Qualifying report
IMSA Daytona 24 Hours
Daytona 24h: Vanthoor on pole for BMW in GTP
Dries Vanthoor took pole for BMW in the GTP category
Gary Watkins
Edited: Jan 25, 2025, 6:52 PM
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BMW snatched pole position for the Daytona 24 Hours during an interrupted qualifying session for this weekend's IMSA SportsCar Championship season-opener.
Dries Vanthoor jumped to the top of the times on his final lap in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh run by the Rahal team to knock Meyer Shank Racing Acura driver Nick Yelloly off pole.
Vanthoor’s 1m33.895s gave him a margin of nearly three tenths over former BMW driver Yelloly, who posted a 1m34.186s in the dramatic final stages of the 15-minute session on Thursday.
“It was not easy with the red flag; it made tyre warming a bit difficult,” said Vanthoor, who also set the fastest during last weekend’s official pre-event Roar test.
“We’ve been improving on that - it was a bit of a struggle point last year.
“Then it was about getting the lap together.”
Running was restricted when the #25 BMW with Sheldon van der Linde at the wheel stopped on track for so far undisclosed reasons at the end of the infield, resulting in a short stoppage while the clock continued to run.
Felipe Nasr took third for 2024 Daytona winner Porsche, his 1m34.280s in the #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport entry leaving him nearly four tenths off the pace.
Cadillac took a step forward from the Roar after a mid-week Balance of Performance change in which it has gained 20kW or 26bhp in its baseline power output, Jack Aitken taking fourth in the Action Express Racing entry.
The Briton’s 1m34.350s in the best of the Caddy V-Series.R LMDhs snuck him ahead of Gianmaria Bruni in the JDC-Miller Motorsports customer Porsche, which lapped in 1m34.374s.
Tom Blomqvist had sat at the top of the times starting his final lap on 1m34.432 in the #60 Shank Acura, but he was unable to improve after he came up Mirko Bortolotti in the solo Lamborghini SC63 LMDh as he swept up onto the banking after the infield.
The two cars appeared to make the lightest of contacts in the incident, which resulted in Blomqvist aborting his lap.
Filipe Albuquerque was fastest of the Wayne Taylor Racing entries on the multiple Daytona-winning team’s return to Cadillac.
The Portuguese driver took seventh with a 1m34.933s, which was just two hundredths ahead of team-mate Louis Deletraz.
Bortolotti was ninth fastest in the Lambo, while the second PPM entry was tenth in Matt Campbell’s hands.
#40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V- Series.R: Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz, Alex Lynn, Kamui Kobayashi
Photo by: James Gilbert - Motorsport Images
United Autosports topped the times in LMP2 with its #22 ORECA-Gibson 07 driven by Daniel Goldburg.
A 1m38.676s from the American gave him a margin of just over three tenths ahead of Ben Keating.
The PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports driver looked on course for a sixth consecutive P2 pole with a 1m39.000s before he was demoted to second by Goldburg.
Nick Boulle made it a 1-3 qualifying result for United with 1m39.203s in the team’s #2 entry.
He benefitted from the demotion of PJ Hyett in the AO Racing ORECA after he lost his fastest two lap times for causing the session to be red-flagged in its final seconds.
Hyett dropped to sixth behind Chris Cumming and Steven Thomas in their respective Pratt Miller Motorsports and TDS Racing ORECAs.
#99 AO Racing, ORECA LMP2 07: PJ Hyett, Dane Cameron, Jonny Edgar, Christian Rasmussen
Photo by: James Gilbert - Motorsport Images
Ford blocked out the front row in GT Daytona Pro with its Mustang GT3, Mike Rockenfeller leading the way from Frederic Vervisch.
Rockenfeller set two laps good enough for the pole, ending up on a 1m45.523s in the #64 Multimatic Motorsport entry.
That gave him an advantage of three tenths over Vervisch’s 1m45.855s in the sister #65 car.
BMW took third place with Dan Harper in the #48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 Evo with a 1m46.005s.
Alexander Sims was just seven thousandths behind on 1m46.012s in the #3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.GT3.
Lamborghini ended up fifth with the Pfaff Motorsport Huracan GT3 EVO2 driven by Andrea Caldarelli ahead of Tommy Milner in the #4 Corvette Racing entry.
Porsche claimed class honours in the regular GTD class with Elliott Skeer driving the Wright Motorsports 911 GT3-R.
#120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992): Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, Tom Sargent, Ayhancan Guven
Photo by: Andreas Beil
A 1m46.634s gave the American, winner of the GT World Challenge America last year, the top spot by less than two hundredths of a second over Philip Ellis in the Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Trent Hindman was just six thousandths behind in third aboard the Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.
The Rolex 24 meeting at Daytona resumes at 18:30 local time with the 90-minute night practice session.
