Scott McLaughlin shared that his exclusion from Porsche Penske Motorsport’s lineups for the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona surprised him. The IndyCar driver had tested the GTP car for the team during a three-day IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona in November last year.
McLaughlin also had his Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden alongside him for that test. The duo was present between the No. 6 and No. 7 Porsche 963 GTPs, with the aim of being the fourth driver on one of those entries at the Daytona 24 this year.
Unfortunately, Porsche Penske decided to run a three-driver lineup on each car because of ‘administration challenges’. Scott McLaughlin spoke about that exclusion and how it led him to join DXDT Racing’s GTD lineup for the premier IMSA event. In an interview with David Land during IMSA’s media day at Daytona, the New Zealand driver said:
“I was pretty quick (at the test), to be honest. I honestly thought I was going to be in the Porsche, and then they sort of went from four drivers to three, and that was their decision, and I fully respected it. But I was sort of left, ‘Okay, I probably need to suss out another drive.’ So I rang up Jess Dane, who was the GM (General Motors) person at the time, and she sort of slipped me into DXDT.”
Further explaining why the GTD ride would work out better for him, McLaughlin added:
“It just sort of happened in a couple of days. But it’s just nice because I am reliable from a perspective that I’ve driven this car before. It’s a car that you can sort of slip into anywhere and be okay. I’m just glad they trusted me, and I’m excited.”
At the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona, Scott McLaughlin raced for Trackhouse by TF Sport in the GTD Pro class. He piloted the No. 91 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R alongside Ben Keating, Shane Van Gisberge, and Connor Zilisch.
Scott McLaughlin ‘honored’ to race for DXDT Racing at the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona
Scott McLaughlin will share DXDT Racing’s No. 24 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R with Mason Filippi, Charlie Eastwood, and Salih Yoluc. When the announcement was made, the IndyCar star expressed his sheer excitement to drive for the team.
He said (via SportsCar365):
“It’s an honor to join DXDT Racing for Daytona. The Corvette Z06 GT3.R is an impressive machine, and working alongside Charlie, Salih, and Mason gives us a really strong package heading into one of the world’s most demanding races.”
DXDT Racing had a mixed bag of results at the Roar before the 24 from January 16 to 18. In the GTD class, Mason Filippi emerged as the team’s quickest driver (10th overall) after session 7, with a fastest lap time of 1:47.802. Meanwhile, Scott McLaughlin and Charlie Eastwood were 52nd and 53rd with lap times of 1:48.385 and 1:48.387. Salih Yoluc was down in 64th with a 1:48.607.
Edited by Yash Kotak
