Rene Rast told MotorsportWeek.com that while his Daytona 24 Hours effort with BMW Team RLL, in the M Hybrid V8 GTP car, is in part preparation for his FIA World Endurance Championship campaign with BMW Team WRT, as a professional racing driver he is also at Daytona to win.
“It’s preparation, but it’s the same time it’s also… we want to have a good result,” said the German.
“So I’m not just here to to learn — I’m also here to provide a really good race and fight for the victory.”
Rast will drive the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, alongside full-season IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship drivers Connor De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly, plus Maxime Martin, who will be in the car for the IMSA Endurance Cup events.
“I love Daytona,” he continued.
“I’ve been here many times. I’ve been in different classes, but not with BMW, not with the LMDh class. So for me, it’s a big privilege to be part of the program and to fight for victory here in such a cool race, with such a good brand and good team. So yeah, hopefully we have a good one!”
This will the 37-year-old’s eighth Daytona 24 Hours, and his first race in the GTP class. He last competed in 2022 in the LMP2 class with G-Drive Racing by APR, and won the race in GTD in 2014 with Paul Miller Racing, in an Audi R8 LMS.
“The IMSA races have a different style of racing, due to full course yellows, safety cars, or yellow flags. And the rules they have here, you can afford to not always be at the front of the field,” Rast said.
“So obviously the goal is to be there for the last two hours of the race and be in a good position to fight for for the win. So the main main goal is to just stay out of trouble. No penalties, no contact with the other cars. Just stay on the lead lap and no mistakes.
“I think that’s the ultimate goal. Survive the night and then in the morning be there and hope that your car is still one piece. And then just try to fight for all out race pace.”
