IMSA concluded its official preseason test at Daytona International Speedway with 38 participating cars, setting the largest number recorded for these tests ahead of the 2026 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.
The sessions from November 14 to 16 included all four championship categories, with the GTP and LMP2 prototypes starting on Friday and the GT classes joining on Saturday to complete 10 hours of track activity.
Photo By IMSA
Key Evaluations for Rolex 24
Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden both tested the Porsche 963 cars for Porsche Penske Motorsport as part of their evaluation for the 2026 24 Hours of Daytona. Jonathan Diuguid, managing director of the team, confirmed that both IndyCar drivers are being considered for the January lineup.
"That's probably the best way to describe it, although we haven't made final decisions yet," Diuguid explained regarding the inclusion of McLaughlin and Newgarden. The team is studying a return to a four-driver per car format due to the increase in participants and the mental strain of constant traffic.
McLaughlin would compete in GTP for the first time, after three previous participations in Daytona: two years in LMP2 with Tower Motorsports and this year in GTD Pro with Trackhouse. Newgarden was part of the winning lineup of the #7 Porsche in 2024.
Photo By IMSA
Zilisch Debuts in GTP Prototypes
Connor Zilisch drove a GTP prototype for the first time, piloting the #31 Cadillac V-Series.R for Action Express Racing. Zilisch completed extensive sessions, recording a 1:36.540, the eighth fastest time among the 11 GTP prototypes.
"I've always dreamed of being able to drive in the top category of IMSA," stated Zilisch. His confirmed teammates include Earl Bamber, Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti.
I've always dreamed of being able to drive in the top category of IMSA
A.J. Allmendinger returned to IMSA after four years, testing the #60 Acura ARX-06 for Meyer Shank Racing alongside Scott Dixon, Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun. His best time was 1:36.231, fourth overall.
Photo By IMSA
Michelin Tire Changes References
All GTP and LMP2 prototypes debuted the Michelin Pilot Sport Endurance tire, a completely new specification that eliminated direct comparisons with previous tests. Colin Braun explained the impact: "There's a new tire, so a lot is different. We don't have the old tire as a reference."
This change forced teams to redefine base setups and collect data from scratch, making these tests fundamental sessions for January preparation.
Photo By IMSA
Major Reshuffles in LMP2
United Autosports USA and TDS Racing exchanged driver pairings for 2026. Mikkel Jensen and Hunter McElrea moved from TDS to United, joining Phil Fayer and Ben Hanley in the #2 ORECA.
TDS incorporated drivers Tobi Lutke and David Heinemeier Hansson from Era Motorsport, alongside Mathias Beche as teammates to Charles Milesi in the #11 car.
Debuts and Returns in GT Categories
The Lamborghini Temerario GT3 completed its first North American laps with Pfaff Motorsports. Andrea Caldarelli, Marco Mapelli and Franck Perera took turns at the wheel of the #9 car without mechanical issues.
"It's always special to do the first laps of a new car in North America," commented Caldarelli. "We had never driven this car with these tires in Europe. It's quite different from the Huracán."
Photo By IMSA
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing returned to GT categories with its #59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, the company's first participation since 2022. Dean MacDonald, Juri Vips and Max Esterson shared driving duties.
Myers Riley Motorsports debuted with its updated #16 Ford Mustang GT3, piloted by Jenson Altzman, Felipe Fraga, Sheena Monk and Romain Grosjean.
Photo By IMSA
BMW Changes Operator
BMW M Team WRT took over the German GTP program, replacing BMW M Team RLL for 2026. The #24 and #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 cars showed aerodynamic updates including a new front splitter and a more compact kidney grille.
Philipp Eng, Robin Frijns, Kevin Magnussen, René Rast, Dries Vanthoor and Marco Wittmann took turns during the two days of testing.
Photo By IMSA
The #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie completed limited sessions due to electrical problems, recording only 35 laps over two days. The Thor Team program hopes to resolve the issues by January.
Porsche presented its updated 911 GT3 R (known internally as 992.2) with Wright Motorsports, Manthey and RS1. Thomas Preining confirmed that the aerodynamic and suspension updates are "going in the right direction."
Acura Tops Combined Times
The #93 Acura ARX-06 from Meyer Shank Racing set the overall best time with a 1:35.725 by Nick Yelloly. The #85 Porsche 963 from JDC-Miller was second with a 1:36.015, followed by the Porsche Penske #6 with a 1:36.143.
In LMP2, Charles Milesi led the classification with TDS Racing, recording a 1:39.176, one thousandth of a second ahead of the Pratt Miller Motorsports #73 of Pietro Fittipaldi.
Magnus Racing obtained the best time in GTD with a 1:47.537 in its #44 BMW M4 GT3.
