ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

January 25, 2026

Felipe Nasr

Julien Andlauer

Laurin Heinrich

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by our overall and GTP class winners in the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963. From your left to right, Laurin Heinrich, Julien Andlauer, and Felipe Nasr. I mentioned the team stats earlier, so we'll go to the driver stats.

For Felipe, this is his fourth Rolex 24 class win, third overall victory. Those three have come consecutively the last three years, and also his first one was a GTD Pro class win in 2022. I guess that's four out of the last five years. 15th IMSA victory, third driver to win three Rolex 24s in a row joining Peter Gregg and Helio Castroneves.

For Julien, this is his first Rolex 24 win, first IMSA victory, and comes in his 14th start in the series.

And for Laurin, this is his first overall and first GTP victory and first Rolex 24 win and sixth win in IMSA competition. We'll go back to questions right away.

Q. Felipe, the last two weeks, all we've heard is how fast Penske is and how the Porsche is the car to beat, and it kind of appeared that way from the outside, but from the inside, was it as dominant as it appeared to be?

FELIPE NASR: Well, let me start that I felt like we made our homework pretty well over the winter looking after all the evolutions we could bring over to the car and made sure we tested them last November. But you never know until it's race time because everybody else is doing the same. Everybody, the whole field has improved all around.

There were times in the race that I felt like, okay, we got a pretty good pace, but there were other times, as well, that the 31 was always quick out there when you look at their times. But for sure the Penske was in a good form from beginning to end.

I just felt the weather now at the end really surprised a lot of cars and the way the handling was over there. The track itself just felt like super slick, very low grip, which we didn't experience anything like that over the practice session.

It was a big test just to keep the car on the track. You could see the Bus Stop, the car was just sliding everywhere, and not only us, but you could see the Cadillac, as well.

I was surprised that they lined up pretty good in the end. They had a lot of pace, and especially their traction zones were really good. All I did was just drive with my heart and drive from what I know from my experience.

It's just an incredible moment to be present today and be feeling it, and I cannot -- without mentioning these two guys next to me that they've done an incredible job. It's our first time together in the car, and started the year with a victory like here at Daytona is just a dream come true.

Q. Felipe, you've won three in a row with three completely different lineups. What does that say about the program that you guys put together?

FELIPE NASR: I think we got pretty good drivers. The rooster is really good. Everybody has their own backgrounds, different skills, and to join Porsche as a Werks driver, I could tell everyone that comes on board, it's really high level.

All I could do was just pass on my experience as a driver, having won this race before. That's all I kept saying to these two. During the 20 hours, this is the race we're looking for. If we get there, then we think about the next four hours, just being calm, decisive, paying attention, like your pit entry, every information you can give us as a driver, keeping the car clean, staying away from the curbs and any contact.

All I could do was pass on that type of experience. But to drive -- those guys, they know how to drive. I don't have to teach them anything. It's pretty amazing to have done it again.

I thought one was good but two was better and three is going to be hard to beat.

There's one in class, that's right. So four Daytona wins, wow.

Q. You said that you guys had this secret meeting in the parking lot, and you showed up in a blue suit.

FELIPE NASR: Yes, that was the first-ever meeting with the whole Penske group and Porsche when they contacted -- they reached me out to see if I was available for the PPM program. It was starting 2022. They wanted some lead drivers to get on the development phase.

I think that was 2021. It was mid-season, and I had to do a meeting as the championship was going on, and I was on my way to get another DPi championship.

So it was kind of a secret meeting, yes, and I think I showed up to this place -- I can't just say all the details, but I was a little worried, and I thought I could walk the distance, but I never checked the weather outside. I was inside like, I don't know, some kind of restaurant and I was just taking a drink and just waiting on time. I said, okay, I'd better start walking.

But it was very warm that day, and those five minutes I walked, I was like -- that was not a good move because I started to just sweat. I'm like, I'm going to look nervous now. What are those guys going to say? I said, well, it's too late now.

