Will Power shines from his very first appearance at the 24 Hours of Daytona

For his first participation in the 24 Hours of Daytona and in the championship IMSA WeatherTech, Will Power didn't do things halfway. Aligned with the Mercedes Benz-AMG GT3 #75 of the Australian team 75 Express, the 45-year-old Australian secured second place in GTD Pro, just 2,2 seconds behind the winning BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Paul Miller Racing.

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This participation also marks a turning point in his career, with Power preparing his move to Andretti Global in IndyCarAfter 17 seasons with Penske, he shared the car with his long-time friend Kenny Habul, Supercars champion Chaz Mostert, and Mercedes factory driver Maro Engel. It was a team with a strong Australian flavor that immediately found its rhythm.

Discovering modern GT cars, with a roof over his head, posed no problem for Power. This IMSA experience was a true revelation for him. Learning something new, changing formats, sharing a car – it's all excellent. And most importantly, I had fun. At this stage of my career, that's essential. As long as I'm competitive, I'll keep racing. "He says.

Beyond the sporting result, Power fully enjoyed the IMSA activities, from the Fan Forum to the starting grid, where he caused a stir with a blue wig, just like his three teammates. This performance is also a boost for 75 Express, which secured its second podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans after 2021, and for Mercedes-AMG, which was solid throughout the race.

« First of all, a huge thank you to Kenny and the whole 75 Express team. Kenny set up what we nicknamed “the Aussie Express”, with Chaz and Will, and brought me into the team, Maro Engel was delighted. It was a real pleasure to ride with them. We gave it our all during the race and we're very happy with this second place. Of course, it was close, but that's sometimes how it is in sport. Everyone had a superb race. »

The IMSA championship will continue from March 18 to 21 with the 12 Hours of Sebring, the second round of the Michelin Grand Prix. Endurance Cup.