Porsche Penske Motorsport completes successful first day of testing at Daytona

The 2023 season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship kicked off on Friday with the Roar Before the 24, the three-day test at Daytona International Speedway. A total of 61 cars were on the track, including nine cars in the new GTP class for racing cars according to the LMDh regulations. Both Porsche 963s of the works team Porsche Penske Motorsport reeled off an extensive programme and showed a strong pace on the first day of testing.

On Friday afternoon and evening, the new Porsche 963 made a strong debut in close competition. Both cars of the Porsche Penske Motorsport team finished in the top 5 on the first day of the Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway.Car numbers 6 and 7 of the new works team finished in the front of the field in the first test session.

Felipe Nasr from Brazil set the second fastest lap time and completed 24 laps. Frenchman Mathieu Jaminet finished the test at noon in fifth place in the sister car after 20 laps.

"The first day of preparation for the 24 Hours of Daytona was successful from our point of view," says Jonathan Diuguid, Senior Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, summing up the first day on the legendary racetrack. "Both cars completed a few laps in the two sessions. However, the first day was not quite as carefree as hoped. However, it is important that the drivers are satisfied with the pace and performance. There are a few items on our list that we need to keep working on. Nevertheless, it was a good start at Daytona."

In the second race in the afternoon, the team noticed a defect in the suspension on car number 6. The car was extensively repaired in the garage and in the end drove only nine laps. Meanwhile, Dane Michel Christensen at the wheel of the number 7 set the fourth fastest time during his 35 laps.

The Roar Before the 24 will continue on Saturday with three more test sessions before qualifying on Sunday.