From 2 laps down to win with Crowdstrike by APR
The CrowdStrike Racing by APR team overcame a difficult start to the race to win the LMP2 category. Drivers George Kurtz, Toby Sowery, Alex Quinn, and Malthe Jakobsen won the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, the winner's watch, at the 64th running of the 24 Hours of Daytona (January 24-25). The two Oreca entries from Inter Europol Competition completed the podium.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. #04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA
#04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR delivered a long-awaited breakthrough victory
CrowdStrike Racing’s prospects took a hit early in the race when the #04 car received rear-end contact from a spinning competitor as the prototype field came off Daytona International Speedway’s high banks and into Turn 1.
Left-rear suspension and bodywork damage was remedied in a rapid stop, but laps were lost to the LMP2 frontrunners during a second pass through pit road, before a ten-second penalty for an improperly served emergency service was leveled against the team. With more than 23 hours remaining, the focus shifted to recovery. The two laps were recovered during a brace of third-hour FCY pass-arounds.
Toby Sowery surged from ninth to second with a series of decisive moves over just ten laps as lap times quickened with the transition from day to night. An early evening neutralization brought CrowdStrike Racing directly into the fight for the lead.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. #04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA
Alex Quinn applied sustained pressure and stretched out an advantage just after the first tranche of 2026 Michelin Endurance Cup points were awarded at the six-hour mark.
Unsynchronized pit cycles later saw Kurtz trade the lead with the #99 entry during his night run, until a rear-end collision from another LMP2 car multiple laps down caused him to spin at the International Horseshoe, forcing Malthe Jakobsen into another recovery effort prior to midnight.
Fifth but still off the lead lap, #04 CrowdStrike Racing returned to contention when the longest FCY in Rolex 24 history was implemented.
The prolonged neutralization reshaped the competitive order, allowing CrowdStrike Racing to gain a fuel advantage through strategy and position itself for a stronger restart.
Quinn was onboard at the green flag and immediately went on the offensive, charging from P5 to P1 and opening a gap to the opposition.
Although a drive-through for an alleged blocking offence dropped Quinn to seventh, CrowdStrike Racing methodically erased the deficit, demonstrating an ability to run longer than its rivals between fuel stops.
Malthe Jakobsen took control at the front, pulling away from the race-leading #43 by seven seconds. Quinn kept his pursuers at arm’s length and close out a long-awaited Rolex 24 victory for CrowdStrike Racing by APR.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. #04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA
George Kurtz (#04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA 07-Gibson LMP2): “Overall, CrowdStrike Racing by APR did an amazing job to recover after getting caught up in an incident at Turn 1. We never gave up, we focused on executing and simply did our jobs, and to have the monkey off our backs is one of the greatest feelings ever. Winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona makes us look forward to the rest of the 2026 IMSA season.”
Toby Sowery (#04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA 07-Gibson LMP2): “It’s great to finally get the monkey off our backs by winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona. This race win had eluded CrowdStrike Racing by APR for multiple years and it’s also my first win with the team in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, so for this to come together is a spectacular feeling.
“From being taken out and receiving some damage on lap one to fighting back to the top step of the podium is a real testament to our team, mindset and skills. It highlights how you have to always keep your head up and in the game. I couldn’t be more thankful to George (Kurtz), Alex (Quinn) and Malthe (Jakobsen), as well as Sam and Stewart Cox. It was a truly amazing team effort and it’s a special achievement.”
📷 © Frankie Di Sarlo at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. #04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA
Alex Quinn (#04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA 07-Gibson LMP2): “It really is a dream come true to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona and, for sure, it’s the biggest victory of my career to this point. I’m so happy to have joined CrowdStrike Racing by APR, knowing and feeling the heartbreak they have been through at Daytona in the past. To go and bring the car home on the top step is something I’m very proud of. The entire team and all three of my teammates, George (Kurtz), Toby Sowery) and Malthe (Jakobsen), were perfect all week long. It’s a dream start to 2026.”
Malthe Jakobsen (#04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA 07-Gibson LMP2): “The 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona was an amazing race and this victory stands as the biggest and best of my career to date. I’m very happy for everybody at CrowdStrike Racing by APR, George (Kurtz), and especially Stewart and Sam (Cox). To share the car with George, Toby (Sowery) and Alex (Quinn) is something really nice and I think we had a strong team around us.
