2025 ROLEX 24 RACE DIARIES: HOURS 13-15

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.

After a short full course yellow, the racing resumed with Kevin Magnussen chasing down Colin Braun’s no.60 Acura for the overall lead as every class was incredibly close.

LMP2 race leaders Inter Europol’s no.43 car was given a drive through penalty shortly after though for leaving the pitlane with equipment attached. In GTP, the no.85 JDC Miller Porsche was also given a drive through for the same infraction.

Almost immediately after, another Full Course Yellow was brought out to deal with an errand tire sitting on the side of the back stretch, the culprit eventually revealed to be the no.22 United Autosport LMP2.

Nick Tandy immediately got the jump on both the no.24 BMW of Kevin Magnussen and his teammate in the no.6 car to jump to second overall with Colin Braun still leading by a slender margin.

The GTD Pro class was now led by a new contender: Thomas Preining drove a no.20 Proton Competition Porsche up through the field to take the lead with just over 11 hours to go, as the no.85 car got another drive through penalty for passing under yellow.

After their woes earlier in the race, Cetilar were unable to continue and officially retired. LMP2 was still being fought tooth and nail, and Nicklas Neilsen took the lead of the class for the no.88 AF Corse prototype, relegating Spike to second in class and storming into a commanding lead.

Ollie Milroy slowed across the backstretch shortly after taking over driving duties of the no.70 Inception Ferrari, returning to the pits almost immediately. The crew scrambled to find the issue, but in the end the car that had been looking at a possible class win went behind the wall, their chances of victory snatched away.

The next full course yellow was brought out following Tom Dillman’s no.43 Inter Europol LMP2, as it slowed on track having led the race earlier. Unfortunately, it couldn’t get going again and was driven back to the pits on a flatbed truck.

GTP pitstops swiftly followed, though the order remained mostly the same after everyone had cycled through. In GTD Pro, the no.20 car of Thomas Preining that had been leading now had an extended pitstop to change their brakes plummeting down the order, as Alessio Picariello now led with Rexy. The Wayne Taylor Andretti no.45 Lamborghini attempted to do the same from second in GTD, but their stop took far longer and they sank down the rankings to 14th in class.

On the restart Campbell led from Marciello and Tom Blomqvist in third for Acura, as a dogfight emerged in LMP2 for second place. Heart of Racing led the GTD class from three Ferrari’s. Spike received a stop and go penalty which forced it to relinquish the lead to Malthe Jakobsen and the no.04 Crowdstrike LMP2. The no.21 Ferrari served a drive through penalty.

A fantastic battle emerged between the no.60 Acura and no.7 Porsche, while the no.66 Gradient Racing Mustang went behind the wall with clutch issues.

There was drama in GTD right before the hour mark, as Casper Stevenson’s no.27 Heart of Racing was turned round by fellow GTD contender no.120 Wright Motorsport, dropping the team to ninth in class

As this update goes out, GTP pit stops are underway, as after having been in contention all race, Spike’s three minute penalty meant it was now seventh in class. The LMP2 class is now lead by the no.8 Tower Motorsport car of Sebastian Bourdais, GTD Pro is still headed by Alessio Picariello and Rexy. GTD is now back in the hands of the no.120 Wright Motorsport car of Tom Sargeant.

The two works Porsche cars lead 1-2, with Jaminet ahead of Vanthoor, the no.60 Acura is third ahead of the no.10 Cadillac. BMW have faded, only the no.24 car is on the lead lap, and running sixth.