Daytona, FL (Tuesday, January 20, 2026) — Paul Miller Racing opens its 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, aiming to conquer one of motorsport’s most iconic endurance races with a single, unified No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO entry in GTD PRO competition.
The Rolex 24 not only launches the WeatherTech Championship season, but also serves as the opening round of the Michelin Endurance Cup (MEC), making it the most influential race on the calendar for points, momentum, and championship direction.
An overall race victory awards 350 WeatherTech Championship points, with an additional 35 points available for pole position, while the Endurance Cup offers bonus points at six-hour intervals – five for first, four for second, three for third, and two for all other classified positions – awarded exclusively toward the endurance standings.
This unique points structure elevates Daytona into the cornerstone event of the five-round Michelin Endurance Cup schedule, offering more points than any other endurance race and the opportunity to establish a decisive advantage from the very first weekend.
Paul Miller Racing arrives at Daytona as the defending Michelin Endurance Cup champion, carrying the No. 1 into the season opener with its sights set on a third consecutive Endurance Cup title and a strong foundation for the 2026 WeatherTech Championship.
The 2026 Rolex 24 marks the 64th running of the legendary event, first contested in its current 24-hour format in 1966.
The race unfolds on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course, combining high-speed banking with a demanding infield that relentlessly tests drivers, teams, and machinery.
A field of 60 cars is expected, split across 11 GTP, 13 LMP2, 15 GTD PRO, and 21 GTD entries, forming one of the deepest and most competitive multi-class grids in global sports car racing.
In GTD PRO, Paul Miller Racing will take on a stacked field of factory-supported and customer programs from Corvette, Lamborghini, Lexus, Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, Ford, and Porsche. As the sole BMW entry in the class, the No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO proudly carries the flag for the Munich-based manufacturer.
Beyond championship points, class winners at Daytona earn one of motorsport’s most coveted prizes – the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, created specifically for this race in 1963 and revered as a symbol of endurance racing excellence.
For the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO will be driven by Neil Verhagen and Connor De Phillippi, who will contest the full 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, joined by Dan Harper and Max Hesse for the endurance opener.
De Phillippi brings added continuity, having raced with Verhagen in the No. 1 last season and also sharing time in the No. 48 alongside Harper and Verhagen. Harper and Hesse already formed a successful pairing last season in Paul Miller Racing’s No. 48 BMW, giving the four-driver lineup a rare level of continuity.
Combined with the shared background of Verhagen, Harper, and Hesse in the BMW Motorsport Junior Team, the group arrives at Daytona as a well-established, tightly knit unit – a cohesive power team built on familiarity, trust, and a common racing DNA.
The team will also benefit from a reinforced engineering structure in 2026, with Andreas Gräfer joining as Performance Engineer alongside Race Engineer Raphael Hess, both from RH Race Engineering.
Gräfer brings extensive BMW Motorsport experience, having worked with BMW Team RMG and previously serving as Race Engineer for the BMW Junior Team, where he supported Dan Harper, Max Hesse, and Neil Verhagen.
He was also involved in the development of the BMW M4 GT3, adding valuable manufacturer-level expertise to the program. Hess returns as Race Engineer after successfully leading the No. 48 BMW effort in 2025, providing continuity and proven race execution within the team.
Weather is once again expected to play a crucial role. Forecasts point to predominantly dry conditions on Saturday, with the possibility of rain on Sunday, alongside temperature swings of more than 20°F between day and night.
These variables place a premium on adaptability, tire management, and strategic precision. Over 24 hours of relentless multi-class traffic, success hinges on flawless execution, disciplined decision-making at each six-hour scoring mark, and unwavering focus from the entire team.
With momentum from back-to-back Michelin Endurance Cup championships in 2024 and 2025, and the No. 1 car’s Endurance Cup success at Daytona last season, Paul Miller Racing enters the Rolex 24 with confidence and ambition.
The goal is clear: convert a focused, single-car GTD PRO effort into another standout performance on North America’s biggest endurance racing stage.
Fans can watch the Rolex 24 At Daytona live on Peacock in the United States, with international streaming available via IMSA.tv and IMSA’s official YouTube channel. Comprehensive race coverage will also be provided across IMSA’s digital and social platforms throughout the event.
Rolex 24 at Daytona – Weekend Schedule
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Practice 1: 10:05 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. ET
Qualifying: 2:05 p.m. – 3:25 p.m. ET
Practice 2 (Night): 6:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. ET
Friday, January 23, 2026
Practice 3: 11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. ET
Saturday, January 24 – Sunday, January 25, 2026
Race Start: Saturday, 1:40 p.m. ET
Race Finish: Sunday, 1:40 p.m. ET
Track Facts
Circuit Length: 3.56 miles (12 turns)
Classes: GTP, LMP2, GTD PRO, GTD
Entries: 60 total
