Porsche Temper Expectations After Daytona Hat-Trick

Porsche may have secured a third consecutive victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, but the German manufacturer has been keen to stress that the 2026 IMSA SportsCar Championship season opener was far closer than the final result initially suggested.

At first glance, the triumph of the #7 Penske-run Porsche 963 LMDh looked like another commanding display from a package widely expected to set the early benchmark. Yet when the chequered flag finally fell, the margin of victory told a very different story. Felipe Nasr, Julien Andlauer and Laurin Heinrich crossed the line just 1.569 seconds clear of the hard-charging #31 Action Express Racing Cadillac, shared by Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti and Connor Zilisch.

Porsche’s LMDh programme boss Urs Kuratle was quick to downplay any notion of dominance. “I think it looked more dominant than it really was in the end,” he explained. “In the first 22 hours everyone is focused on staying on the lead lap, and we were doing the same. So yes, from the outside it may have looked comfortable, but it wasn’t.”

The race’s complexion shifted repeatedly due to a succession of full-course yellow periods, which steadily eroded the early advantage enjoyed by the two Penske Porsches. An initial gap of roughly 20 seconds disappeared as the field was repeatedly compressed, setting the stage for a tense final act.

Cadillac, in particular, emerged as a formidable threat in the closing hours. The #31 AXR entry had endured a relatively quiet race, hampered by a grid penalty and further in-race sanctions that even saw it fall a lap down at one stage. However, a series of late cautions allowed the Cadillac back into contention, transforming it into a genuine victory challenger over the final two hours.

Race winner Nasr acknowledged the rising level of competition across the field. “The whole field has improved,” he said. “There were moments when I felt we had strong pace, but there were others where the Cadillac was clearly quick, especially when you looked at their sector times.”

Nasr described the final hour as “extremely intense”, with treacherous track conditions adding to the pressure. Cars were sliding heavily through the Bus Stop chicane, and maintaining control became as much a test as outright speed. Despite this, Aitken was able to close rapidly, repeatedly filling the mirrors of the leading Porsche.

“I was surprised how strong they were at the end,” Nasr admitted. “Their traction was very good, and a couple of times I had to brake as late as I could and really commit to my line. He was trying everything.”

Ultimately, experience and composure proved decisive. “I just drove with my heart and relied on what I’ve learned over the years,” Nasr said, sealing a victory that was far more hard-fought than it appeared on paper.

Top Three Overall – 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona

Porsche’s Daytona streak remains intact, but the narrow margin of victory served as a clear warning: in IMSA’s top class, the gap between dominance and defeat is thinner than ever.