Among other things, this weekend - 27-28 January - marks the beginning of the 2024 IMSA Sportscar calendar. The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona takes place this week with plenty of excitement to look out for up and down the field.
Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
This weekend, many will be crying out for the return of Formula One. Others will be keeping up to speed with the Monte Carlo Rally, first WRC round of the year. But those that enjoy round-the-clock wheel-to-wheel battles will tune into the first major endurance race of the year.
The IMSA Sportscar Championship gets going this weekend with the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, a perfectly suitable warmup before the rest of the season. In fact, drivers will be battling it out on this unique road course for a 24-hour enduro.
Close battles, intense strategic decisions, fantastic cars provide both sights and sounds and some of the best drivers in the world will all be on display throughout this infamous event. Here is everything you need to know going into the weekend.
In fact, this year sees just three main car classes go head-to-head. Headlining the entry list is the GTP category heading into its second year. A larger LMP2 class than previous years thanks to the influx of prototype fans will allow Amateur drivers to feel the speed. Finally, a massive 36-car GT field splits itself in two - 13 GTD Pro cars and 23 GTD machines. Check out the full entry list here.
GTP and GTD will no doubt be the focus for many in the Daytona 24 Hours. Image credit: BMW Press
With such a large field and so many different speeds all fighting for the same portion of tarmac, traffic management will no doubt play its part in the weekend's racing. Those that raced the iRacing 24 Hours of Daytona last weekend will have noticed just how intense multiclass driving can be.
Now at the start of 2024, they have had a full year to iron out the kinks. As a result, teams and drivers will, for the most part, be up to speed. One would therefore expect the battle for the win to be even more intense than last year's event. In testing last weekend, the previously struggling BMW M Hybrid V8 seemed to run with the best of the class. Meanwhile, customer Porsche teams also looked to be on-pace.
Ben Keating, first Bronze driver to compete in GTP, to run the #85 JDC Miller Porsche 963. Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
Picking out a winner will surely be a pointless effort. However, there are some fascinating and impressive line ups to note. None are more intriguing than the #85 JDC Miller Porsche 963. Alongside the standard full-season and Endurance Cup drivers Tijmen van der Helm, Richard Westbrook and Phil Hanson sits the first Bronze driver to compete in GTP/Hypercar; Ben Keating. The infamous amateur driver is double-booked, much like previous years, also running the #2 United Autosport LMP2.
In other eye-catching news, Jenson Button joins the second Wayne Taylor Racing Acura for Daytona before making his return to the Porsche 963 and the World Endurance Championship. The 2009 F1 World Champion has seemingly caught the endurance bug. He will race alongside his Le Mans Garage 56 Coach, Jordan Taylor as well as Louis Deletraz and Colton Herta.
However, as with most sportscar race, every GTP car is full of talent this weekend. Fans both at the track and watching from home will be lucky to witness such a congregation of top-quality competitors.
Totally untested, it will be tricky knowing where these cars will stack up in race trim. Throughout testing and qualifying, all three look to be competitive. However, 24 hours are sure to take their toll on new racers.
Elsewhere, competition will not be lacking in the GTD categories. The Pro and Am classes combine to a whopping 36 entries, all theoretically capable of contending for honours. In fact, regardless of driver line-up, which places crews into the Pro or normal class, Balance of Performance and therefore overall pace potential are identical. Picture that, 36 cars all bidding for the same win.
Across the field, several car line-ups catch the eye. From the addition of Toyota Hypercar ace, Mike Conway joining last year's #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus GTD Pro Champions to Pfaff's switch to McLaren and the incredible sextuplet of Ford Mustang racers, combining Multimatic and ex-Audi talent.
The #120 Porsche GTD will feature in the Brad Pitt-Lewis Hamilton F1 film. Image credit: Porsche Newsroom.
One car to keep a close eye on is the #120 Wright Motorsport Porsche. Briefly withdrawn from the entry list, news now emerges that the car will be the focus on an Apple TV film crew, running under the fictional Chip Hart Racing name. It seems the 2024 Daytona 24 will feature in the same movie frequently spotted filming in the F1 paddock last year. Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton seemingly want their star driver to get a call up from IMSA to Formula One. However, judging by this strong field, a move to F1 may well be a step down the motorsport ladder.
Said testing weekend culminates in a sprint to the fastest time, otherwise known as Qualifying. Just like the rest of the season, each class got 15 minutes to set the best time possible. Both GTD classes went first, showing off the stunning new cars. Then came the LMP2 gentleman drivers, followed by the 15-minute GTP sprint for overall pole.