Main Information Additional Data Driver Info
1
-
3
Main Information
Cla Drivers # Chassis Laps Time Interval km/h 1 R. Marciello
K. Magnussen
D. Vanthoor
P. Eng BMW M Team RLL 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 6
1'33.895
136.493 2
K. Ohta
A. Palou
N. Yelloly
R. van der Zande Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian 93 Acura ARX-06 6
+0.291
1'34.186
0.291 136.071 3 F. Nasr
L. Vanthoor
N. Tandy Porsche Penske Motorsport 7 Porsche 963 6
+0.385
1'34.280
0.094 135.936 4 E. Bamber
F. Drugovich
F. Vesti
J. Aitken Cadillac Whelen 31 Cadillac V-Series.R 6
+0.455
1'34.350
0.070 135.835 5 G. Bruni
B. Aron
P. Wehrlein
T. van der Helm JDC/Miller Motorsports 85 Porsche 963 6
+0.479
1'34.374
0.024 135.800 6 F. Rosenqvist
S. Dixon
C. Braun
T. Blomqvist Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian 60 Acura ARX-06 5
+0.537
1'34.432
0.058 135.717 7 B. Hartley
W. Stevens
F. Albuquerque
R. Taylor Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing 10 Cadillac V-Series.R 6
+1.038
1'34.933
0.501 135.000 8 K. Kobayashi
A. Lynn
L. Deletraz
J. Taylor Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing 40 Cadillac V-Series.R 6
+1.040
1'34.935
0.002 134.998 9 E. Mortara
D. Kvyat
R. Grosjean
M. Bortolotti Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse 63 Lamborghini SC63 6
+2.365
1'36.260
1.325 133.139 10 K. Estre
M. Campbell
M. Jaminet Porsche Penske Motorsport 6 Porsche 963 4
+2.681
1'36.576
0.316 132.704 11 R. Lindh
J. Allen
P. di Resta D. Goldburg United Autosports USA 22 ORECA LMP2 07 8
+4.781
1'38.676
2.100 129.880 12 M. Beche
B. Pedersen
B. Keating
R. Sales PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports 52 ORECA LMP2 07 10
+5.105
1'39.000
0.324 129.455 13 O. Jarvis
B. Hanley
G. Patterson
N. Boulle United Autosports USA 2 ORECA LMP2 07 7
+5.308
1'39.203
0.203 129.190 14 C. Cumming
C. Ilott
J. Roe
P. Fittipaldi Pratt Miller Motorsports 73 ORECA LMP2 07 8
+5.322
1'39.217
0.014 129.171 15 C. Milesi
H. McElrea
M. Jensen
T. Steven TDS Racing
11 ORECA LMP2 07 10
+5.494
1'39.389
0.172 128.948 16 C. Rasmussen J. Edgar
D. Cameron
P. Hyett AO Racing
99 ORECA LMP2 07 7
+5.705
1'39.600
0.211 128.675 17 M. Vaxiviere
N. Nielsen
M. Dylan
L. Perez Companc Af Corse 88 ORECA LMP2 07 10
+5.859
1'39.754
0.154 128.476 18 C. Herta
T. Sowery
M. Jakobsen
G. Kurtz Crowdstrike Racing by APR 04 ORECA LMP2 07 10
+5.973
1'39.868
0.114 128.329 19 A. Felix da Costa
B. Garg
J. Field T. Dillmann Inter Europol Competition 43 ORECA LMP2 07 10
+6.506
1'40.401
0.533 127.648 20
T. Lutke
R. Dalziel
D. Heinemeier Hansson
P. Chatin Era Motorsport 18 ORECA LMP2 07 10
+7.263
1'41.158
0.757 126.693 21 J. Van Uitert
S. Bourdais
S. Alvarez
J. Farano Tower Motorsports 8 ORECA LMP2 07 10
+7.349
1'41.244
0.086 126.585 22 A. Cindric
S. Priaulx
M. Rockenfeller Ford Multimatic Motorsports 64 Ford Mustang GT3 6
+11.628
1'45.523
4.279 121.452 23 F. Vervisch
D. Olsen
C. Mies Ford Multimatic Motorsports 65 Ford Mustang GT3 7
+11.960
1'45.855
0.332 121.071 24 A. Farfus
M. Hesse
J. Krohn
D. Harper Paul Miller Racing
48 BMW M4 GT3 EVO 4
+12.110
1'46.005
0.150 120.900 25 A. Sims
D. Juncadella
A. Garcia Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R 9
+12.117
1'46.012
0.007 120.892 26 J. Hinchcliffe
M. Mapelli
J. Pepper
A. Caldarelli Pfaff Motorsports 9 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 7
+12.241
1'46.136
0.124 120.751 27
N. Varrone
N. Catsburg
T. Milner Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R 9
+12.550
1'46.445
0.309 120.400 28 A. Picariello
K. Bachler
L. Heinrich AO Racing 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 9
+12.644
1'46.539
0.094 120.294 29 S. van Gisbergen
S. McLaughlin
C. Zilisch
B. Keating Trackhouse by TF Sport 91 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R 8
+12.684
1'46.579
0.040 120.249 30 J. Gounon
M. Engel
M. Grenier
K. Habul 75 Express 75 Mercedes-AMG GT3 6
+12.718
1'46.613
0.034 120.210 31 A. Güven
T. Sargent
E. Skeer
A. Adelson Wright Motorsports
120 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 9
+12.739
1'46.634
0.021 120.187 32 M. Sorensen
