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    Rolex 24 At Daytona · Qualifying

    Rolex 24 Qualifying — How the Grid Is Set & Recent Pole Sitters

    IMSA sets the Daytona grid class by class — no Le Mans-style Hyperpole shootout. The fastest car in each class takes its pole, and the GTP pole sitter starts the whole race first and takes the Motul Pole Award.

    How does Rolex 24 qualifying work?

    Each IMSA class — GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD — qualifies in its own short session. The quickest car in a class takes that class's pole and lines up at the front of its class group. The GTP pole sitter is the overall pole and leads the field to the green flag.

    There's no separate shootout round. Pole is simply the fastest lap set in a class's qualifying window, which earns the overall pole sitter the Motul Pole Award. Like the race itself, qualifying is subject to post-session technical inspection — results can move afterwards.

    Rolex 24 GTP pole sitters since 2023

    Overall (GTP-class) pole sitters since the GTP class was introduced in 2023. Each row cross-checked against the corresponding Wikipedia race page.

    Rolex 24 GTP pole sitters since 2023
    YearPole sitterLap
    2026GTP

    Renger van der ZandeNo. 93 Acura ARX-06Meyer Shank Racing

    Promoted to pole after the fastest car — the No. 31 Cadillac — failed post-qualifying technical inspection and was sent to the back of the GTP grid.

    		1:34.041
    2025GTP

    Dries VanthoorNo. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8BMW M Team RLL

    		1:33.895
    2024GTP

    Pipo DeraniNo. 31 Cadillac V-Series.RWhelen Cadillac Racing

    Broke the Daytona International Speedway road-course lap record to take pole.

    		1:32.656
    2023GTP

    Tom BlomqvistNo. 60 Acura ARX-06Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian

    Pole in the GTP class's debut Rolex 24 — beat Felipe Nasr's Porsche by under a tenth.

    		1:34.031

    How the format works

    Per-class sessions and the Motul Pole Award — the mechanics behind the grid.

    • A separate session for each class

      Each IMSA class qualifies on its own. The fastest car in a class takes that class’s pole — there is no combined, all-class shootout.

      IMSA sets the Rolex 24 grid with short qualifying sessions run class by class — GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD. The quickest car in each session takes that class's pole and starts at the front of its class group. The GTP pole sitter is the overall pole sitter and starts the race first.

      There is no Le Mans-style Hyperpole — no separate top-eight shootout. Pole is simply the fastest lap set in a class's own qualifying window, which makes the session a straightforward single-lap-pace test rather than a multi-stage knockout.

    • The Motul Pole Award

      The overall (GTP) pole at the Rolex 24 carries the Motul Pole Award — IMSA’s named recognition for the fastest qualifier.

      Taking the GTP pole earns the Motul Pole Award, IMSA's named pole recognition. As with the rest of the weekend the result can move after the session: in 2026 the fastest car, the No. 31 Cadillac, failed post-qualifying technical inspection and was moved to the back of the GTP grid, promoting the No. 93 Acura to pole — a reminder that IMSA results, including qualifying, are subject to post-session inspection.

    Notable qualifying moments

    Headline poles since the GTP era began. Each tied to a Wikipedia race-page narrative.

    • Road-course lap record for pole

      Pipo Derani, No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R

      2024

      Derani broke the Daytona International Speedway road-course lap record with a 1:32.656 to take GTP pole for the 2024 Rolex 24.

    • Pole in the GTP era’s first Rolex 24

      Tom Blomqvist, No. 60 Acura ARX-06

      2023

      Blomqvist took pole in the GTP class's debut Rolex 24 in 2023, beating Felipe Nasr's Porsche by less than a tenth of a second.

    How Rolex 24 qualifying compares

    IMSA's single-session-per-class format is the simplest of the major series. Side-by-side here.

