With three hours remaining in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Porsche Penske Motorsport continues to dominate the GTP class, while intense battles rage across other categories. Here’s the latest on the hour 21 standings:
GTP: Porsche holds firm as tire strategies come into play
The No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963, now driven by Nick Tandy, has pitted from the lead, temporarily handing the top spot to its sister car, the No. 6 Porsche, with Mathieu Jaminet at the wheel. Jaminet has managed to maintain a slim advantage over Philipp Eng in the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL, while Colin Braun sits third in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06.
However, upcoming pit stops for the No. 6 Porsche and its nearest rivals are expected to cycle the No. 7 Porsche back into the lead. Complicating matters, GTP teams have exhausted their allocation of soft tires, adding a strategic wrinkle to the final hours.
LMP2: Penalties shake up the leaderboard
Drama in the LMP2 class saw the No. 99 AO Racing ORECA 07 drop out of the lead after receiving a drive-through penalty for failing to meet minimum tire pressure requirements. This penalty handed the lead to the No. 88 AF Corse ORECA, driven by Nicklas Nielsen, who now holds a slim advantage over Job van Uitert in the orange No. 8 Tower Motorsports car.
Dane Cameron, penalized in the No. 99, has fallen to third, while Paul di Resta in the No. 22 United Autosports USA car remains a contender in fourth.
GTD PRO: Corvette on top after bold move
A daring overtake at turn six by Tommy Milner in the No. 4 Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R secured the GTD PRO lead, displacing Connor De Phillippi in the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO. The two leaders have pulled away from the field, with Chris Mies in the No. 65 Ford Multimatic Mustang GT3 taking third, ahead of Luca Stolz in the No. 69 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3.
GTD: AWA Corvette leads, but challengers loom
Marvin Kirchhöfer continues to shine in the No. 13 AWA Corvette, maintaining the GTD lead under mounting pressure from Elliott Skeer (No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche) and Philip Ellis (No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG). Mattia Drudi in the No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin remains in podium contention in fourth.
Retirements and comebacks
Two GTD cars—the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 and the No. 023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3—have retired. Meanwhile, the No. 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini has rejoined the race after extensive repairs.
Hour 21 standings overview
- GTP Leader: No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 (Mathieu Jaminet)
- LMP2 Leader: No. 88 AF Corse ORECA 07 (Nicklas Nielsen)
- GTD PRO Leader: No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R (Tommy Milner)
- GTD Leader: No. 13 AWA Corvette (Marvin Kirchhöfer)
As the final hours approach, tire strategies, fuel management, and sheer determination will define the race’s conclusion. Stay tuned for more updates!
