Porsche Penske Motorsport’s objective at the Rolex 24 at Daytona is clear: to secure a third consecutive victory after winning the race with the 963 LMDh in each of the past two years.
However, confidence in the garage does not translate into complacency. The team is well aware that the gap to its competitors has narrowed dramatically and that, in order to achieve this three-peat, pure speed alone will not be enough this Saturday and Sunday.
When discussing the possibility of fighting for the win and the overall complexity of this year’s race, Thomas Laudenbach, head of Porsche Motorsport, admits the 2026 edition could be even more challenging than previous ones in which the German manufacturer managed to outduel Cadillac and Acura in the final hours.
«We want the third one,» he said. «It’s going to be difficult. If I look at all the lap times and look at the endurance tests of our competitors, I think it’s going to be very tight.
«And I would think that single-lap performance will not be decisive. I believe it will come down to strategy and not making mistakes. No penalties. Proper tyre management. And I think the team that executes best will win the race. But of course, we are going for the third consecutive victory.
#24 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Dries Vanthoor, Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, Rene Rast
Photo by: Jake Galstad / Lumen via Getty Images
The BMW question and respect for the competition
One of the key storylines of this edition is the reshaping of the grid, specifically with WRT operating the factory BMW programme in GTP, having already run its Hypercar effort in the World Endurance Championship since 2024.
While a change of this magnitude typically requires an adaptation period, Porsche maintains full respect for the capabilities of its rivals. At the same time, it does not overlook the American manufacturers that proved their strength last year, though it points to its German counterparts as the ones most likely to cause headaches over the weekend.
“BMW is probably a bit different because they changed their operations team, which always requires some kind of build-up and adaptation work. But we never underestimate WRT. I mean, they are one of the best teams. So we expect them to be strong, even if they still have some adaptation work to do,» said Laudenbach.
“If we talk about Cadillac and Acura, they are well organised. They were very strong last year. So trust me, we take them seriously. They know how to get the job done and it will be a tough fight. So we definitely do not underestimate anyone.”
Leaving WEC and stability in IMSA
Finally, Laudenbach pointed out that Porsche’s exit from the WEC’s Hypercar does not affect its North American operation. Far from seeing it as a disruption, the team highlights the independence both programmes have always maintained and how the availability of experienced personnel could actually work in its favor this year.
“It’s not a big difference. I mean, even though we had Penske as a partner in both series, we always made sure that the operation could run on its own in WEC. I think that’s because we always had calendar clashes.
«So I would say that for the US team and for the activities here, it’s not a big difference. Of course, it has an impact. And it probably even gives us more opportunities, because we have a lot of good people who were previously in WEC and are now here. But I would say it’s a minor influence.”
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