT's #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 to the final step of the podium.

After pitstops with just under six hours to go, the #6 Porsche, with Matt Campbell driving, jumped to the lead over the sister car of Nasr. Uniquely, the windshield wiper of the #6 was taped down during its pitstop. Campbell maintained a 2.9s advantage over his team-mate as the clock ticked over to five hours remaining, with Kevin Magnussen (#25 BMW M Team WRT) in third and 23s behind.

When pitstops commenced 12 minutes later, the #6 swapped drivers from Campbell to Kevin Estre. The caution flew a few minutes later after the #18 Era Motorsport LMP2 of Logan Sargeant stopped in Turn 1, which split the field as Estre and Nasr pitted and moved the #25 BMW of Marco Wittman (who replaced Magnussen on a previous stop) up to the race lead. Jordan Taylor (Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing) and Will Stevens (Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing) rotated up to second and third, respectively, on the restart.

#24 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Dries Vanthoor, Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, Rene Rast (Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images)

The #3 Corvette of Garcia slowed with 5h12m left with right-rear suspension failure GTD Pro.

Wittman defended well when the race resumed with four hours, 19 minutes left, holding off a charging Nasr until pitting after holding the lead for nearly the next 40 minutes.

Wittman’s move to pit put Porsche running 1-2 and cycled to a significant lead following their pitstops 10 minutes later. Estre, utilising warm tyres after going for the undercut on the #7 Porsche (with Julien Andlauer in for Nasr after the pit stop), managed to pass his team-mate and take over the lead with three hours, 32 minutes to go.

Although the field was spreading out, it was brought closer together once more after another caution when Mike Rockenfeller’s #64 Ford Mustang GT3 suffered an engine issue and spewed fluids in speedway Turn 3. Estre gave way to Vanthoor, who restarted near the back of the GTP class after pitting two laps later than the majority of the class, with Andlauer leading the field to the green.

It was elbows out by Vanthoor as push through the field featured an intense battle with Renger van der Zande in the #93 Acura ARX-06 (Meyer Shank Racing). Vanthoor dove under the Cadillac in Turn 1 for sixth, but van der Zande fought back the next lap.

The two ran side-by-side until van der Zande was squeezed off Turn 3, which allowed Vanthoor to secure the position. Then, with 2 hours, 4 minutes remaining, Jordan Taylor’s Cadillac began smoking off speedway at Turn 3. He brought it down pitlane as a fire began to roar near the back of the car, but was able to evacuate safely. There were visible signs of the rear bodywork melted, with the team’s chances for a podium going, literally, up in smoke.

Vanthoor short-pitted from fifth with one hour, 38 minutes left, aiming for clear track and a caution to jump the track position game. Andlauer pitted with 1 hour, 30 minutes left, and was swapped out for Nasr in the #7 machine. Aitken took over for Bamber, who pitted at the same time. As everything cycled, it was Nasr out front ahead of team-mate Vanthoor, with Aitken in third ahead of Tom Blomqvist in the #60 Acura.

Nasr’s lead was 2.4s, with Aitken was more than 6s back when he began his stint but clawed that to 2.4s after just 13 minutes.

 

Final pitstops for the frontrunners began with 48 minutes left, with Vanthoor the first among them and swapping seats with Estre in the #6. Aitken followed the next lap, with Nasr in with 45 minutes to go. Nasr came out just ahead of Aitken as the two were within 0.3s of each other while battling through traffic. Estre settled out fourth, behind the #25 BMW of Wittman in third, who performed the undercut as the final hour began.

With 20 minutes to go, Aitken attempted an inside move on Nasr along the frontstretch but was squeezed out from completing the move. Nasr held the spot and put a few car lengths between himself and Aitken.

Aitken clawed closer once more with less than eight minutes to go as Nasr carved through traffic. Unfazed, Nasr kept control and eventually sped off to a repeat victory.

LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD class

In LMP2, a furious fight that featured nearly everyone in class at one point or another throughout the 24 hours ended with Alex Quinn guiding the #04 Crowdstrike Racing by APR to victory. Tom Dillmann, driving Inter Europol’s #43, finished a distant second, ahead of team-mate Nick Cassidy in the #343 LMP2 ORECA 07 in third. 

Although Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports were in control of the GTD Pro class for the majority of the race, it found trouble. While running 1-2, the #3 Corvette Z06 GT.3R of Antonio Garcia suffered a right-rear suspension failure and was forced to the garage. After 46 minutes of extensive repairs, the entry returned with 4 hours, 21 minutes remaining; 23 laps down. The #4, with Tommy Milner at the helm, led often but the caution involving Rockenfeller left the Corvette restarting fourth in class. After being forced off by the Ferrari of James Calado, the #4 Corvette fell to seventh.

#4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg, Nico Varrone (Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Lumen via Getty Images)

Manthey’s #911 Porsche of Thomas Preining assumed control of the class, ahead of the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW of Max Hesse. The #75 Express Racing Mercedes of Maro Engel opted for an extended run, which paid dividends after the pit sequence as it vaulted to lead, just ahead of Preining.