Photo By IMSA
Combined Test Session Results
| Pos | Class | No. | Drivers / Team | Session 1 Time (Lap) |
Session 2 Time (Lap) |
Session 3 Time (Lap) |
Session 4 Time (Lap) |
Best Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GTP | 93 | R. van der Zande / N. Yelloly / A. Palou Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian |
1:35.725 (5) | 1:36.142 (18) | 1:36.756 (8) | 1:36.297 (33) | 1:35.725 | - |
| 2 | GTP | 85 | B. Aron / T. van der Helm / M. Campbell / N. Pino JDC-Miller MotorSports |
1:36.631 (7) | 1:36.279 (27) | 1:36.541 (59) | 1:36.015 (31) | 1:36.015 | +0.290 |
| 3 | GTP | 6 | J. Newgarden / F. Nasr / M. Campbell / S. McLaughlin / J. Andlauer Porsche Penske Motorsport |
1:36.808 (7) | 1:36.143 (49) | 1:36.682 (23) | 1:36.467 (36) | 1:36.143 | +0.418 |
| 4 | GTP | 60 | T. Blomqvist / C. Braun / S. Dixon / A. Allmendinger Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian |
1:36.241 (12) | 1:36.286 (10) | 1:36.231 (27) | 1:36.406 (11) | 1:36.231 | +0.506 |
| 5 | GTP | 7 | S. McLaughlin / J. Andlauer / M. Campbell / J. Newgarden / F. Nasr Porsche Penske Motorsport |
1:36.719 (48) | 1:36.415 (46) | 1:36.663 (32) | 1:36.395 (21) | 1:36.395 | +0.670 |
| 6 | GTP | 24 | R. Frijns / R. Rast / K. Magnussen / D. Vanthoor / P. Eng BMW M Team WRT |
1:36.871 (75) | 1:36.815 (58) | 1:36.601 (18) | 1:36.399 (66) | 1:36.399 | +0.674 |
| 7 | GTP | 25 | K. Magnussen / D. Vanthoor / M. Wittmann / R. Rast / P. Eng BMW M Team WRT |
1:37.014 (18) | 1:36.568 (62) | 1:36.652 (9) | 1:36.459 (17) | 1:36.459 | +0.734 |
| 8 | GTP | 31 | F. Vesti / J. Aitken / E. Bamber / C. Zilisch Cadillac Whelen |
1:37.097 (7) | 1:36.540 (22) | 1:37.136 (16) | 1:36.812 (5) | 1:36.540 | +0.815 |
| 9 | GTP | 10 | R. Taylor / F. Albuquerque / W. Stevens Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing |
1:36.705 (38) | 1:36.595 (29) | 1:36.990 (59) | 1:36.834 (12) | 1:36.595 | +0.870 |
| 10 | GTP | 40 | J. Taylor / L. Deletraz / C. Herta Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing |
1:36.833 (27) | 1:36.619 (41) | 1:36.922 (8) | 1:36.966 (71) | 1:36.619 | +0.894 |
| 11 | GTP | 23 | R. Gunn / R. De Angelis ASTON MARTIN THOR Team |
1:37.152 (8) | - | 1:37.160 (27) | - | 1:37.152 | +1.427 |
| 12 | LMP2 | 11 | T. Lutke / M. Beche / D. Hansson / C. Milesi TDS Racing |
1:39.982 (11) | 1:39.176 (42) | 1:40.040 (58) | 1:40.074 (35) | 1:39.176 | +3.451 |
| 13 | LMP2 | 73 | P. Fittipaldi / M. Espirito Santo / C. Cumming / E. Fittipaldi Pratt Miller Motorsports |
1:39.793 (14) | 1:39.430 (7) | 1:39.609 (46) | 1:39.177 (73) | 1:39.177 | +3.452 |
| 14 | LMP2 | 04 | G. Kurtz / A. Quinn / T. Sowery / M. Jakobsen Crowdstrike Racing by APR |
1:40.329 (7) | 1:39.188 (17) | 1:40.323 (86) | 1:39.468 (5) | 1:39.188 | +3.463 |
| 15 | LMP2 | 43 | J. Clarke / T. Dillmann / B. Garg / N. Siegel Inter Europol Competition |
1:39.224 (7) | 1:39.509 (6) | 1:39.765 (5) | 1:39.579 (13) | 1:39.224 | +3.499 |
| 16 | LMP2 | 52 | M. Goikhberg / B. Keating / P. Thompson / T. Vautier Bryan Herta Autosport with PR1/Mathiasen |
1:40.743 (15) | 1:40.324 (54) | 1:40.045 (14) | 1:39.795 (66) | 1:39.795 | +4.070 |
| 17 | GTP2 | 99 | P. Hyett / D. Cameron / J. Edgar / C. Rasmussen AO Racing |
1:39.939 (9) | 1:40.540 (44) | 1:39.911 (58) | 1:40.309 (8) | 1:39.911 | +4.186 |
| 18 | LMP2 | 2 | P. Fayer / H. McElrea / M. Jensen United Autosports USA |