Then comes up this car, rolls down the window, it was Roger saying hey, you're the driver, come on board, let's talk. From that moment on, I knew something special was about to unfold. It was pretty unique, the way it all started.

I did send Roger an email when I read the news that Porsche and Penske were getting together, and I said, one day I want to drive for your organization. It took him a few weeks to reply, and he said, now is the time; if you are available, come see us. And the rest is history.

It was on the way to this secret place, and it was like in a venue that had some parking lots. I was just walking. I didn't expect anyone to show up. I was like, okay, I'll make it on time. But I got surprised.

Q. Felipe, I wanted to ask you if you could talk a little bit about the last hour, and in particular you and Jack had a couple of spicy getting close there --

FELIPE NASR: It was.

Q. If you could just talk about those.

FELIPE NASR: Well, it's not the first time, is it? I think it was '24 that we all had that battle all the way to the end with the 31, and once again, it was all happening again.

I was just trying everything I could because I knew when it comes to those final hours, everybody is giving everything they have inside the car, and the Cadillac was always a strong car all race long. We could see that on the exacta (?) times, and every time we drove by them -- like I said, the field has such good drivers. I have to acknowledge that the level of this race is getting higher and higher with all this GTP class.

That was pure racing. I used everything I had. I'm just pleased it happened and went our way.

Q. Felipe, how do you compare this to last year, because obviously the ending was pretty similar in terms of having to fend off somebody else again?

FELIPE NASR: I think every year it's very different. It's hard to pick a favorite. I still haven't sinked yet everything that we just went through. That last hour was so intense inside the car and all the information the team was giving and the spotter talk, you know, like he's making a different line here and there.

So there's a lot of things that you process as a driver, but the winning feeling, they are all special. It's just hard to pick one that was more special than the -- three in a row, like I said, I have no words to describe it, but just a unique feeling.

Yeah, I think it will take a while just to understand it all.

Q. Did you find this one more nerve-racking than last year in terms of trying to fend off Jack versus Tom?

FELIPE NASR: I think it was actually closer, this one. There were a lot of cases that the 31 was pretty close to making a move on us. A couple of times I had to pick my line and brake as late as I could, and I could see he was also trying everything he could. Like I said, excellent drivers on the 31, and they were not going to let us win that easy.

Hats off to everybody. Everybody put on a good show. I've never seen this place so crowded, and the amount of fans that people, friends that came over to see us, I think that shows we are really in a primetime of sports car racing. It's down to us to make the show.

I think the series is providing a great platform for us to go out there and race, and you could see a 24-hour race being decided again in those last few minutes. This is incredible. I can only say that.

Q. Felipe, I know you've been told a few times now you're the third person to win three in a row. I know one of your biggest goals is to win Le Mans, but are you starting to set your sights on becoming the first driver in history to win four of these in a row?

FELIPE NASR: You just gave me the idea now, so we've got to work on it, boys. Yeah, I guess, like I said, I feel like I want to just settle in for now and celebrate what we just achieved.

But yeah, four sounds like a good plan.

Q. Laurin and Julien, both of you, can you talk about the journeys you've been on, because they've been pretty remarkable and pretty rapid.

LAURIN HEINRICH: Yeah, obviously it's extremely -- it's incredible to stand here today, as you said. The journey has been so quick. I've joined the Porsche family in 2022 as a Porsche Jr., and in the end now, 2026, to stand here as a full-on factory driver racing for the factory team and winning the Rolex 24 is incredible.

At this point I also want to point out, especially for me as a German, racing for a German brand like Porsche and the factory team and making this I would say even historic win, I think I've seen it on my For You page the last time a German driver won this race. Overall it was I think 11 years ago, so it makes me really proud actually, and especially as you said, where I came from and how long it took me.

I know my father was probably glued to the screen, and he played a huge role for me to be here today. In the end, he put all the effort he could. I did my first year racing in cars in our own family team because we didn't have the budget to join a professional team.

