Three new teams are taking on the IMSA GTD PRO
Manthey, RLL Team McLaren and Winward Racing will replace Heart of Racing Team, Paul Miller Racing’s second car, Proton Competition and Trackhouse by TF Sport in GTD PRO. With Triarsi Competitione moving one Ferrari from GTD to GTD PRO, the class count now 15 GT3s like last year. Risi Competizione no longer enters #81 DragonSpeed Ferrari but under their own banner with #62.
Table 1: GTD PRO ROLEX 24 at Daytona entries in 2025 and 2026
GTD PRO ROLEX 24 at Daytona entries in 2025 and 2026.
#48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
Winward Racing has been a regular competitor in the 24 Hours of Daytona since 2021. In 2026, the team will field two cars for the first time. On top of last year GTD champion #57, Winward Racing is entering a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in GTD PRO. The #48 Mercdes-AMG GT3 will be driven by Jason Hart (USA), Maxime Martin (BEL), Scott Noble (USA) and Luca Stolz (GER) in GTD Pro.
📷 © IMSA at Daytona sanctioned tests. #48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
#59 RLL Team McLaren
After partnering with BMW Motorsport in a successful 17-year collaboration, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) recently announced a multi-year collaboration with McLaren Motorsport that will see the team return to IMSA’s GTD PRO class in 2026 with the McLaren GT3 EVO. The #59 RLL Team McLaren McLaren 720S GT3 EVO includes Max Esterson, Juri Vips, and Dean MacDonald, with a fourth driver for the Rolex 24 at Daytona yet to be announced.
📷 © IMSA at Daytona sanctioned tests. #59 RLL Team McLaren 720S GT3 EVO
#911 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R
Manthey will be contesting the 2026 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup with a strong driver line-up. At the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 R (#911) entered in the GTD PRO class will be Austrian drivers Klaus Bachler and Thomas Preining, who are familiar with the team from their WEC and DTM campaigns, together with Porsche contract driver Ricardo Feller (Switzerland).
📷 © IMSA at Daytona sanctioned tests. #911 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R
Thomas Preining, Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R #911: "I’m really excited that it’s finally official and that I will be competing in the 2026 IMSA alongside Manthey. Our first test went very well, and everyone on the team is motivated and focused on the same goal: winning Daytona and making a strong statement in our first season in the U.S. The preparation has already started, and we’re looking forward to the challenge. Racing in America is a lot of fun, and it’s even more rewarding when you are successful - which is exactly what we’re aiming for."
Ricardo Feller, Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R #911: "I’m really excited about our IMSA program and to be part of the Manthey team. I raced these endurance races back in 2019 and have wanted to return to the U.S. every year since. Now it has finally worked out — and with such a promising driver lineup. I’m confident we’ll have a strong season, and our goal is clear: we want to win. With the 24 Hours of Daytona as the season highlight already coming up in January, our full focus is on that race. I can’t wait for the season to finally start!"
Klaus Bachler, Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R #911: "I can’t wait and I’m very excited to be part of Manthey’s IMSA debut in 2026. With Thomas and Ricardo, I have two extremely strong teammates alongside me. I’ve known Thomas for many years and we’ve already competed together in numerous championships. This will be the first time I share a car with Ricardo, which I’m really looking forward to. It has always been a big wish of mine to race in the Grello, and the fact that this is becoming a reality in the IMSA Endurance Series means a lot to me. I can’t wait for January to come, when we head to Daytona and I get to drive my first laps in the #911." Source: Porsche
Two Ferrari 296 GT3 with factory drivers.
📷 © Luc Warnotte. #023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 at Road Atlanta (left); #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296GT3 at Daytona 2024.
Triarsi Competizione is set for its Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class debut. James Calado, Alessio Rovera, Miguel Molina and Riccardo Agostini are set to share their #033 Ferrari.
For the 2025 IMSA season, Risi Competizione partnered technically with DragonSpeed for their #81 Ferrari 296 GT3 in GTD Pro, featuring drivers like Albert Costa, Giacomo Altoe, Davide Rigon, and Miguel Molina, but Risi Competizione will return to run its own #62 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo at the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona, with Daniel Serra, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Davide Rigon as drivers.
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📷© Luc Warnotte at Austin. Aston Martin Valkyrie unchanged lineups
📷© Luc Warnotte at Daytona and Spa-Francorchamps. 5 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Rolex 24 At Daytona 2026
📷© Luc Warnotte at Fuji. Consistency is priority for BMW M Motorsport.
