The 60th Rolex 24 at Daytona produced a spectacular nail-biting finish with podium spots being contested for well into the final hour of the race. 2021 GTD Champions Pfaff Motorsports eventually came home to claim a hard-fought victory in the new GTD Pro class. It all came down to the final lap of the race, where the #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche made contact with the #2 KCMG Porsche but kept on track to maintain the lead and eventually cross the chequered flag in P1. It was a stunning display of strength and determination that resulted in the eventual triumph for the Motul-backed Porsche squad.
Right from the green flag, Pfaff Motorsports challenged for the class lead. The trio of Matt Campbell, Felipe Nasr and Mathieu Jaminet was on an all-out attack, continually pushing the Porsche 911 GT3R to its maximum. The battle for the lead in the GTD Pro class culminated into a “crazy fight” between Jaminet and his fellow Porsche driver Laurens Vanthoor for the closing 2 hours, highlighted by a historic battle in the final 30 minutes of the race. The Pfaff Motorsports car handled pressure from the chasing #2 Porsche brilliantly even after 24 hours of intense racing.
Motul’s 300V and Gear Competition oils aided in keeping the engine and gearbox running in pristine condition despite constantly hopping over kerbs, revving to the max and pushing the engine at top speeds for the majority of the race. Jaminet refused to give up and kept his composure, clocking in consistent lap times despite the rival Porsche looming in his rear-view mirrors. It all boiled down to the final few minutes as the Porsche of Vanthoor gained the lead with less than 3 laps to go. At the moment when hope seemed to be lost for the Pfaff Motorsports team, Jaminet refused to give up and made an attempt to regain the lead on the final lap, going late on the brakes into the hairpin and brilliantly snatching back the lead. From there, he relied on the power of the Motul-powered engine to maintain the gap on the final straight, taking a monumental class victory despite contact in the final corners of the race.
Motul and Pfaff Motorsports have worked alongside each other, enjoying a multitude of successes over the years. This latest win at Daytona 24 demonstrated the core values of their partnership, hard work and determination. Motul’s years of research and development, along with the flagship ESTERCore® technology has aided to produce the legendary 300V. This lubricant plays an integral role in keeping the engine reliable during endurances race.
The 300V allowed the drivers to push the engine to the maximum around the largely-flat-out Daytona International Speedway and keep all parts running smoothly and reliably, especially on a weekend such as this with unseasonably cold temperatures and changing track conditions. For the Pfaff Motorsport team, this extra boost proved invaluable in the closing stages of the race and earned them the victory.
For Pfaff Motorsports and Motul, this was an important victory to kick off their 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the most spectacular fashion. Powered by the 300V, the Porsche 911 GT3 R showcased the power and reliability of the lubricant at North America’s most iconic endurance event. It is a historic and emphatic win to start the 2022 chapter in Motul’s 169-year-old legacy book.
Race Results:
#9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R – P1 (Fastest Lap – 1:45.209)
Mathieu Jaminet | Matt Campbell | Felipe Nasr