Max Verstappen lines up for iRacing’s Daytona 24 sim racing event

Following a one-off wildcard appearance in an IMSA-sanctioned virtual championship round, Max Verstappen will once again enter a high-profile sim racing event.

This time, it’s the iRacing Daytona 24, a virtual recreation of the real-world Rolex 24 At Daytona, which takes place next week.

Using GTD, LMP2 and GTP/HY machinery, the event lasts for a full 24 hours, with teams entering several drivers per car and mandated swaps during pitstops.

The sim racing platform touts the event as the largest mass-participation event of the year, with over 15,952 unique drivers entering the 2024 edition. 60 cars are allowed, so to spread the load, the event is run across different splits (based on existing iRacing driver skill rankings) simultaneously.

Verstappen will be running in the top split, driving the BMW M Hybrid V8 in GTP alongside team-mates Diogo Pinto and 2024 Radical Cup UK champion Chris Lulham.

The event will be broadcast live on YouTube for the duration. Coverage begins at 12.15 pm UTC today, 18th January 2025.

Redline will also livestream the event on Twitch, including an interview with the distinguished Dutch driver at 1.15 pm UTC.

Top five Macau Grand Prix finisher Cooper Webster, Sam Kitert, Gianni Vecchio, Josh Thompson, Gustavo Ariel and Florian Lebigre make up the rest of the outfit’s entry.

Last year, Verstappen won the GTD category of the event alongside Vecchio and Ole Steinbråten.

The event will also see the debut of the Ferrari 499P Hypercar in the top class, with Scuderia Ferrari HP Esports Team entering three cars and nine drivers.

Elsewhere, real-world NLS competitor and W Series race winner Beitske Visser will be part of an all-women Init Esports lineup.