Dan Harper took over the #1 from Hesse and took the lead over Engel after the last round of pitstops with under an hour to go. The top two remained that way through the finish, with Winward Racing’s Maxime Martine taking the final step of the podium. 

Turner Motorsport had its #96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO out front often in the GTD class, but was chasing the win as the clock continued to tick away. Mattia Drudi controlled the race with 1 hour, 30 minutes to go in the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, with Magnus Racing’s Nicki Thiim in second and Turner’s Robby Foley third. Thiim took the lead with a strong move on Drudi in Turn 3 with one hour, 14 minutes left.

Despite a warning by race control, the two continued to lean on each other over the next several laps. Foley’s hopes took a massive hit with 55 minutes to go after receiving a drive-thru penalty following contact with the #13 Autosport Corvette of Matt Bell. The battle for the win ended up a fender rubbing affair between Thiim and Winward Racing’s Philip Ellis, who found his way in the mix after the final pitstop cycle.

The pair leaned on each other until Ellis’s #57 Mercedes pressed his way past Thiim with 20 minutes to go. Thiim fought back and the two touched as they battled on the frontstretch, with Ellis nearly losing the nose and the spot before gathering it back up into Turn 1. The two remained locked together as Thiim attempted a last-gasp outside pass in Turn 1 with one minute to go, but was unsuccessful.

Ellis earned the hard-fought win, followed by Thiim in second and Drudi taking third.

RACE

All Stats

 