R. De Angelis
A. Riberas
R. Gunn Heart Of Racing Team 007 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo 5
+12.751
1'46.646
0.012 120.173 33 R. Ward
P. Ellis
L. Auer
I. Dontje Winward Racing 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 7
+12.757
1'46.652
0.006 120.167 34 L. Stolz
F. Schiller
M. Martin T. Bartone GetSpeed 69 Mercedes-AMG GT3 9
+12.758
1'46.653
0.001 120.165 35 K. Marcelli
G. Doyle
T. Hindman
D. Formal Wayne Taylor Racing 45 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 7
+12.763
1'46.658
0.005 120.160 36 K. Kirkwood
F. Montecalvo
P. Thompson
J. Hawksworth Vasser Sullivan Racing 12 Lexus RC F GT3 7
+12.893
1'46.788
0.130 120.013 37 P. Kligerman
F. Perera
M. Farnbacher
M. Goikhberg Forte Racing 78 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 9
+12.910
1'46.805
0.017 119.994 38
A. McIntosh
V. Hasse-Clot
R. van
M. Robin van der Steur Racing
19 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo 7
+12.956
1'46.851
0.046 119.943 39 T. Neubauer
M. Molina
D. Rigon
A. Costa DragonSpeed 81 Ferrari 296 GT3 7
+12.963
1'46.858
0.007 119.935 40
C. Stevenson
M. Drudi
Z. Robichon
T. Gamble Heart Of Racing Team 27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo 4
+13.010
1'46.905
0.047 119.882 41 D. Fumanelli
O. Millroy
F. Schandorff
B. Iribe Inception Racing 70 Ferrari 296 GT3 7
+13.033
1'46.928
0.023 119.856 42 G. Altoè
C. Sbirrazzuoli
D. Serra
M. Franco Conquest Racing
34 Ferrari 296 GT3 9
+13.064
1'46.959
0.031 119.822 43 K. van der Linde
C. de Phillippi
N. Verhagen
M. Snow Paul Miller Racing 1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO 6
+13.068
1'46.963
0.004 119.817 44
K. Gaillard
M. Gatting
R. Frey
S. Bovy Iron Dames 83 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 7
+13.086
1'46.981
0.018 119.797 45 R. Lietz
T. Preining
M. Cressoni
C. Schiavoni Proton Competition 20 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) 6
+13.220
1'47.115
0.134 119.647 46 J. Calado
M. Skeen
S. McAleer
S. Monk Triarsi Competizione 021 Ferrari 296 GT3 7
+13.294
1'47.189
0.074 119.565 47 N. Thiim
S. Pumpelly
A. Lally
J. Potter Magnus Racing 44 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo 9
+13.385
1'47.280
0.091 119.463 48 J. Klingmann
J. Walker
P. Gallagher
R. Foley Turner Motorsport 96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO 8
+13.386
1'47.281
0.001 119.462 49 T. Bell
K. Kirkwood
A. Telitz
B. Barnicoat Vasser Sullivan Racing 14 Lexus RC F GT3 7
+13.386
1'47.281
0.000 119.462 50 K. Cozzolino
A. Pier Guidi
L. Wadoux
S. Mann Af Corse 21 Ferrari 296 GT3 9
+13.487
1'47.382
0.101 119.350 51 P. Derani
C. Eastwood
A. Udell
S. Yoluc DXDT Racing 36 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R 9
+13.697
1'47.592
0.210 119.117 52 M. Kirchhofer
L. Kern
M. Bell
O. Fidani AWA 13 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R 8
+14.439
1'48.334
0.742 118.301 53 H. Tincknell
T. Calderon
T. Bechtolsheimer
J. Hand Gradient Racing 66 Ford Mustang GT3 8
+14.486
1'48.381
0.047 118.250 54 R. Aron
E. Filgueiras
S. Andrews D. Knox Lone Star Racing 80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 8
+14.557
1'48.452
0.071 118.172 55 A. Fuoco
L. Patrese
N. Lacorte
R. Lacorte Cetilar Racing 47 Ferrari 296 GT3 8
+14.663
1'48.558
0.106 118.057 56
C. Laursen
A. Leclerc R. Agostini
C. Toledo Af Corse
50 Ferrari 296 GT3 8
+15.761
1'49.656
1.098 116.875 57 M. Götz
D. Morad
K. Koch
S. Lucas Korthoff Competition Motors
32 Mercedes-AMG GT3 8
+19.310
1'53.205
3.549 113.211 58 J. Andlauer
N. Pino
T. Vautier
N. Jani Proton Competition 5 Porsche 963 0
59 E. Cheever
A. Rovera
C. Scardina
O. Triarsi Triarsi Competizione 023 Ferrari 296 GT3 0
60 R. Rast
R. Frijns
S. Van Der Linde
M. Wittmann BMW M Team RLL 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 1
61 F. Massa
J. Burdon
F. Fraga
G. Robinson Riley 74 ORECA LMP2 07 10
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Photos from the Thursday of Daytona 24 Hours
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
2025 Daytona 24 Hours - Thursday
IMSA
57
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