In a chaotic qualifying session with a crimson flag and almost a uncommon multicar crash, BMW backed up its spectacular pace with the general pole place for the 63rd Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Staff 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 completely satisfied, 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 begin on pole. It’s the primary pole for our program so very completely satisfied I obtained it performed, nevertheless it’s nonetheless an extended race to go so quite a bit can nonetheless occur, nevertheless it’s one of the best 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 via the previous two seasons to match the outcomes of Acura, Porsche and Cadillac. Staff 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 take a look at final weekend at Daytona Worldwide Speedway, as Vanthoor turned the quickest lap (1:35.424) over seven classes final Friday via Sunday.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing co-owner Bobby Rahal stated the workforce’s tempo had fostered a “very optimistic, very calm” environment internally.
Key data on the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona, which will likely be held Jan. 25-26 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
“Actually, because the Roar this previous weekend, it has been a trouble-free week to date,” workforce proprietor Bobby Rahal advised Lee earlier than qualifying started. “The automobiles have been fast. In fact, that makes me all of the extra nervous when every thing’s going so nicely. You are ready for the opposite shoe to drop.”
It appeared it may need early in qualifying as a mechanical drawback for Staff RLL’s different automotive, the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8, introduced out a crimson 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 grew to become a scamble when the inexperienced flag waved with 6 minutes left.
BMW’s two entries had been quick all through the Roar earlier than the Rolex 24 at Daytona take a look at.
Vanthoor, who co-drives with Philipp Eng, Raffaele Marciello and Kevin Magnussen, captured the pole a minute after the checkered flag (having begun his closing lap whereas nonetheless below inexperienced).
“It was fairly tough, particularly to get the tire pressures up and the brakes to begin the lap,” he stated. “It isn’t all the time been our energy, Nevertheless it appears like we have been going nicely bettering that fairly nicely. After which it was simply you already know case of simply getting a clear lap.”
That wasn’t the case for Tom Blomqvist, who held the quickest time coming into the ultimate minute and appeared prepared to enhance on his closing 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 occasions earlier than the Le Mans Chicane.
“I had fairly an enormous hole and clearly I used to be on fairly a very good 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 making an attempt 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 observe place. I needed to make a break up choice, the lap earlier than, if I again off and hope that the final one’s OK or not. I have been burned so many occasions by not setting a lap after which hoping to get the final one and there is been a crimson or no matter. So I made the choice there in that case, which was most likely the fallacious 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 unhealthy place to be in from my place. We had been a a lot quicker automotive and sadly for him like he is making an attempt to do his job after which he tries to dam me. I imply it could 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 closing 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 believe we had a very good automotive,” he stated. “I believe pole place was positively up for grabs right now. We had 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 excellent. So clearly disappointing as a result of I believe the automotive positively had an opportunity to battle for pole, however anyway, it is a lengthy race, so it is only a little bit of an ego factor proper now. It isn’t the tip of the world, so we have to crack on, and we’ve a very good race automotive.”
QUALIFYING: l l l l
Rahal and Vanthoor additionally had been preaching endurance, particularly on condition that the chilly temperatures that lowered speeds Thursday are anticipated to persist via 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 loads of drama,” Vanthoor stated.
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 an entire bunch of occasions final yr. Put loads of work in on the offseason, loads of work on within the Roar and the take a look at again in November. The workforce, the boys put collectively an superior automotive and simply put all of it collectively on the market right now.
“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 obtained a terrific workforce, a terrific 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 high 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 had been pushing actually arduous 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 (take a look at) already has been good. The Mustang was excellent, however everyone knows it is a terrific place to be, however we actually wish to be (first) on Sunday, so now we simply deal with the race. Qualifying is sweet, and it is good to be right here to get the eye, however no one remembers that subsequent week so it is all in regards to the race now.
“I believe the automotive was working improbable I obtained a extremely clear lap I believe we did form of a distinct technique to everyone else on our aspect and that was paying off with these chilly situations. For us as a workforce, it means quite a bit as a result of we actually had a troublesome first yr. We had some highlights clearly, nevertheless it’s regular while you include a brand new automotive to one of many hardest championships on this planet with one of the best competitors on the market So you’ll be able to’t anticipate that you’re proper there from the start and I believe in 12 months 2 now to indicate the tempo in qualifying is superb. Now we have to deal with 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.
“It is a race with loads of unknowns, clearly, with the brand new (torque) sensors and every thing we’ve within the automotive,” 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’ve put a lot work into getting these sensors dialed, get the chassis dialed. And it takes quite a bit 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.
“In fact, It is a 24-hour race. However what a great way to begin 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 .
