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Mercedes shines like a three-pointed star in GTD testing at Daytona

Mercedes-AMG teams led the way on the final day of the November IMSA Sanctioned Test at Daytona.

Sunday morning’s four-hour session saw both Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVOs lead their respective classes. In the GTD PRO No. 48 Mercedes, Maxime Martin turned in the fastest time of the test with a 1m47.152s, followed by a 1m47.684s from Dean MacDonald in the No. 59 RLL Team McLaren 720S GT3 EVO and a 1m47.699 from Will Power in the No. 75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG.

In GTD, Philip Ellis in the No. 57 Winward Mercedes led the class with a 1m47.323s – briefly the fastest time of all before he was surpassed by fellow AMG Performance driver Martin.

Nicki Thiim went second-quickest in GTD aboard the No. 44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, followed by the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche of Callum Ilott.

Three days of testing closed with a three-hour afternoon session led by 75 Express’ Mikaël Grenier with a best lap of 1m47.187s. In second place was Thomas Preining, behind the wheel of the No. 911 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R. Manthey turned the most laps Sunday (174) as the reigning FIA WEC LMGT3 champion team prepares for its debut Michelin Endurance Cup campaign.

Winward’s No. 48 Mercedes, Vasser Sullivan Racing’s No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 and the No. 59 RLL McLaren completed the top five in GTD PRO.

Back in GTD, the No. 28 RS1 Porsche lost time after a debris puncture caused a red flag, but was able to get back out on course, and Jan Heylen’s 1m47.750s remained the top time in class. Wright Motorsports made it a Porsche 1-2, followed by Magnus Racing’s Aston Martin in third, then the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus.

Of note, the Myers Riley Motorsports No. 16 Ford Mustang GT3 Evo stopped for the day after just eight laps due to an engine problem. Romain Grosjean’s top time of 1m47.956s, set Saturday morning, remained as the best of the test for any of the three updated Mustangs.

Andrea Caldarelli was able to improve the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Temerario GT3’s best lap of the test to a 1m48.102; in total, he, Marco Mapelli and Franck Perera combined to run 212 laps over two days.

The No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo also set its best time Sunday – a 1m48.146s from Tomasso Mosca.

IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship doesn’t see track action again until the annual Roar Before The 24, the preamble to the Rolex 24 At Daytona, from January 16–18.

SESSION SIX RESULTS

SESSION SEVEN RESULTS