BMW and Ferrari have had their points stripped in the GTD and GTD Pro categories at the 24 Hours of Daytona due to exceeding expected performance levels. The governing body of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA, determined that both manufacturers violated the predicted performance levels during the opening round of the championship. IMSA uses complex simulations and data from the December test to determine the Balance of Performance measures. As a result, BMW and Ferrari have had their manufacturers’ and Endurance Cup points revoked, but their final race positions remain unchanged.
The winner of the GTD Pro class at Daytona was the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296, which started the race in third place and went on to secure the team’s first victory at the event. Ferrari’s 320 GTD and 350 GTD Pro manufacturers’ points were stripped, along with their 14 and 15 Endurance Cup points, for violating Sporting Regulations Attachment 2.2.7. They were also fined $25k. BMW faced the same penalties and fine for the same regulation offense. The #1 Paul Miller Racing M4 GT3 car was their highest finishing GTD Pro car in third place, and that podium position remains unchanged.
Both BMW and Ferrari have had a significant number of points withdrawn. BMW lost 300 GTD manufacturers’ points and 250 GTD Pro points, leaving them with only 21 qualifying points from the Roar Before the 24. Ferrari now only has 26 points. Additionally, BMW lost their 15 Endurance Cup points and nine GTD Endurance Cup points.
As a result of the penalties, Chevrolet now leads the GTD Pro Endurance Cup manufacturers’ standings with 13 points, followed by Porsche and Ford with 10 points each. In the GTD category, Mercedes-AMG is at the top with 18 points, followed by McLaren with 13 points and Lamborghini with 10 points. Porsche leads the overall GTD Pro manufacturers’ standings with 355 points, followed by Aston Martin with 202 points and Chevrolet with 290 points. In GTD, Mercedes-AMG leads with 371 points, followed by Lamborghini with 328 points and Porsche with 312 points. Ferrari only has 26 points, while BMW has 21 points from qualifying.