The three-day IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway concluded with two test sessions exclusively for the GTD and GTD Pro categories.
Some of 2025’s new cars and teams had ample opportunity to complete their preparation for the 63rd annual Rolex 24 at Daytona, including the new-for-2025 BMW M4 GT3 EVO fielded by Paul Miller Racing.
Across two days of testing, Madison Snow and Neil Verhagen did 302 laps in the #1 BMW, while Snow set the car’s fastest time (1:49.050) during Session 6 this morning.
It was also a chance for new drivers like Tom Sargent (#77 AO Racing Porsche) and Esteban Masson (#14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus) to sample the high banks of Daytona for the first time in their respective cars.
Iron Dames’ new #83 Porsche 911 GT3 R was also up to speed quickly. Honourary Iron Dame Matteo Cressoni – testing with his female counterparts Karen Gaillard and Rahel Frey this weekend – actually set the second-fastest time in the GTD class this weekend (1:48.553) in the afternoon’s Session 7 to close out the day.
The ‘Dames & Dudes’ had a productive weekend, turning 344 laps – Gaillard alone did 122 in her first IMSA test with the team.
After a slow start on Saturday, the #19 Van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 had a trouble-free Sunday, and all five of the team’s driver candidates were able to get on track including Eric Filgueiras, Maxime Robin, and Brady Behrman. Valentin Hasse-Clot set the car’s best lap (1:48.807) on Saturday, out of 268 total.
But across both sessions, the #65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3 was the fastest car in GTD Pro.
Dennis Olsen went quickest in the morning with a 1:47.822, the fastest time in GTD Pro across Saturday & Sunday. Christopher Mies’ best lap in the same car (1:47.838) would lead the afternoon test.
The #64 Ford was second-quickest in both tests, Mike Rockenfeller turned in the car’s best lap of the weekend (1:48.091) in the morning. The fastest non-Ford in GTD Pro was Rexy – the #77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, in the hands of Klaus Bachler who set a 1:48.160.
Similarly in GTD, Elliott Skeer in the #120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R led both tests – and all five sessions this weekend. He set a 1:48.221 in the morning session, his and the team’s best time over two days.
But new Porsche Carrera Cup North America Champion, Loek Hartog, was rapidly on the pace of his tenured team-mate Skeer – setting a 1:48.636 during Session 6. That bodes well for the 2024 champion’s chances of officially landing a ride at Daytona in January.
RESULTS >> SESSION 6 | SESSION 7
There are just ten weeks until the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, which starts Saturday, 25 January.
Images © Brandon Badraoui, Michael L. Levitt / IMSA