    Comparison of qualifying formats across major racing series
    SeriesFormatDetail
    Rolex 24 At Daytona (IMSA)Separate short qualifying session per classEach class qualifies on its own; the fastest lap in a class takes that class pole. The GTP pole is the overall pole and earns the Motul Pole Award. No multi-stage shootout.Each class qualifies on its own; the fastest lap in a class takes that class pole. The GTP pole is the overall pole and earns the Motul Pole Award. No multi-stage shootout.
    24 Hours of Le Mans / FIA WECStandard qualifying + Hyperpole shootout per classA one-hour session sets the bulk of the grid; the top eight per class then contest a half-hour Hyperpole shootout that decides each class pole.A one-hour session sets the bulk of the grid; the top eight per class then contest a half-hour Hyperpole shootout that decides each class pole.
    Formula 1Three-stage knockout (Q1 → Q2 → Q3)Five drivers eliminated after each of Q1 and Q2; the fastest ten contest Q3 for pole. A multi-round knockout, not a single class session.Five drivers eliminated after each of Q1 and Q2; the fastest ten contest Q3 for pole. A multi-round knockout, not a single class session.
    NTT INDYCAR Series (road / street)Three-round qualifying ending in the Firestone Fast SixGroup rounds feed a final six-car shootout for pole — closer to Le Mans Hyperpole than to IMSA’s single-session-per-class format.Group rounds feed a final six-car shootout for pole — closer to Le Mans Hyperpole than to IMSA’s single-session-per-class format.
    NASCAR Cup SeriesTwo-round single-lap qualifyingAll cars set a lap in round one; the fastest advance to a single-lap pole shootout. One class, one combined order.All cars set a lap in round one; the fastest advance to a single-lap pole shootout. One class, one combined order.

    Does pole matter in a 24-hour race?

    Pole at the Rolex 24 is a prestige line and the Motul Pole Award, but it's a weak predictor of the result. A full day and night of pit stops, safety cars, weather and four-class traffic resets track position over and over — the lead changes hands dozens of times.

    What wins the Rolex 24 is reliability and a clean run over 24 hours, not a single fast lap on Saturday. Pole is worth more for what it says about raw car pace heading into the season than for any advantage it carries to the finish.

    Qualifying FAQ

    How does qualifying work at the Rolex 24?+
    IMSA sets the Rolex 24 grid with short qualifying sessions run class by class — GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD. The fastest car in each session takes that class’s pole and starts at the front of its class group. The GTP pole sitter is the overall pole and starts the race first. There is no Le Mans-style Hyperpole shootout.
    Who is on pole for the Rolex 24?+
    The most recent GTP (overall) pole was taken by Renger van der Zande in the No. 93 Acura ARX-06 for Meyer Shank Racing at the 2026 race with a 1:34.041 lap. Full year-by-year pole sitters are in the table above.
    What is the Motul Pole Award?+
    The Motul Pole Award is IMSA’s named recognition for the overall (GTP) pole sitter at the Rolex 24. As with the rest of the weekend, the result can change after the session — in 2026 the fastest car failed post-qualifying technical inspection and was moved to the back of the GTP grid, promoting the next car to pole.
    How is Rolex 24 qualifying different from Le Mans Hyperpole?+
    Le Mans uses Hyperpole — a separate half-hour shootout for the top eight cars per class after standard qualifying. The Rolex 24 has no shootout: pole is simply the fastest lap set in each class’s own short qualifying window. It’s a single-session-per-class format rather than a multi-stage one.
    Does pole position matter at the Rolex 24?+
    Pole carries prestige and the Motul Pole Award, but it rarely decides a 24-hour race. Track position resets constantly across a full day and night of pit stops, safety cars, weather and mixed-class traffic, so a strong qualifying lap is worth far less than reliability and a clean run over the distance.

    More from the Rolex 24 hub

    • Rolex 24 hubPast winners, traditions, all-time leaders, records
    • IMSA Classification RulesHow a car finishes 30th overall but wins — multi-class scoring
    • Rolex 24 Prize MoneyThe watch, the purse, and what the winner earns
    • Le Mans HyperpoleThe shootout format the Rolex 24 deliberately doesn’t use
    • IMSA on Grid GuyThe Rolex 24, Sebring and Petit Le Mans hubs

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