1:39.960 (7) | 1:40.118 (63) | 1:40.465 (15) | 1:40.412 (22) | 1:39.960 | +4.235 |
| 19 | LMP2 | 8 | J. Farano / S. Bourdais / S. Alvarez / L. Foster Tower Motorsports |
1:40.293 (37) | 1:40.134 (6) | 1:40.104 (15) | 1:40.045 (4) | 1:40.045 | +4.320 |
| 20 | LMP2 | 22 | D. Goldburg / P. Di Resta / R. Lindh / G. Saucy United Autosports USA |
1:40.856 (8) | 1:40.210 (7) | 1:40.576 (22) | 1:40.350 (39) | 1:40.210 | +4.485 |
| 21 | LMP2 | 37 | J. Field / O. Jarvis / S. Lucas Intersport Racing |
1:40.622 (22) | 1:41.724 (18) | 1:40.682 (17) | 1:40.242 (15) | 1:40.242 | +4.517 |
| 22 | GTD | 44 | J. Potter / S. Pumpelly / N. Thiim Magnus Racing |
- | 1:47.662 (5) | 1:47.537 (20) | - | 1:47.537 | +11.812 |
| 23 | GTDPRO | 57 | S. Noble / J. Hart / M. Martin / L. Stolz WINWARD RACING |
1:47.622 (70) | - | 1:47.813 (48) | - | 1:47.622 | +11.897 |
| 24 | GTD | 28 | E. Zitza / J. Heylen RS1 |
1:47.677 (36) | - | 1:48.151 (6) | - | 1:47.677 | +11.952 |
| 25 | GTDPRO | 75 | K. Habul / M. Grenier / W. Power 75 Express |
1:47.689 (5) | - | 1:47.916 (23) | - | 1:47.689 | +11.964 |
| 26 | GTD | 57 | R. Ward / P. Ellis / I. Dontje / L. Auer WINWARD RACING |
1:47.711 (34) | - | 1:47.727 (35) | - | 1:47.711 | +11.986 |
| 27 | GTD | 36 | S. Monk / F. Fraga / J. Altzman / R. Grosjean Myers Riley Motorsports |
1:47.956 (23) | - | 1:48.791 (16) | - | 1:47.956 | +12.231 |
| 28 | GTD | 69 | A. Telitz / B. Pedersen / F. Montecalvo / E. Masson Vasser Sullivan Racing |
1:48.267 (12) | 1:47.958 (22) | - | - | 1:47.958 | +12.233 |
| 29 | GTDPRO | 36 | J. Hawksworth / B. Barnicoat / K. Kirkwood Vasser Sullivan Racing |
1:48.385 (5) | - | 1:48.083 (14) | - | 1:48.083 | +12.358 |
| 30 | GTDPRO | 15 | C. Mies / F. Vervisch / S. Priaulx Ford Multimatic Motorsports |
1:48.425 (65) | 1:48.092 (3) | - | - | 1:48.092 | +12.367 |
| 31 | GTDPRO | 38 | N. Verhagen / C. De Phillippi / M. Hesse / D. Harper Paul Miller Racing |
1:48.161 (1) | 1:48.203 (58) | - | - | 1:48.161 | +12.436 |
| 32 | GTD | 43 | S. Mann / T. Mosca Af Corse Usa |
1:48.203 (21) | - | 1:48.553 (44) | - | 1:48.203 | +12.478 |
| 33 | GTD | 9 | A. Adelson / E. Skeer / T. Sargent / C. Ilott Wright Motorsports |
1:48.237 (120) | - | 1:48.594 (5) | - | 1:48.237 | +12.512 |
| 34 | GTDPRO | 911 | T. Preining / R. Pera / R. Hardwick Manthey |
1:48.646 (21) | - | 1:48.466 (63) | - | 1:48.466 | +12.741 |
| 35 | GTD | 9 | D. Formal / T. Hindman / G. Doyle Wayne Taylor Racing |
1:48.496 (27) | - | 1:48.709 (45) | - | 1:48.496 | +12.771 |
| 36 | GTDPRO | 64 | B. Barker / D. Olsen / M. Rockenfeller Ford Multimatic Motorsports |
1:48.652 (42) | 1:48.808 (5) | - | - | 1:48.652 | +12.927 |
| 37 | GTDPRO | 9 | A. Caldarelli / M. Mapelli / F. Perera Pfaff Motorsports |
1:48.780 (23) | - | 1:48.755 (33) | - | 1:48.755 | +13.030 |
| 38 | GTDPRO | 59 | D. MacDonald / J. Vips / M. Esterson RLL Team McLaren |
1:49.036 (8) | - | 1:48.824 (20) | - | 1:48.824 | +13.099 |
Upcoming Races
Drivers Standings 2026
| POS | PILOTO | PTS | ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Felipe Nasr | 380 | |
| 1 | Julien Andlauer | 380 | |
| 1 | Laurin Heinrich | 380 | |
| 2 | Connor Zilisch | 340 | |
| 2 | Earl Bamber | 340 | |
| 2 | Frederik Vesti | 340 | |
| 2 | Jack Aitken | 340 | |
| 3 | Dries Vanthoor | 323 |
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