DAYTONA BEACH, FL – The 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona unfolded as a test of patience as much as speed, shaped by dense overnight fog, extended caution periods and tightly packed fields that turned the final hours into a series of high-stakes battles across all classes.
The race began the afternoon of Jan. 24 at 1:40 p.m. under clear skies at Daytona International Speedway, but trouble came quickly. Several incidents in the opening laps brought early caution flags, including a multi-car crash in Turn 1, the first corner of the 3.56-mile road course. The crash involved several cars from the LMP2 class, a prototype division designed for private teams using identical chassis and engines.
After a chaotic start, the field settled and racing continued into the evening.
Late Saturday night, heavy fog moved across the track, reducing visibility around the speedway. Just after midnight, IMSA – the International Motor Sports Association, which sanctions the race – placed the event under caution as conditions worsened. Cars remained behind the pace car for six hours and 33 minutes, the longest caution period in the history of the Rolex 24.
During the delay, teams focused on conserving equipment and maintaining focus while waiting for conditions to improve. The extended caution kept many cars on the lead lap, setting up close racing once green-flag action returned Sunday morning.
One of the most dramatic moments of the race came from the Aston Martin Valkyrie. The hypercar had suffered engine problems early on, forcing it to pit for
At the front of the field, the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport entry – driven by Felipe Nasr, Laurin Heinrich and Julien Andlauer – remained competitive throughout the race. Nasr drove the final stint and face a late challenge from Jack Aitken in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac, a car competing in the GTP class, the top category featuring hybrid-powered prototype race cars.
Aitken briefly pulled alongside Nasr on the infield road course, the section of the track that winds through the interior of the speedway, but Nasr maintained the lead and crossed the finish line 1.5 seconds ahead to secure the overall victory, ending the race at 1:40 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 25.
The win marked Nasr’s third straight Rolex 24 victory, making him one of the only three drivers in race history to win the event three consecutive times.
The No. 24 BMW finished third overall, 20 seconds behind the Cadillac.
Other classes were decided by narrow margins. In GTD, or Grand Touring Daytona, a class made up of production-based sports cars, the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG of Windward Racing defeated the No. 44 Aston Martin by just 1.3 seconds. Philip Ellis took the lead with less than 20 minutes remaining and held it through the final lap.
CrowdStrike Racing’s No. 04 Oreca won the LMP2 class by 5.6 seconds over the No. 43 Europol Competition Oreca. In GTD Pro, a professional-only version of the GTD class, Paul Miller Racing’s No. 1 BMW finished ahead of the No. 75 Mercades-AMG from 75 Express.
After the fog lifted, the race concluded under bright sunshine. Cars lined up on the front stretch, the main straightaway in front of the grandstands, following the checkered flag as teams celebrated in Victory Lane.
The Rolex 24 served as the opening race of the 2026 IMSA season. Teams will next compete at Sebring International Raceway for the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March, which Daytona International Speedway prepares to host NASCAR’s Daytona 500 in February.
