In a thrilling display of endurance racing, Rebel Rock Racing finally broke their nearly two-year winless streak in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, securing a dramatic victory at the BMW M Endurance Challenge in Daytona. But here's where it gets controversial: was it sheer skill or a stroke of strategic genius that sealed their win? Let’s dive into the details. Sharing the No. 71 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Evo, Robin Liddell, Frank DePew, and Andrew Davis crossed the finish line with a 2.691-second lead over the No. 14 Circle H Racing Aston Martin, piloted by David Hampton, Thomas Merrill, and Martin Sarukhanyan. This marked Rebel Rock’s first triumph since Sebring 2024, ending a drought that spanned the entire 2025 season. The race kicked off with the pole-sitting No. 13 McCumbee McAleer Racing Ford Mustang GT4 dominating early, but the No. 71 Aston Martin began to flex its muscles in the second hour, storming into contention before overtaking Robert Noaker at the Le Mans Chicane to claim first place. The real drama unfolded after the fourth restart when Merrill briefly took the lead, setting the stage for a nail-biting battle. Liddell, however, regained control in the final hour, thanks to a bold tire strategy that allowed him to chase down Merrill and make the decisive pass at Turn 1 with just 40 minutes left. And this is the part most people miss: the strategic gamble by Circle H to pit for two tires almost paid off, but Liddell’s four fresh tires proved to be the game-changer. Behind them, Daan Arrow’s late-race surge propelled the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 to third place, while Luca Mars and Dillon Machavern secured fourth in the No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 EVO. The TCR class saw Denis Dupont and Preston Brown clinch their second consecutive Daytona win in the No. 76 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR, edging out the No. 89 HART Honda Civic FL5 TCR by a razor-thin 0.408 seconds. But the TCR race wasn’t without its own controversies—a bizarre incident involving a CUPRA and a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 under caution eliminated three cars, while penalties and punctures shuffled the field dramatically. Did the penalties cost Farnbacher and Pegram Racing the win, or was it simply a matter of Dupont’s relentless pace? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Full results are available here. Davey Euwema, Sportscar365's European Editor, brings you the latest from the FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series, and more, straight from The Netherlands.