When I think back how we raced then and how I'm racing nowadays, it's an incredible journey, and it makes me extremely proud, but also thankful for the opportunity that Porsche provides us young talent going through the junior ranks, Cup racing, and now being a factory driver.

Q. Julien, your journey?

JULIEN ANDLAUER: My journey, I joined Porsche in 2018, so I'm a young kid from the family. But I grew up with the family, let's say.

It's been a bit of a tough journey, around like 2020 until like '22, '23 because of COVID and very tough to get good opportunities and good rides.

But since '23, '24, being very close to Proton and getting the chances to drive Hypercar for the private team gave me good chances to see and to show the potential that the team had, but also that I had. Porsche believed in me and great me a great opportunity to be here today, but also last year in WEC, and I love it.

This is what I wanted to do. I've really been chasing the top category in endurance because this is my DNA and the one I share together with Porsche. I'm super proud to be part of this team.

As Felipe said before, everyone is so exceptional in the team, so much talent, from the engineers to the mechanic to the drivers and the management. Everyone is doing a fantastic job, and we can see it again here.

Yeah, I'm just happy and thankful.

Q. Laurin, can you talk about your time in the car? I think you took over the lead at one point during your first stint. And how exciting was that for you? Were you nervous? What was going through your mind considering this was only your second LMDh race?

LAURIN HEINRICH: Yeah, it was. I went off to an exciting start. I don't know if it was on camera, but while I tried to slide into the car, I slid off the car. Luckily, my driver --

JULIEN ANDLAUER: We have it on video.

LAURIN HEINRICH: Luckily there was also a driver helper who pushed me into the car because otherwise I would be on the floor.

FELIPE NASR: But it's always that first drive. Once you drive --

LAURIN HEINRICH: Exactly, once you get the first drive gone you have something to build on. But jumping into the car which was at that point already I think in second place or even first place, I was -- my heart rate was, I think, over 200, not doing anything, just by being excited.

Yeah, once I got my laps in and everything went pretty well, I can still recall the stint I did before the long yellow which was in those foggy conditions, I get goosebumps talking about this because in the end, racing a Porsche, a 963 through the fog down the back straight, you don't see the Bus Stop at all, and at some point you have to turn left.

I mean, this is a childhood dream. It's something so cool to do. I hope anyone in life can one time experience something like this, which is so exciting.

Yeah, there was a lot to learn for me, and still, I'm so thankful for the team. They are supporting me so much. In the end, there's some tools in these cars. You can manipulate the balance and stuff. And I don't have so much experience yet, but I have a great team around me.

I tell them my problems over the radio and they come up with solutions, and in the end every solution they gave me yesterday and today in the race worked out. They played a huge role in us performing so well on track.

Q. Laurin, Porsche having cut down on its number of prototype drivers, obviously you've come through the ranks and all that, but how important is it for you and how satisfying to still get the nod, and how nervous were you about the decreasing number of possibilities?

LAURIN HEINRICH: Yeah, it was obviously always my goal to be at some point part of the factory program in LMDh, and as you said, at the same time when I was getting closer to this program, some parts of the program started winding down a little bit.

So I knew there was less opportunities on the table. In the end then to still get the call to be here supporting Felipe and Julien as an endurance Cup driver makes me extremely proud of the trust Porsche put into me and the potential they see in me to give me this responsibility.

Yeah, I'm extremely happy, and also to some extent, you always think how's is going to play out for myself.

In a way, it also came a bit unexpectedly. Then I'm really happy that today I could prove that it was the right call.

Q. Felipe or anybody that would like to comment, new Michelin tires; we're hearing different things about them. I was wondering how they compared to the last couple of years of running the Michelins.

FELIPE NASR: Well, I felt that there was improvement made all around the tire, especially the warmup. Both the soft compound and the medium, I thought they would light up a little better.

I still feel like it's an area that I wish we could have maybe a touch better is the warmup still because sometimes it's hard when you get thrown out in the middle of the GT traffic -- it's hard for us, but I bet it's hard for them, as well, to judge our grip level and braking points and stuff.

