Paul Miller Racing’s No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO has secured the GTD Pro class title at the 2025 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, marking the brand’s first class victory in the prestigious endurance race and its first overall triumph since 2020. The four drivers Connor De Phillippi, Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen crossed the finish line just 2.223 seconds ahead of the Mercedes-AMG Der GT3 EVO fielded by 75 Express crowned a masterclass in pit strategy and put the race together in the final hour.
Strategy triumphs over speed
The defining moment came with less than 90 minutes to go, when a six-hour fog-induced caution period of the marathon – the longest in the race’s history – finally ended. Mercedes driver Maro Engel appeared poised for victory at the start of the final stint after methodically fighting his way through the field during the night. However, on the penultimate service cycle, the Paul Miller crew performed a pit stop 13 seconds faster than their Mercedes counterparts, giving Harper the lead he needed on track.
The final run to the checkered flag proved to be a challenge for Harper as he not only had to control fuel consumption but also had to contend with a non-functioning radio in the critical final laps. Despite these obstacles, the BMW driver maintained his composure and gap management to secure victory.
The victory marks BMW’s first-ever GTD Pro class win at Daytona and first win in a class since winning the GTD title in 2020. For De Phillippi, it is his second Rolex 24 triumph, in addition to his GTLM class win in 2019. The pair of De Phillippi, Hesse and Harper also secured their second win in the WeatherTech Championship following their success at Motul Petit Le Mans last year in a row.
Paul Miller Racing itself has not won the Rolex 24 since the 2020 edition, when the team won the GTD class with Lamborghini. The 2025 triumph represents a significant return to form for the respected Pennsylvania-based company.
Despite missing the top step, 75 Express showed its resilience and finished the race with a strong second place. Winward Racing secured the final podium spot in GTD Pro with the No. 48 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO driven by Scott Noble, Jason Hart, Maxime Martin and Luca Stolz.
BMW also takes GTP podium
While Paul Miller Racing claimed the GTD Pro headlines, BMW enjoyed further success across the GTP category. Team WRT’s No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 – with Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, Robin Frijns and Rene Rast on board – finished third overall, just behind Porsche Penske’s dominant GTP win and Action Express Racing’s second Cadillac result.
The result underlines BMW’s competitiveness in multiple categories at one of the most demanding international motorsport events, with the M4 GT3 EVO proving to be an excellent platform in the hands of experienced teams and drivers. [Photos: Dan Levins / @klapped.media]
