Porsche Claims 20th Victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona
At Porsche Centre South Lakes, we love a good motorsport story, and this one is a belter! Porsche Penske Motorsport has done it again, taking victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona for the second year in a row. Brazilian Felipe Nasr, Britain’s Nick Tandy, and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor piloted the #7 Porsche 963 to an outstanding win, marking Porsche’s 20th overall victory in this legendary endurance race.
A Milestone Win
Porsche’s legacy at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opener is unmatched, and this latest triumph just cements its dominance. It wasn’t just a one-car success either – the #6 Porsche 963, driven by Matt Campbell (Australia), Mathieu Jaminet, and Kévin Estre (both France), grabbed a solid third-place finish, rounding off an impressive weekend for the team.
How the Race Unfolded
On January 25th, 61 cars took to the grid at Daytona International Speedway, with the GTP class prototypes battling hard from the very start. Porsche’s 707 PS (520 kW) 963 proved once again why it’s the most dominant LMDh prototype since its debut. The Porsche Penske Motorsport team delivered a near-flawless performance, maintaining strong positions through the night and into the early morning. With just 40 minutes to go, the final yellow flag period set up a tense sprint to the finish. Felipe Nasr held his nerve, outpacing fierce competition to secure back-to-back wins for Porsche at Daytona.
A Historic First for Tandy
For Nick Tandy, this win was even more special. The British driver has now become the first person in history to win all four major 24-hour endurance races – Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps, Nürburgring, and now Daytona.
Reactions from the Team
Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, couldn’t hide his excitement:
“Winning Daytona twice in a row – one of the toughest races in IMSA – is an incredible achievement. We may not have always had the fastest car, but we were consistent and made the fewest mistakes. This is a fantastic result for our entire team, from the drivers to the mechanics, engineers, and everyone back at Weissach.”
Roger Penske, Founder & CEO of Penske Corporation, was equally thrilled:
“What an incredible day for Porsche Penske Motorsport. Our cars and drivers showed great speed and reliability, and the team executed to perfection. Starting 2025 with this win – the 20th for Porsche – is just fantastic.”
The Bigger Picture
Porsche’s victory at Daytona also puts it at the top of the standings in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, setting the tone for the rest of the season. The championship includes other endurance classics like the 12 Hours of Sebring, Watkins Glen, Indianapolis, and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. The customer teams also had an eventful race. JDC-Miller Motorsports finished sixth overall, while Proton Competition unfortunately retired early due to suspension damage.
Strong Showing in GT Classes
It wasn’t just the 963 prototypes delivering results – Porsche’s 911 GT3 R also had a strong showing.
- Wright Motorsports finished second in GTD after 24 hours of hard racing. Drivers Ayhancan Güven, Tom Sargent, Elliott Skeer, and Adam Adelson put in a solid performance.
- The Iron Dames made their IMSA debut, finishing eighth in GTD.
- AO Racing’s “Rexy” 911 GT3 R had a tough time in GTD-Pro, suffering damage that dropped them to eighth.
Looking Ahead
With Daytona in the books, Porsche’s motorsport season is off to a flying start. Can they keep up this momentum for the rest of 2025? We wouldn’t bet against them!
For now, we’re celebrating another milestone win for Porsche – here’s to many more!