BMW M Team RLL continued to assert its dominance in Session 4 of the Roar Before the 24, as Sheldon van der Linde topped the timing charts in the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8 with a blistering 1m36.196s. His teammate Dries Vanthoor ensured a 1-2 finish for BMW, clocking a 1m36.600s in the No. 24 car, signaling a strong start for the Bavarian outfit ahead of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
“It’s positive to see that all the hard work over the winter is paying off,” van der Linde remarked. “It’s only the Roar—we know a lot of people are sandbagging—but it’s a good way to start the event. The car feels good, and the team has made steps forward with new engineers bringing knowledge from other cars.”
Porsche and Cadillac in pursuit
The Penske Porsches followed closely, with Mathieu Jaminet securing third in the No. 6 car (1m36.9s) and Nick Tandy placing fourth in the No. 7 car (1m37.1s). Meanwhile, Jordan Taylor logged the No. 40 WTR Cadillac’s fastest lap, a 1m37.237s, to complete the top five.
LMP2: tight competition, early setbacks
Tom Dillmann led the LMP2 field with a 1m40.272s in the Inter Europol ORECA. Reigning GTP drivers’ champion Dane Cameron was a fraction slower, posting a 1m40.279s in the AO Racing “Spike” ORECA.
The session also saw the first significant incident of the Roar, as Dan Goldburg lost control of the No. 22 United Autosports ORECA at the Le Mans Chicane, sliding into the tire barriers. The rear wing was torn off, but the damage appeared manageable as the car was recovered during a red flag period.
GTD: Lamborghini and Porsche shine
In GTD PRO, Andrea Caldarelli continued Lamborghini’s strong showing with a class-leading 1m48.049s in the No. 9 Pfaff Huracan. The GTD field saw Michelle Gatting of the Iron Dames Porsche set the pace with a 1m48.173s, narrowly ahead of Stevan McAleer in the No. 021 Triarsi Ferrari.
Night session ahead
The third and final session of the day will take place under the lights at 6:30 PM ET, giving teams a chance to fine-tune their setups for nighttime conditions—a critical factor for success in the Rolex 24.