Relentless recovery for Aurora Straus and Murillo Racing in action-filled Daytona IMPC opener
- RACERS
- 2 hours ago
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On her IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge return, Aurora Straus and Murillo Racing demonstrated clear potential at Daytona, recovering from the back after a series of adversities to finish in the top-15.
Aurora Straus’ return to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge could hardly have been more eventful, as the BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona International Speedway delivered four relentless hours of adversity, recovery, penalties and perseverance for Murillo Racing.
Sharing the #24 Mercedes-AMG GT4 with husband Kenny Murillo, Straus battled through repeated setbacks to help salvage a determined P14 finish in the GS class, a result that reflected grit rather than fortune in one of the most competitive season openers in recent years.
The team arrived at Daytona following extensive preparation during the Roar Before the 24, with Straus returning back to the series for the first time since 2023. The New Jersey native, who has frequently contested the Daytona season opener and remained active across GT4 America, reunited with Murillo Racing alongside her husband Kenny Murillo in a bid to mount a competitive GS campaign.
Qualifying fell to Kenny Murillo, who delivered an excellent lap of 1:54.212 to place the Mercedes ninth on the GS grid, positioning the #24 inside the leading third of the 35-car GS field.
From the green flag, Murillo initially slipped into tenth but settled quickly into the top-ten train. While position changes rippled through the pack, he remained solidly in contention, even after briefly losing a spot to Michaelian. As others hit trouble, Murillo capitalised to move back up, running as high as ninth and keeping the Mercedes within the front group.
The first full-course caution, triggered for debris on the banking, initially appeared to offer a strategic opportunity. However, disaster struck behind the pace car: the #24 Mercedes suddenly slowed and came to a halt, forcing Murillo in the pits with an apparent loss of power. The issue threatened to end their race before Straus had even taken the wheel.
The Murillo Racing crew reacted swiftly, and the Mercedes was able to refire and make its way back, allowing the team to continue. Aurora Straus climbed aboard the #24, inheriting a car that had almost lost a lap’s momentum and would require a recovery drive from deep in the GS order.
Straus rejoined well outside the top 20, but quickly began clawing positions back as the race returned to green. She took advantage of incidents ahead and executed clean overtakes to move forward, reaching P18 as the second hour developed.
Her progress was then halted by misfortune once more. The team was handed a drive-through penalty for too many crew members working on the car during the previous pit stop. Straus was forced to pit under green, dropping back down the order and erasing much of the recovery she had just achieved.
As if that were not enough, further complications soon followed. Another full-course yellow brought the field together, but under closed pits, the #24 encountered additional issues and was forced to pit again, compounding their track-position deficit.
After the next caution, Kenny Murillo returned to the cockpit. Despite the accumulated problems, he immediately set about rebuilding their race. On the restart, the Mercedes was again on the move, edging closer to the top 20 as Murillo took advantage of incidents ahead and attrition throughout the GS field.
But the setbacks continued. Murillo was issued a drive-through penalty for an improper emergency stop, yet another blow that sent the team backward just as they were regaining ground.
Undeterred, Murillo resumed his recovery, pushing hard and closing on the midfield once more as the race entered its final stages.
As the final hour approached, the #24 Mercedes finally enjoyed a relatively uninterrupted run. Murillo capitalised on mistakes ahead and executed a string of overtakes, bringing the car back into the top 20 and then beyond. He passed Cooper, then continued forward momentum as others cycled through pit stops.
In the closing 15 minutes, Murillo’s charge intensified: the Mercedes climbed the order, overtaking multiple cars in quick succession. He advanced to 15th, then 13th, fighting all the way to the chequered flag. At the line, Straus and Murillo were classified P14 in the GS class, losing one position in the final sprint but completing a remarkable recovery given the number of setbacks endured.
Straus’ Daytona return was definitely one of perseverance. Mechanical trouble, penalties, and repeated pit lane complications continuously knocked the Murillo Racing Mercedes down, yet both drivers refused to give up. Straus’ stint demonstrated good racecraft as she hauled the car forward after its early troubles, while Murillo’s late-race charge showcased the team’s potential.
Though the final result is not fully representative of their speed, Straus and Murillo will return to Sebring for the second round on 18-21 March with renewed confidence in their potential.
