Porsche Penske Motorsport celebrated a stunning victory at the 63rd Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, marking their second consecutive triumph at the event. The No. 7 Porsche 963, piloted by Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Laurens Vanthoor, secured both the overall win and the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class title, cementing their dominance in endurance racing.
Team owner Roger Penske expressed his pride in the accomplishment, emphasizing the team’s hard work and partnership with Porsche. Speaking to Speedway Media, he shared:
“It’s amazing to see the work we’ve done with this Porsche program the last couple of years, winning the (IMSA) championship last year, and with the relationship we have with Porsche, our organization, I’m thrilled. It was quite something there at the end!”
Penske’s dedication to the sport was evident as he stayed awake for the entire 24-hour race at 87 years old, managing operations from the timing stand. The race’s pivotal moment came in the final 22 minutes when Felipe Nasr overtook Matt Campbell in the No. 6 Porsche 963M. Nasr maintained a 1.335-second lead over Tom Blomqvist in the No. 60 Acura ARX-06M, earning his 11th IMSA career win and back-to-back Rolex 24 victories. Overwhelmed with emotion, Nasr reflected, “It’s just an incredible feeling. I cried in the car. I don’t know what to say.”
This year’s Rolex 24 featured a highly competitive lineup, with 61 cars and 235 drivers representing 31 countries, including 14 former Formula 1 competitors. Porsche’s victory extended their record to 20 overall wins at Daytona, reinforcing their position as the most successful manufacturer in the event’s history. For Team Penske, the victory also carried nostalgic significance, as the team first debuted at Daytona in 1966.
Nick Tandy made history as the first driver to win all four major 24-hour endurance races: Le Mans, Daytona, Nürburgring, and Spa. Reflecting on the achievement, Tandy remarked, “It’s one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and we just emerged victorious.”
While Porsche celebrated success, other teams faced challenges. Earl Bamber of Cadillac Racing expressed his frustration, saying, “We were very competitive and led laps. It’s a shame. I guess we’ll come back next year.”
The event reached a broad audience, with the official YouTube livestream surpassing 2 million views. The season continues with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 15 at Sebring International Raceway, promising more thrilling action.
