All articles tagged with #endurance racing
Dense fog forced a six-hour safety-car period at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the longest in the race’s 64-year history, before racing resumed with Porsche Penske Motorsport’s Laurin Heinrich leading overall in the GTP class. Sebastien Bourdais led LMP2, Tommy Milner led GTD Pro, and Robby Foley led GTD with six hours to go; 55 of 60 starters remained active as NBC/Peacock and IMSA.TV prepared to air the finale.
Porsche led the opening six hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona with the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 ahead of the field, while the No. 93 Acura and No. 24 BMW pressed behind. AO Racing’s Jonny Edgar led LMP2, and GTD Pro saw BMW and Corvette near the front as Ferraris led the GTD class; the race featured five cautions and 55 of 60 cars still running as IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup points began to accrue.
At Daytona, a field of IMSA’s top contenders—including Corvette Racing, Lexus/Vasser Sullivan and Turner Motorsport—pursues its first Rolex 24 victory, with near-misses, seasoned veterans, and new stars aiming to kickstart a championship bid in the brutal 24-hour classic.
Sixty cars across four classes and 228 drivers from 32 countries will compete in the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona, opening the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship; NBC will air the start at 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday and finish coverage Sunday, with flag-to-flag streaming on Peacock and IMSA platforms.
Jeff Zwart, a seasoned racer, called the East African Safari Classic Rally the hardest event he's ever participated in, highlighting the challenging terrain and his experience racing a vintage Porsche 911 across Africa, finishing 17th amidst tough conditions and car issues.
NASCAR rookie Connor Zilisch will compete in the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Action Express Racing, marking his third consecutive appearance in the race and his debut in the GTP class, as he continues to build his racing career across different series.
AO Racing will continue its dual LMP2 and GTD Pro efforts in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2026, fielding the No. 99 Oreca 07 Gibson and No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R, with driver lineups to be announced later, and both cars still in championship contention.
Alpine achieved a significant victory at the 6 Hours of Fuji in the FIA World Endurance Championship, overcoming early setbacks and a competitive field including Peugeot, Porsche, and Ferrari, with Ferdinand Habsburg, Paul-Loup Chatin, and Charles Milesi leading the team to its first overall WEC win since Monza 2022.
Ferrari dominated the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours, but the race was ultimately won by Robert Kubica and his team, with the #83 crew and Porsche #6 making significant impacts. Kubica's remarkable performance, overcoming personal and physical challenges, was the standout story, cementing his legacy in endurance racing history.
The Le Mans 24 Hours has introduced a new qualifying format that separates Hypercar from LMP2 and LMGT3 categories, with two Hyperpole sessions to determine the grid, aiming to enhance excitement and fairness. Drivers and teams have mixed feelings about the changes, which include driver driver changes between sessions and new tyre regulations.
Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani have been announced as the first drivers for Genesis Magma Racing's LMDh program, set to debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026. Both drivers bring significant experience, with Derani joining from Action Express Racing and Lotterer from Porsche Penske Motorsport. Additionally, Genesis will partner with IDEC Sport for a 2025 European Le Mans Series LMP2 entry, featuring drivers Jamie Chadwick, Logan Sargent, and Mathys Jaubert as part of their "trajectory program."
Aston Martin has unveiled a new GT3 race car based on its Vantage, featuring advanced aerodynamics and improved stability under braking. The car made its public debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona, with promising performance despite some reliability issues. However, the escalating costs and manufacturer-driven rule changes in GT3 racing may threaten the sustainability of the series in the long run.
Aston Martin officially unveils the new Vantage GT3, a heavily modified version of the Vantage designed for endurance racing with a bonded aluminum chassis, carbon fiber body panels, and detuned engine producing 500-600 horsepower. The company expects 30 cars to race globally by the end of 2024, with improved handling characteristics and participation in various racing series including IMSA, WEC, ELMS, and NLS.
Alpine has launched an "innovative" and "aggressive" new car for the 2024 Formula 1 season, with team principal Bruno Famin emphasizing the need for continuous improvement without setting specific performance targets. The A524 features significant changes in design, including a new rear suspension, improved front suspension, and extensive work on thermal management of the brakes. The team aims to build on their two podium finishes from the previous season, with drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly expressing optimism while refraining from setting specific targets. Additionally, Alpine has unveiled their 2024 endurance racing program, which includes Mick Schumacher, who is also serving as a reserve driver for Mercedes F1 and is determined to re-establish his F1 career.
Felipe Nasr credits Team Penske for a crucial pit stop that helped him reclaim the lead and win the Daytona 24 endurance race, despite confusion over the timing of the checkered flag. The victory marked Nasr's 10th career win in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and came against his former team, while also delivering team owner Roger Penske his first Daytona 24 win since 1969. Nasr expressed confusion over the race ending prematurely but celebrated the hard-fought victory with his team.