CrowdStrike Racing by APR (Algarve Pro Racing) has made a significant announcement regarding its drivers for the highly anticipated 63rd annual Rolex 24 at Daytona. This move not only marks the return of CrowdStrike Racing and team owner George Kurtz to the world of sports car racing but also sets the stage for an exciting competition.

"CrowdStrike Racing's Daytona Comeback with Star-Studded Lineup"

George Kurtz's Endurance Racing Journey

A previous recipient of the IMSA Bob Akin Award, George Kurtz is set to participate in the LMP2 grid at Daytona for the third consecutive year and the fifth time in his career. His passion for endurance racing is evident as he aims to add a first Daytona class victory to his previous conquests at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps. The November test showcased the power of his team, with Malthe Jakobsen and Toby Sowery delivering exceptional speed and consistency. Kurtz is confident that they are ready to rise to the challenge and aim for the top.

Over the past two years, CrowdStrike Racing by APR has finished second in LMP2 at Daytona by a combined margin of 6.816 seconds. Notably, the red and grey #04 ORECA was part of the closest class finish in the history of the Rolex 24, missing out on victory by just 0.016 seconds. This close call has only fueled their determination to achieve victory in 2025.

The Young Drivers' Debuts and Successes

Both Toby Sowery and Malthe Jakobsen made their Daytona debuts last year with CrowdStrike by APR and left a lasting impression with their standout performances. Jakobsen then continued his momentum through a successful European Le Mans Series campaign in LMP2 and was named as the newest driver for the Peugeot TotalEnergies WEC Hypercar team. Sowery also made his IndyCar Series debut later in the year, adding to his racing credentials.

Jakobsen expressed his excitement about returning to the Rolex 24 at Daytona with CrowdStrike Racing by APR. He said, "We have some unfinished business at Daytona, but with our team and driver line-up, we will be ready to fight for the win in January." Sowery echoed his sentiment, adding, "It's super exciting to be back for the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. We had a fantastic 2024 driver line-up but our strength didn't quite translate into representative results, so I feel we have unfinished business and it's great to be back."

Colton Herta's Racing Achievements and Joining the Team

Colton Herta is a two-time Daytona 24 Hours class winner, having won GTLM in 2019 for BMW Team RLL and LMP2 in 2022 for DragonSpeed. His recent victories in the Sebring 12 Hours and IndyCar series have further solidified his reputation as a top racing driver. Herta is excited to join the CrowdStrike Racing by APR team and work with his teammates.

He said, "I'm super excited to be joining the CrowdStrike Racing by APR team. I'm also looking forward to working with my teammates, George, Malthe and Toby, and trying to go for a third Rolex 24 at Daytona win. Everyone has put together an amazing programme and I'm very excited to see what we can do."

Team Principal's Perspective

Algarve Pro Racing Team Principal, Stewart Cox, emphasized the team's determination to win. He stated, "Nobody goes into a series like the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship or an individual race like the Rolex 24 At Daytona to finish second, and it's demoralising when you miss out on the victory after 24 hours. Having finished runner-up the last two years, CrowdStrike Racing by APR has done even more preparation in readiness for the 2025 edition of the Rolex 24 and, from a team perspective, we feel we're a little further down the road. We will once again be among some really strong team-driver combinations, but we have the car and line-up to win it and just have to join the dots. We've got a job to do!"Daytona will mark CrowdStrike Racing's return to professional motorsport since the Channel File 291 Incident on 19 July 2024. A flawed update to CrowdStrike cybersecurity software caused worldwide IT outages, leading Kurtz and CrowdStrike Racing to cease all motorsports activities. Kurtz focused on resolving the issue and regaining the trust of customers.At the time of the incident, Kurtz and co-driver Colin Braun were seventh in the IMSA LMP2 Drivers' Championship, second in the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am standings, and had just taken Pro-Am honours in the 24 Hours of Spa.Images © Algarve Pro Racing, Joe Skibinski / Penske Entertainment