Qualifying at the Daytona 24 Hours rarely tells the full story. This year was no different.
But it did reveal who has started the season on the front foot - and who already looks exposed.
Renger van der Zande will start on pole for Acura after the #31 Cadillac was disqualified post-session. The top three positions being occupied by three different manufacturers underlines just how open this fight could be.
Here's what qualifying really told us.
Daytona 24 qualifying result
1 Renger van der Zande (Acura ARX-06 #93) 1m34.041s
2 Louis Deletraz (Cadillac V-Series.R #40) +0.130s
3 Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7) +0.142s
4 Tom Blomqvist (Acura ARX-06 #60) +0.194s
5 Kévin Estre (Porsche 963 #6) +0.354s
6 Filipe Albuquerque (Cadillac V-Series.R #10) +0.472s
7 Nicolas Pino (Porsche 963 #85) +0.576s
8 Dries Vanthoor (BMW M Hybrid V8 #24) +0.851s
9 Marco Wittmann (BMW M Hybrid V8 #25) +1.306s
10 Ross Gunn (Aston Martin Valkyrie #23) +1.341s
11 Jack Aitken (Cadillac V-Series.R #31) -
Cadillac: Fastest on track, punished off it
The Race has already covered everything there is to know about the Evo Joker applied to the Cadillac V-Series.R. And it's fair to say there were plenty of smiles in that manufacturer's camp.
Already impressive during last week's Roar Before the 24 test, Cadillac confirmed its strong form by initially securing pole position courtesy of Aitken in the #31 car. His 1m33.903s lap looked set to crown a perfect session. But the celebrations were short-lived.
Hours later, confirmation arrived: "The #31 GTP car will be moved to the rear of the GTP class as post-qualifying technical inspection revealed that the car's friction area of the rear skid block was beyond the permitted tolerance."
As a result, Cadillac's best-placed car on the grid will now be the #40 Wayne Taylor Racing entry. Thanks to Louis Deletraz’s 1m34.069s, it will line up second.
Acura: the Roar lied
As we mentioned beforehand, drawing firm conclusions from the pre-event test is a largely pointless exercise. and Acura is the perfect illustration of that.
Almost nine tenths off the benchmark last week, the ARX-06 found 1.8 seconds as early as first practice. When it mattered, Acura and Meyer Shank Racing clinched the pole position with van der Zande.
"It's nice to see this programme coming together," said van der Zande after initially qualifying second, just 0.102s behind Aitken. "The car is really nice to drive."
BMW: The warning signs are already there
BMW's situation stands in stark contrast to Cadillac's. Despite being considered a victory contender, the German manufacturer looks the least-well-positioned of the lot. A striking reversal compared to last year, when Dries Vanthoor claimed pole.
That same Vanthoor, widely regarded as one of the best one-lap specialists in the field, could manage no better than ninth before the #31 Cadillac's exclusion. While Vanthoor edged team-mate Marco Wittmann, he still conceded 0.953s to the benchmark.
Among the manufacturers present in 2025, BMW is the only one that failed to beat its 2024 qualifying times. How do you explain that? Yes, BMW M Team WRT is still getting to grips with this updated package, but still.
While no one will say it out loud anymore, the Balance of Performance has inevitably played a significant role. BMW is carrying the most weight in the field without enjoying the benefit of being the most powerful. Under those conditions, repeating the brand's 1976 Daytona 24 Hours victory looks like a tall order.
Porsche: Right where it wants to be
If there's another manufacturer delighted with its Evo Joker, it's Porsche. Dominant during the test, expectations were high for the 963. Perhaps even higher than what qualifying ultimately delivered.
Both works cars were beaten on raw pace by an Acura and a Cadillac but, following the disqualification of the #31, Felipe Nasr inherits third on the grid, just 0.142s off the reference. In the sister car, Kévin Estre will start two rows further back.
Nothing to worry about, though. Last year, the best 963 was three tenths off pole and Porsche still placed two cars on the podium, with the #7 taking overall victory.
Aston Martin: A harsh reality check
The Aston Martin Valkyrie has failed to carry over the momentum of a strong end to its 2025 season, which concluded with a second place at Petit Le Mans.
In qualifying, Ross Gunn was 1.341s adrift of van der Zande. Sadly, Aston Martin looks set to play only a minor role in this race. Even if it can remain on the lead lap through to the final restart, it's hard to see how it can genuinely fight the category's heavy hitters.
A painful baptism of fire for the Valkyrie, making its Daytona 24 Hours debut.
