Power Embraces Daytona Rookie Test

Will Power insists he feels like a novice once more — and he means it as a compliment. Despite being a two-time IndyCar Series champion and the winner of the 2018 Indianapolis 500, the Australian arrives at this year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona as an IMSA debutant, embracing the unfamiliar demands of endurance racing with evident enthusiasm.

Power is competing in the GTD Pro category with 75 Express, sharing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with fellow Australians Kenny Habul and Chaz Mostert, alongside experienced German GT ace Maro Engel. For a driver accustomed to the precision and immediacy of IndyCar machinery, the transition has been both challenging and invigorating.

“I’m learning the ropes — driver changes, procedures, all the stuff you don’t deal with in single-seaters,” Power explained. “Maro has helped me a lot.”

Engel, for his part, has enjoyed watching Power adapt, joking that his new team-mate is “loving the driver changes”. Power admitted there is still room for improvement, particularly with steering wheel swaps, but his tone was light-hearted. “I’m getting better. It’s fun, honestly. There’s plenty to learn, and I’m enjoying every bit of it.”

Although Daytona marks Power’s IMSA debut, it is not his first taste of GT machinery. Last season he raced with 75 Express in the Indianapolis 8 Hour, part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, offering a brief introduction to the nuances of sports car racing. Even so, the Rolex 24 presents a far sterner test.

Habul has been particularly impressed by Power’s innate feel behind the wheel. “He doesn’t really understand GT racing yet,” Habul said, “but he’s so talented that even when he’s learning, he can still put in a purple sector. You don’t get 71 IndyCar poles by accident — he has extraordinary feel.”

At 44, Power admits that redefining the limit in a GT3 car requires patience. The Mercedes responds more slowly, rewards a different braking technique, and demands a smoother, more deliberate approach. “It’s about understanding what actually makes the car fast,” he noted. “The pitching under braking, the way you trail brake — it’s all very different.”

Daytona’s 3.56-mile road course has only added to the intrigue, with the braking zones into Turn 1 and the Bus Stop proving especially intense. Yet Power’s grin suggests the challenge suits him.

While he has not ruled out further endurance outings, Power is clear that IndyCar remains the priority, particularly as he prepares to race for Andretti Global in 2026. For now, the focus is on Daytona, where the 75 Express crew qualified fourth in class, starting from the outside of the second row.

Will Power at a Glance

For Power, the Rolex 24 is less about reputation and more about rediscovering the thrill of learning — a rare and refreshing position for a driver of his stature.