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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — So far, the annual Roar Before the Rolex 24 practice sessions have featured BMW dominating the speed charts during the opening two days of action at Daytona Int’l Speedway’s 3.56-mile road course.
The German brand set fast time in both of Saturday’s early Rolex 24 At Daytona practice sessions with the two BMW M Team RLL sister cars ultimately sweeping the first two positions on the speed charts.
While 25-year-old Sheldon van der Linde – who claimed the day’s overall fast lap of 1:36.196 in the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 on Saturday afternoon – was clearly pleased with the team’s effort and what that may mean for next weekend’s iconic Rolex 24 race, the South African cautioned that some competitors had been careful not to show their hand yet.
He was encouraged, however, by the obvious progress his manufacturer and team have made in the last two years competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“It’s obviously positive to see that all the hard work we’ve done over the winter this year and through the WEC season last year, we’ve learned a lot, and we’re trying to translate that into America obviously,” said van der Linde, an FIA World Endurance Championship veteran who will drive full-time in IMSA’s Grand Touring Prototype class for the first time this season.
“It’s only the Roar and we know a lot of people are sandbagging quite a lot,” he said. “It’s quite clear in the GTD class as well, but for sure, a good way to start the weekend and the car feels good so that’s positive.
“It’s hard to say what we expected because we didn’t really know where we’d be coming into the Roar. Like I said, everyone is doing something different with their program. So, in the end, it’s very hard to know where we are, but we expected to be a lot stronger than last year and I think that alone really, really shows this year.”
Overall Saturday, it was smooth running on track– temperatures in the low 70s under mostly cloudy skies – with only a single incident in the two practice sessions – the No. 22 United Autosports USA LMP2 contacted the tire barrier outside the chicane on the backstretch during the afternoon session.
Although there were no “instances” for accidents during the morning one hour, 45-minute practice, it was slowed twice – a quick yellow for a debris on track and an 11-minute pause to allow the field to practice the new split category restarts for the upcoming race. This season, before restarts, all four classes will be divided on track by category, including a new-for-2025 class split of the GTD PRO and GTD cars.
The general feeling was that the split went better than expected, happening quickly and without incident – even with a full 37-car count among the GTD entries (15 GTD PRO and 22 GTD).
“That worked fine,” said IndyCar’s Scott McLaughlin, who is teaming with NASCAR stars Shane Van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch and former Rolex winner Ben Keating in the No. 91 Trackhouse by TF Sport GTD PRO class Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the Rolex 24.
“It was quick, more just getting the pack up. It was pretty solid. I don’t think there’s much of a difference.’’
Franck Perera, who set fast time (1:48.036) in the GTD class Saturday morning driving the No. 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, was among the drivers who cautioned with the changing weather conditions both expected for Sunday (rain) and next week’s race (cooler temperatures).
“For sure it is positive when it is going the way you want,” said Perera, a past Rolex 24 class winner. He noted “each session is a test and there’s still practice, and I think the weather will be tricky the next couple days.’’
Felipe Fraga took fast time in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class with a lap of 1:40.108 in the No. 74 Riley ORECA LMP2 07. Andrea Caldarelli was quickest in both sessions in the GTD PRO Class with a fast lap of 1:48.049 in the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 during the afternoon practice.
