2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona: Key Highlights to Anticipate
One of the premier races on American soil is taking place this weekend: the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Featuring a burgeoning and star-studded IMSA GTP class, a fiercely competitive GTD Pro class, and the ever-unpredictable challenges of a 24-hour race, it ranks among the most thrilling endurance races globally. While there's always something to catch your eye each year, 2025 brings a host of noteworthy narratives to follow.
Last year's race generated numerous significant headlines that won’t be present in 2025, such as the return of the Ford Mustang to endurance racing and former F1 champion Jenson Button driving an Acura GTP car. Although I had hoped that Heart of Racing would unexpectedly choose to field the Aston Martin Valkyrie race car this year, the striking prototype is set to make its debut at Sebring in March. Setting aside that small disappointment, here’s what to watch for this year.
BoP Updates
It’s a bit tedious to kick off this list with Balance of Performance updates, but it’s crucial. For the 2025 season, IMSA has opted to align its BoP rules with those of the World Endurance Championship across various classes, which will certainly affect how teams prepare for the 24-hour race.
In essence, the revised rules introduce a two-stage BoP system that targets both top speed and acceleration. Consequently, GTP cars with naturally aspirated engines, like the Cadillacs, received a 27-horsepower increase to better align with the hybrid Acuras and turbocharged Porsches. This disparity in power will effectively enable all GTP vehicles to share a similar rate of acceleration and nearly identical top speeds. At a venue like Daytona, where much of the lap is run at wide-open throttle, this will bring the field closer together and make drafting essential for overtaking.
Acura Maintains Its Dominance
The Acura Integra Type S is an outstanding performance sedan. I’ve had the opportunity to experience it from its prototype phase to its final production version, and it’s a well-rounded gem. So how can it be improved? By wrapping it in a shiny gold finish and designating it as the Rolex 24 Pace Car. Just take a look at it.
In addition to the Integra, Acura is a perennial contender for the overall victory, having triumphed consecutively in 2021, 2022, and 2023. This year is also significant for the brand’s racing division, HRC, as it allows Japanese talent Kakunoshin Ohta to take the wheel of the No. 93 car. Ohta is a rising star in the Super GT series—though his inaugural IMSA race is mainly an exploratory venture, it could pave the way for more Japanese drivers in the North American racing scene.
BMW's Moment to Shine
BMW and its M Hybrid V8 GTP prototype had a rocky start in 2023, eventually securing its first victory at Watkins Glen due to a Porsche disqualification. However, last year proved more fruitful for the Rahal-run team, clinching a significant victory at their home event in the six-hour race at Indianapolis.
What a way to kick off the 2025 season with Dries Vanthoor capturing the pole position at the series' marquee event with a lap time of 1:33.89, outpacing the No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06 by about 0.3 seconds. It will be a lengthy race Saturday afternoon, but starting from the front and steering clear of any early race chaos will certainly enhance BMW's chances of victory.
Elite Driver Lineup
The Rolex 24 consistently attracts a notable array of IndyCar stars, including Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, and Helio Castroneves, among others. While not all of them will participate this year, several prominent names will grace the starting grid on Saturday. Former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen will make his inaugural Rolex appearance, joined by Romain Grosjean and Felipe Massa. Dixon will be competing in an Acura rather than a Cadillac this year, as will three-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou. Other participants include Felix Rosenqvist, Tom Blomqvist, Colton Herta, Scott McLaughlin, and Kyle Kirkwood.
The Unpredictable
The most exciting aspect of the Rolex 24 at Daytona is undoubtedly the unexpected. With an impressive 61 cars participating in this year's event, it’s sure to be crowded no matter where you are on the 3.56-mile road course. Traffic is always a significant factor, particularly for the faster GTP cars.
Weather continues to be a crucial element as well, and although there’s no rain predicted so far, cooler temperatures may add to the intrigue once night falls. Daytime temperatures are expected to hover in the high 50s to low 60s, but they will dip into
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2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona: Key Highlights to Anticipate
This year's continuous 24-hour endurance race is set to be just as thrilling as all the previous Rolex 24 at Daytona events.