2025 ROLEX 24 RACE DIARIES: HOURS 18-21

on January 26, 2025

The 2025 24 Hours of Daytona is underway, and I’m here to document the race and my experience as a sportscar fan over the course of the 24 hours. With updates every three hours, I hope to tell this legendary race’s story as the platinum era continues into 2025.

At the start of the hour, the no.6 Porsche piloted by Matt Campbell went wide into turn one during the pitstop window. Shortly after a battle emerged between the no.12 Tower Motorsport car of Job Van Uitert and Spike, driven by Dane Cameron the no.04 Crowdstrike Racing LMP2 had a huge crash. Colton Herta lost the rear into the Western Horseshoe, the rear spun around and slammed into the tyre wall leaving debris littering the track, and the car with substantial damage to the rear bodywork and a snapped wishbone. The car was virtually out of contention after a really strong performance up to that point. A full course yellow was called to deal with the debris, as the car went behind the wall and into the garage.

The crucial implication of this incident meant that the works Porsche’s huge gap was eviscerated, leaving them vulnerable to attack from BMW’s Phillip Eng and Acura’s Scott Dixon. Rexy took a brake pad change during its stop, but the right side pads cost them time and track position.

On the restart it was Nick Tandy who led from Kevin Magnussen, but before anyone could get going three GT cars crashed in turn one. Involved were Forte Racing’s no.78 Lamborghini, AF Corse no.21, which subsequently went behind the wall and the no.80 Mercedes. Forte Racing’s rolex as over. The full course yellow was brought back to neutralise the field.

Under the FCY, the crew of Crowdstrike Racing’s 04 car got it back out on the track

On the restart Tandy got away well, but as Felipe Albuquerque tried to get onto the lead lap he tagged the no.25 BMW into a spin, which gave it damage and Acura’s no.60 car was given a drive through for a pit lane speed violation. The order in GTP was now Tandy from Campbell, as Magnussen chased them down.

The no.22 was also given a drive through penalty, handing the race lead to Spike and Dane Cameron, who had to fend off the AF Corse no.88 LMP2 car for the lead.

Felipe’s contact with the no.25 BMW landed the no.10 Cadillac a drive through penalty, as Acura’s no.60 car served another pit speed limit violation drive through.

Ford, BMW and Corvette were duking it out in GTD Pro for top honours until the no.3 Corvette having to serve a drive through from fourth in class and in GTD AWA’s no.13 Corvette still held the lead.

Meanwhile Kevin Magnussen was bearing down on the leading Porsche, the warmer temperatures favouring his car over Tandy’s. The no.74 Riley LMP2 got hit with a drive through penalty for leaving the pits with equipment attached.

Crucial pit stops then occurred for the GTP contenders, with Kevin Magnussen jumping the rival Porsche in the pit stops, who’d swapped out Matt Campbell for Mathieu Jaminet, though he looked to have the better car. Scott Dixon went longer on his stint and thus briefly took the lead.

Meanwhile, a thrilling GTD Pro battle was now split between three cars and one second. The no.1 Paul Miller car driven by Neil Verhagen led Nico Varrone’s no.4 Corvette and Dennis Olsen’s no.65 Ford Mustang, as the no.93 Acura went off again at the Western Horseshoe, as in LMP2 the stricken no.4 Crowdstrike car slowed through the infield.

By now, the race had very much settled into a three way fight between both Porsche’s and the no.24 BMW, with Magnussen conceding the net race lead after pushing his tires too hard, before AO Racing’s Spike served a drive through penalty from the lead of the LMP2 class.

The no.10 Cadillac also served another drive through penalty for having to many crew members over the pitwall during its most recent stop.

In GTD Pro, Connor Zillisch stepped aboard the no.91 to take it to the end via a triple stint.

As we head into the final three hours, Porsche still hold a commanding lead in GTP, AF Corse have the advantage in LMP2 by roughly 26 seconds. GTD Pro is between the no.1 Paul Miller Racing BMW and the no.4 Corvette and GTD is still Marvin Kirchoffer’s in the no.13 AWA Corvette.