Tom Blomqvist set the pace in the opening session of the 2025 Roar Before the 24, clocking a blistering lap in the #60 Meyer Shank Acura ARX-06 to kick off pre-event testing at Daytona International Speedway. The three-day event serves as the prelude to the IMSA SportsCar Championship’s marquee race, the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Blomqvist leads the way
Blomqvist’s 1:35.827 lap time in the GTP class showcased the #60 Acura’s raw speed and Meyer Shank Racing’s readiness for the season. He edged out Marco Wittmann in the #25 RLL BMW M Hybrid V8, whose best lap of 1:36.103 was enough for second. Gianmaria Bruni rounded out the top three with a 1:36.182 in the #85 JDC Miller Motorsports Porsche 963.
LMP2: A tight battle
The LMP2 class saw fierce competition, with Malthe Jakobsen topping the charts in the #04 Crowdstrike Racing Oreca 07, clocking a 1:38.673. Ben Hanley secured second for United Autosports USA, matching Jakobsen’s time exactly, while reigning Le Mans winner Nicklas Nielsen finished third in the #83 AF Corse Oreca with a 1:38.905.
GTD and GTD Pro: Lamborghini and Iron Dames shine
In the GT categories, Marco Mapelli led the GTD Pro field in the #9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 with a 1:47.626. The pink #83 Iron Dames Porsche 911 GT3.R, driven by Rahel Frey, posted a 1:48.084 to top the GTD class and finish just behind Mapelli overall in the GT rankings.
Other notable GT performances included:
- Alessandro Pier Guidi’s 1:48.200 in the #21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3, finishing third in the GTD Pro class.
- Davide Rigon, piloting the #81 DragonSpeed Ferrari, completing a 1:48.398 lap to finish third in GTD Pro and seventh overall among GT cars.
Session highlights and disruptions
The 1-hour and 15-minute session ran smoothly for the most part, though two red flags briefly interrupted the action. The first was likely caused by debris on the track, while the second came near the end of the session when PJ Hyett in the #99 AO Racing Oreca 07 suffered a flat tire after going off at Turn 7. The incident led to the session ending three minutes early under the red flag.
Changes to the Roar format
For the first time since 2020, qualifying is not part of the Roar weekend, allowing for an additional testing session. The newly added session will feature FIA Bronze-graded drivers from the LMP2 and GTD classes, providing teams with valuable track time in preparation for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
What’s next?
The second session of the Roar Before the 24 continues at 3 PM local / 8 PM UK time, with a two-hour slot set to provide more insights into team performances and car setups as excitement builds for the 2025 season opener.
