Porsche Penske Motorsport’s goal on the Rolex 24 at Daytona is evident: to safe a 3rd consecutive victory after successful the race with the 963 LMDh in every of the previous two years.
Nonetheless, confidence within the storage doesn’t translate into complacency. The staff is nicely conscious that the hole to its opponents has narrowed dramatically and that, in an effort to obtain this three-peat, pure velocity alone is not going to be sufficient this Saturday and Sunday.
When discussing the potential of preventing for the win and the general complexity of this 12 months’s race, Thomas Laudenbach, head of Porsche Motorsport, admits the 2026 version might be much more difficult than earlier ones wherein the German producer managed to outduel Cadillac and Acura within the closing hours.
“We wish the third one,” he mentioned. “It’s going to be troublesome. If I take a look at all of the lap instances and take a look at the endurance assessments of our opponents, I believe it’s going to be very tight.
“And I’d assume that single-lap efficiency is not going to be decisive. I consider it is going to come right down to technique and never making errors. No penalties. Correct tyre administration. And I believe the staff that executes finest will win the race. However after all, we’re going for the third consecutive victory.
#24 BMW M Workforce WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Dries Vanthoor, Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, Rene Rast
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Lumen by way of Getty Photographs
The BMW query and respect for the competitors
One of many key storylines of this version is the reshaping of the grid, particularly with WRT working the manufacturing unit BMW programme in GTP, having already run its Hypercar effort within the World Endurance Championship since 2024.
Whereas a change of this magnitude sometimes requires an adaptation interval, Porsche maintains full respect for the capabilities of its rivals. On the identical time, it doesn’t overlook the American producers that proved their energy final 12 months, although it factors to its German counterparts as those almost certainly to trigger complications over the weekend.
“BMW might be a bit totally different as a result of they modified their operations staff, which all the time requires some sort of build-up and adaptation work. However we by no means underestimate WRT. I imply, they’re among the best groups. So we anticipate them to be sturdy, even when they nonetheless have some adaptation work to do,” mentioned Laudenbach.
“If we discuss Cadillac and Acura, they’re nicely organised. They had been very sturdy final 12 months. So belief me, we take them significantly. They know find out how to get the job carried out and it is going to be a tricky struggle. So we positively don’t underestimate anybody.”
Leaving WEC and stability in IMSA
Lastly, Laudenbach identified that Porsche’s exit from the WEC’s Hypercar doesn’t have an effect on its North American operation. Removed from seeing it as a disruption, the staff highlights the independence each programmes have all the time maintained and the way the supply of skilled personnel might truly work in its favor this 12 months.
“It’s not an enormous distinction. I imply, though we had Penske as a accomplice in each collection, we all the time made positive that the operation might run by itself in WEC. I believe that’s as a result of we all the time had calendar clashes.
“So I’d say that for the US staff and for the actions right here, it’s not an enormous distinction. After all, it has an influence. And it in all probability even provides us extra alternatives, as a result of now we have a number of good individuals who had been beforehand in WEC and are actually right here. However I’d say it’s a minor affect.”
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