All around, Michelin did a great job. I felt the tires were able also to sustain a little longer in terms of, like, the long run durability of the tires was a touch better. At least that's what I felt.

But today was the very first day we put those tires in this kind of heat, so I'll be curious to know places like Sebring or the warmer places how it will play out.

Q. Speak a little bit about the mindset of being on a team with Felipe, a guy who has three Rolexes, until now he has his fourth, three in a row in the big category, one in class. Does that add pressure? Does that elevate your game? How was the week leading into it for you guys?

LAURIN HEINRICH: Speaking for myself, I think it calms us down because Felipe is proven in this race. He's one of the greatest drivers I've ever seen. I still remember I couldn't sleep in the morning, so I was like, okay, I'm going to turn on the onboard and just watch and see how it's going, listen to the radio, and what I've witnessed there, what he was doing in the car, this is incredible. This is not something you see every day.

I'm extremely proud to share the car with him and to profit from his knowledge. In the end, the feeling it gives me to share the car with him, I'm much more relaxed because I know who's going to be at the end in the car and do the job, and he's proven it today once again.

I'm extremely happy to share the car with Felipe but also with Julien. We had great teamwork. We had a really open exchange, and we had all the same mindset that we want to do everything and not put our ego in the front but just to win the race.

JULIEN ANDLAUER: Very similar to what Laurin said. In the end we share the same goal and values, so we just put down the work, head down, and we put the ego on the side and we just want to move and work all together forward.

As he said, he has the keys to success in this race, so we just tried to do everything step by step to, in the end, cross the finish line at the right position, and if you look at the car, it's in one piece, not one scratch, and as I said before, everyone on the team has been so good during this race. Not one wrong call and the pit stops has been amazing, as well.

In the end, we knew what to do, and we put it down, and I can be super proud of it.

Q. For Laurin and Julien, piggybacking off that last question, when you haven't won a Rolex before and you're seeing the race come down to the way it is and you're not in the car, you're kind of defenseless, do you trust Felipe more than you trust yourself in that situation?

JULIEN ANDLAUER: Well, I was happy to jump out of the car because I had already a lot of pressure, and I'd say there was still like one hour 20 to the end, so it would have for sure add on top.

First of all, it feels great to get one and you don't have to buy it. In the end, we knew that Felipe was the right guy to finish the race. He's done it the last two years, and he knows what to do with the pressure, but also he can manage the traffic and everything.

I still believe that Laurin could have done a very fantastic job, as well, and I probably could have done something good, also. But that's where everyone has his job, and we just want the best for the whole team, and we felt that this was the best to do.

LAURIN HEINRICH: I can just follow up on that. Going into this event, I think there was never a question who was going to be in the car at the end. I think it just goes hand in hand with all of us put our ego on the side and we take the decision which is best for the team.

I knew where I would spend the last hours of the race, and I can tell you, I don't know how it was in the car. I think it was pretty tense. But out there it was extremely tense.

I was looking at the screen with all these sector times and numbers, how it had been up and down. I felt sick, to be honest. I looked to the left into Julien's face and I didn't see any color anymore. We couldn't believe what was happening there.

But in the end, this is racing. This is what we love.

Q. Felipe, the last six Rolexes have had a Brazilian driver on the winning team. Does that mean anything to you, Helio being the first three?

FELIPE NASR: Well, maybe it's the water in Brazil. You should try.

Q. Or is it the meat?

FELIPE NASR: Drink the good water in Brazil. It's great. In our country, we always had great presence in racing in general, and I feel Helio has been around in the U.S. for so long, but there's a lot of good drivers that often they don't get the chance to come abroad.

But you'd be surprised that we Brazilians, let's say in the lower classes from go-karting to national racing, there's a lot of good guys.

For me, it's such an honor to represent my country and show that we are capable, too. Every time I go back home and I have the chance, there's always a way. You've just got to find the right opportunity, the right people. But yeah, it's a privilege to be in that club now. Yeah, the best way to start the year for sure.