“I’m very pleased it finally worked out after so many attempts and it shows you do need a little bit of luck. It’s a special race to win and the Rolex watch is a super cool prize. It’s an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.” Source: Crowdstrike Racing
Inter Europol Competition double podium
Inter Europol Competition celebrated a landmark result at the Rolex 24 in Daytona, delivering a huge team effort to secure a superb double podium finish in the LMP2 class in its first-ever two-car entry at the iconic 24-hour endurance race.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. Both Inter Europol Competition’s Oreca.
The #43 Oreca started the race from LMP2 pole position and delivered a strong performance throughout. Jeremy Clarke opened the race before the car rotated through stints from Bijoy Garg, Tom Dillmann and António Félix da Costa. As the race entered its final phase, the team committed to a split strategy in a last push for victory, a bold call that briefly put the #43 in a position to challenge for the win. In the end, the strategy fell just short, with Tom Dillmann bringing the car home in second place after a perfectly executed final stint.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. #43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca.
António Félix da Costa
“What an amazing week with this team it was again. This year we executed the perfect race, but unfortunately, we came a tiny bit short, 5 seconds from glory. Still to see the team with both cars on the podium is a huge achievement, and I was honored to be a part of it. I want to thank Inter Europol and my teammates for a great race!”
Jeremy Clarke
“What a great race! We survived the first 22 hours with no mistakes and giving us the best shot at victory. In the end, P2 is a great result for the team!”
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. #43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca.
The #343 Oreca also produced an outstanding drive across the 24 hours. Georgios Kolovos made an excellent start, gaining positions early and setting the tone with a strong opening stint. The car continued to fight at the front through stints from Jakub Śmiechowski and Nolan Siegel, briefly running at the head of the LMP2 field in the closing hours. From halfway through the race, the #343 faced an additional challenge with a starter motor issue, requiring the car to be push-started at every pit stop. Thanks to the relentless efforts of the crew, the car remained in the race and fully competitive, with Nick Cassidy completing the final stint and securing third place at the finish.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. #343 Inter Europol Competition Oreca
Nick Cassidy
“I’m very pleased to be on the Podium with everyone at Inter Europol. The last 7 hours of the race were very intense but enjoyable and it was great to be in the fight for the win”
Georgios Kolovos
“ 24 hours of pure adrenaline!! Really thankful for being part of this adventure. Even if we did not reach the ultimate goal due to some unforeseen issues, the damage limitation was great from the team. So really happy with 3rd position. We will be back stronger!” Source: Inter Europol Competition
#22 United Autosports USA secures fourth-place
United Autosports USA completed a demanding and strategically complex Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, overcoming early race damage, prolonged caution periods, and changing track conditions to secure a fourth-place finish
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. #22 United Autosports USA Oreca
the #22 made an excellent start, with Goldburg driving assertively, gaining seven positions during the opening stint and quickly establishing the car as a contender in the lead LMP2 group. Grégoire Saucy delivered one of the standout stints of the race. Charging the #22 to second position in class, built a two-second cushion, and was actively hunting down the class leader with controlled, relentless pace.
Despite the challenges, the #22 remained inside the top three for extended periods, with Daniel Goldburg, Rasmus Lindh, Grégoire Saucy and Paul di Resta sharing driving duties and maintaining competitive pace whenever green-flag running resumed.
After 24 demanding hours, Paul di Resta brought the #22 United Autosports LMP2 home in fourth place, narrowly missing out on a podium finish by 9.3 seconds, in a race where long caution periods limited opportunities to capitalise on outright pace.
Daniel Goldburg, the #22 car driver said: “I’ve done enough of these now to know just finishing is an achievement. Two years now, we’ve run great races, all drivers and team doing a killer job – nearly no mistakes. That’s 24 hours, with very few mistakes, which is a crazy endeavour. This year we just didn’t have the speed at the end to challenge the lead, however, it’s a solid start to the season and I’m proud of mine and our team’s performance.” Source: United Autosport USA
#99 AO Racing recorded fifth-place
AO Racing dominated the first half of the race leading 280 laps of the 374 covered. Full season duo PJ Hyett and Dane Cameron together with Jonny Edgar, Endurance driver and Christian Rasmussen for Rolex 24 only, lead 18 laps of the remaining 312 laps covered during the last 12 hours ending fifth of LMP2 class.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2026. #99 AO Racing ORECA
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