Cla	Drivers	#		Chassis	Laps	Time	Interval	Pits	Points	Retirement
1	F. Nasr J. Andlauer L. Heinrich Porsche Penske Motorsport	7		Porsche 963	705	-		8
2	J. Aitken E. Bamber F. Vesti C. Zilisch Whelen Cadillac Racing	31		Cadillac V-Series.R	705	+1.569 1.569	1.569	10
3	S. Van Der Linde D. Vanthoor R. Frijns R. Rast BMW M Team WRT	24		BMW M Hybrid V8	705	+21.386 21.386	19.817	11
4	L. Vanthoor K. Estre M. Campbell Porsche Penske Motorsport	6		Porsche 963	705	+31.822 31.822	10.436	9
5	R. van der Zande N. Yelloly A. Palou K. Ohta Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian	93		Acura ARX-06	705	+45.677 45.677	13.855	9
6	J. Taylor L. Deletraz C. Herta Wayne Taylor Racing	40		Cadillac V-Series.R	705	+54.017 54.017	8.340	8
7	T. van der Helm N. Pino K. Frederick B. Aron JDC/Miller Motorsports	85		Porsche 963	705	+1'10.736 1'10.736	16.719	10
8	R. Marciello P. Eng M. Wittmann K. Magnussen BMW M Team WRT	25		BMW M Hybrid V8	705	+1'13.443 1'13.443	2.707	8
9	T. Blomqvist C. Braun S. Dixon A. Allmendinger Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian	60		Acura ARX-06	705	+1'22.563 1'22.563	9.120	9
10	G. Kurtz A. Quinn T. Sowery M. Jakobsen Crowdstrike Racing by APR	04		ORECA LMP2 07	686	19 laps		11
11	T. Dillmann B. Garg A. Felix da Costa J. Clarke Inter Europol Competition	43		ORECA LMP2 07	686	19 laps		10
12	J. Smiechowski G. Kolovos N. Siegel N. Cassidy Inter Europol Competition	343		ORECA LMP2 07	685	20 laps		10
13	D. Goldburg P. di Resta R. Lindh G. Saucy United Autosports	22		ORECA LMP2 07	685	20 laps		10
14	P. Hyett D. Cameron J. Edgar C. Rasmussen AO Racing	99		ORECA LMP2 07	685	20 laps		12
15	M. Goikhberg B. Keating P. Thompson H. Tincknell PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports	52		ORECA LMP2 07	685	20 laps		12
16	J. Field O. Jarvis S. Lucas J. Van Uitert Intersport Racing	37		ORECA LMP2 07	684	21 laps		11
17	J. Farano S. Bourdais S. Alvarez K. Simpson Tower Motorsport	8		ORECA LMP2 07	676	29 laps		10
18	N. Rao F. Habsburg J. Abel L. Sargeant Era Motorsport	18		ORECA LMP2 07	670	35 laps		16
19	N. Verhagen C. de Phillippi M. Hesse D. Harper Paul Miller Racing	1		BMW M4 GT3 EVO	662	43 laps		7
20	K. Habul M. Engel W. Power C. Mostert 75 Express	75		Mercedes-AMG GT3	662	43 laps		11
21	S. Noble J. Hart M. Martin L. Stolz Winward Racing	48		Mercedes-AMG GT3	662	43 laps		7
22	T. Milner N. Catsburg N. Varrone M. Jakobsen Corvette Racing	4		Corvette Z06 GT3.R	662	43 laps		6
23	A. Güven T. Preining K. Bachler R. Feller Manthey	911		Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	662	43 laps		7
24	A. Caldarelli S. Mitchell M. Bortolotti J. Hinchcliffe Pfaff Motorsports	9		Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2	662	43 laps		8
25	C. Mies F. Vervisch S. Priaulx Ford Racing	65		Ford Mustang GT3	661	44 laps		9
26	J. Calado R. Agostini M. Molina A. Rovera Triarsi Competizione	033		Ferrari 296 GT3	661	44 laps		11
27	R. Ward P. Ellis I. Dontje L. Auer Winward Racing	57		Mercedes-AMG GT3	661	44 laps		10
28	J. Potter S. Pumpelly N. Thiim M. Snow Magnus Racing	44		Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo	661	44 laps		7
29	T. Gamble D. Barrichello Z. Robichon M. Drudi Heart Of Racing Team	27		Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo	661	44 laps		6
30	O. Fidani M. Bell L. Kern B. Green 13 Autosport	13		Corvette Z06 GT3.R	661	44 laps		7
31	R. Gunn R. De Angelis A. Riberas M. Sorensen Aston Martin THOR Team	23		Aston Martin Valkyrie	661	44 laps		8
32	S. Mann L. Wadoux A. Fuoco T. Mosca Af Corse	21		Ferrari 296 GT3	661	44 laps		7
33	S. Andrews L. Hodenius J. Roe Jr. R. Aron Lone Star Racing	80		Mercedes-AMG GT3	661	44 laps		8
34	N. Tandy H. King A. Picariello AO Racing	77		Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	660	45 laps		10
35	O. Triarsi K. Koch R. Megennis Y. Yifei Triarsi Competizione	023		Ferrari 296 GT3	660	45 laps		8
36	D. Formal T. Hindman G. Doyle M. Ericsson Wayne Taylor Racing	45		Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2	660	45 laps		8
37	A. Telitz B. Pedersen F. Montecalvo E. Masson Vasser Sullivan Racing	12		Lexus RC F GT3	660	45 laps		8
38	P. Gallagher R. Foley J. Klingmann F. Selldorff Turner Motorsport	96		BMW M4 GT3 EVO	660	45 laps		10
39	V. Hasse-Clot R. van der Steur S. Baud C. Bennett van der Steur Racing	19		Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo	660	45 laps		8
40	R. Hardwick R. Pera R. Lietz M. Schuring Team Manthey	912		Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	660	45 laps		9
41	B. Iribe F. Schandorff O. Millroy D. Fumanelli Inception Racing	70		Ferrari 296 GT3	659	46 laps		8
42	M. Franco A. Costa L. Patrese T. Vermeulen Conquest Racing	34		Ferrari 296 GT3	659	46 laps		10
43	J. Hawksworth B. Barnicoat K. Kirkwood T. Bell Vasser Sullivan Racing	14		Lexus RC F GT3	659	46 laps		8
44	A. Bartone M. Götz J. Gounon F. Schiller GetSpeed	69		Mercedes-AMG GT3	652	53 laps		8
45	P. Fayer B. Hanley H. McElrea M. Jensen United Autosports	2		ORECA LMP2 07	652	53 laps		11
46	D. Musial D. Musial Jr. P. Ludwig R. Yardley Muehlner Motorsports America	123		Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	646	59 laps		9
47	H. Hedman G. Altoè C. Stevenson M. Cairoli DragonSpeed	81		Corvette Z06 GT3.R	643	62 laps		7
48	M. Esterson N. Johnson J. Vips D. MacDonald RLL Team McLaren	59		McLaren 720S GT3 EVO	642	63 laps		8
49	A. Garcia A. Sims M. Kirchhofer Corvette Racing	3		Corvette Z06 GT3.R	637	68 laps		7
50	R. Taylor F. Albuquerque W. Stevens B. Hartley Wayne Taylor Racing	10		Cadillac V-Series.R	629	76 laps		6
51	P. Fittipaldi M. Espirito Santo C. Cumming E. Fittipaldi Pratt Miller Motorsports	73		ORECA LMP2 07	612	93 laps		11
52	T. Lutke M. Beche D. Heinemeier Hansson C. Milesi TDS Racing	11		ORECA LMP2 07	608	97 laps		8
53	B. Barker D. Olsen M. Rockenfeller Ford Racing	64		Ford Mustang GT3	580	125 laps		4
54	M. Filippi C. Eastwood S. McLaughlin S. Yoluc DXDT Racing	36		Corvette Z06 GT3.R	568	137 laps		9
55	J. Walker T. Bechtolsheimer C. Lewis J. Hand Gradient Racing	66		Ford Mustang GT3	518	187 laps		3
56	S. Monk F. Fraga J. Altzman R. Grosjean Myers Riley Motorsports	16		Ford Mustang GT3	115	590 laps
57	F. Perrodo M. Vaxiviere N. Nielsen D. Murry Af Corse	83		ORECA LMP2 07	95	610 laps
58	A. Adelson E. Skeer T. Sargent C. Ilott Wright Motorsports	120		Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	87	618 laps
59	D. Serra D. Rigon A. Pier Guidi Risi Competizione	62		Ferrari 296 GT3	62	643 laps
60	E. Zitza J. Heylen D. Machavern S. Muller RS1	28		Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	5	700 laps
View full results

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