DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Among the star-studded entry list for the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona is a racing superstar making his debut in the famed twice-around-the-clock race.
Two-time IndyCar Series champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power set a fast time in the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class in Saturday afternoon’s session during Roar Before the Rolex 24 testing.
Power said he’s enjoyed taking in the new competitive scenery in preparation for his first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course.
The 44-year-old Australian, who is moving from a 17-year tenure at Team Penske in the IndyCar Series to the Andretti Global team in 2026, will actually be competing against his new teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson next weekend.
“I’m really enjoying it, it’s a real big event that I’ve wanted to do for a long time,’’ said Power, who is driving with fellow Australians Kenny Habul and Chaz Mostert and German Maro Engel in the No. 75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3. “I’m really happy to be here.’’
This week marks only the second time Power has turned any laps on the famed Daytona track after also participating in the IMSA-sanctioned test in November.
“I’m having a lot of fun,” Power repeated. “I like it. It’s a different style of racing dealing with cars motoring by you and having to navigate a lot of traffic and being very aware of what’s going on around you. Fun.’’
Power conceded that the Rolex 24 has long been on his bucket list.
“I’ve always been a bit too late to the game talking to teams, but good timing (now). It’s funny that I hadn’t done it (previously) because I’d wanted to do it for a long time but always been so focused on being prepared in IndyCar. But I’m late enough in my career now, I’ve done it long enough, I don’t think it would affect that. So really ready to go and enjoy it.’’
DragonSpeed Corvette
Corvette has welcomed its fifth full-season team to the WeatherTech Championship with DragonSpeed joining the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) competitive mix with its No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R. The Rolex 24 that starts January 24 will mark the racing debut in the Corvette for all four drivers.
Giacomo Altoè, Henrik Hedman and Casper Stevenson are here this weekend with Matteo Cairoli absent at a schedule conflict. The first three here are determined to capitalize on this weekend’s testing; Hedman noted a successful shakedown shortly after taking the car’s delivery late last year.
“It was my first-ever laps in the Corvette,’’ said Altoè, who was a key cog in DragonSpeed’s near GTD PRO title run alongside Albert Costa in 2025. “It’s amazing and a very different feeling than what I’m used to. Of course, I needed a few laps to adapt. Handling was different but it’s also very different with how I’m seated in the car with the seating position, the sound, how the car works.
“I still need to go through all the systems so there is a lot of homework to do. I just need to find out what the car needs and we will keep progressing.”
Special Biffle Livery
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge team KohR Motorsports is running a special tribute on one of its cars to NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, who died along with family members and friends in a plane crash December 18 in North Carolina.
The No. 60 KohR Ford Mustang GT4 is carrying a paint scheme honoring the Biffles during Roar testing this weekend and again for the series’ season-opening race, the BMW M Endurance Challenge on Friday at Daytona.
The Mustang – with the special livery and the hashtag #BeLikeBiff – is sponsored by Roush and carries the No. 60 – all reminiscent of Biffle’s early career when he drove a No. 60 Ford owned by Jack Roush to the 2002 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship.
The connection between Biffle and the team goes much deeper. Biffle’s work with Angel Flight helped provide needed supplies to regions of western North Carolina in the wake of 2024’s Hurricane Helene. The Angel Flight organization has been something that J.C. Waidler, KohR’s motorsports director of marketing and public relations, has been involved in for three decades.
“It’s not necessarily a motorsports thing, it’s what he meant to people off track,’’ Waidler said. “A lot of people who don’t follow NASCAR heard about what Greg and (wife) Christina did for people during the hurricane.’’
Dean Martin, who is co-driving the Mustang with Ray Mason and Evan Slater, was adamant that the tribute was “the right thing to do.’’
“It’s not even so much about what Greg did in racing,’’ Martin said. “It’s more of his humanitarian efforts. A lot of people don’t even realize just how much he’s done.
“It was a common goal,’’ Martin said of the hurricane relief, “And this is admiration for him and what he’s done outside of racing.’’