After an exciting battle throughout the final session, it was Pipo Derani that put his #31 Cadillac V-Series.R on pole, setting a new lap record in the process - 1:32.656. Meanwhile, Ben Keating who is competing in both LMP2 and GTP managed a top starting position in his #2 United Autosport Oreca 07.
In the mixed GTD-GTD Pro session, Gurnsey youngster Sebastian Priaulx managed to give Rexy his first pole position. The #77 AO Racing Porsche 992 911 GT3 R will lead the GT field to the green flag, sporting its recognisable colours. Further down, but only slightly, the pole-sitting GTD car was the #12 Lexus RC-F GT3 of Vasser Sullivan. Parker Thompson in just his fifth IMSA race flung his non-pro car into P3 of the overall GT grid. And yes, the GTD and GTD Pro cars will fight one-another all race, being considered a single class throughout the race.
Those living outside of the United States of America can tune in to live coverage via IMSA TV. Trackside cameras as well as a selection of onboard shots will pair nicely with the Radio IMSA commentary headlined by everyone's favourite sportscar speaker, John Hindhaugh.
The 2024 Daytona 24 Hours get going at 13:40 local time, in Florida. So make sure to be at your TV by 19:40 CET on Saturday evening. For the UK, that means tuning in for 18:40 GMT. Going by previous runnings, you will not forgive yourself for missing the first hour.
Will you be tuning into the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona?
Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
This weekend, many will be crying out for the return of Formula One. Others will be keeping up to speed with the Monte Carlo Rally, first WRC round of the year. But those that enjoy round-the-clock wheel-to-wheel battles will tune into the first major endurance race of the year.
The IMSA Sportscar Championship gets going this weekend with the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, a perfectly suitable warmup before the rest of the season. In fact, drivers will be battling it out on this unique road course for a 24-hour enduro.
Close battles, intense strategic decisions, fantastic cars provide both sights and sounds and some of the best drivers in the world will all be on display throughout this infamous event. Here is everything you need to know going into the weekend.
A Packed Daytona 24 Entry List
Every year, Daytona attracts huge grid sizes compared to the full-season entry list. As the first race of the year, and part of the Michelin Endurance Cup, teams flock to the Roval. This year is no different as, despite the loss of the LMP3 class, a full 59-car field will take on the big one.In fact, this year sees just three main car classes go head-to-head. Headlining the entry list is the GTP category heading into its second year. A larger LMP2 class than previous years thanks to the influx of prototype fans will allow Amateur drivers to feel the speed. Finally, a massive 36-car GT field splits itself in two - 13 GTD Pro cars and 23 GTD machines. Check out the full entry list here.
GTP and GTD will no doubt be the focus for many in the Daytona 24 Hours. Image credit: BMW Press
With such a large field and so many different speeds all fighting for the same portion of tarmac, traffic management will no doubt play its part in the weekend's racing. Those that raced the iRacing 24 Hours of Daytona last weekend will have noticed just how intense multiclass driving can be.
A Competitive Top Class
As aforementioned, the top GTP class is now heading into its second season of competition. Last year, the new LMDh cars by Acura, Cadillac, BMW and Porsche were untested machines. Teams were learning how to set them up, drivers learnt how to push them and reliability was an unknown.Now at the start of 2024, they have had a full year to iron out the kinks. As a result, teams and drivers will, for the most part, be up to speed. One would therefore expect the battle for the win to be even more intense than last year's event. In testing last weekend, the previously struggling BMW M Hybrid V8 seemed to run with the best of the class. Meanwhile, customer Porsche teams also looked to be on-pace.
Ben Keating, first Bronze driver to compete in GTP, to run the #85 JDC Miller Porsche 963. Image credit: Porsche Newsroom
Picking out a winner will surely be a pointless effort. However, there are some fascinating and impressive line ups to note. None are more intriguing than the #85 JDC Miller Porsche 963. Alongside the standard full-season and Endurance Cup drivers Tijmen van der Helm, Richard Westbrook and Phil Hanson sits the first Bronze driver to compete in GTP/Hypercar; Ben Keating. The infamous amateur driver is double-booked, much like previous years, also running the #2 United Autosport LMP2.
In other eye-catching news, Jenson Button joins the second Wayne Taylor Racing Acura for Daytona before making his return to the Porsche 963 and the World Endurance Championship. The 2009 F1 World Champion has seemingly caught the endurance bug. He will race alongside his Le Mans Garage 56 Coach, Jordan Taylor as well as Louis Deletraz and Colton Herta.
However, as with most sportscar race, every GTP car is full of talent this weekend. Fans both at the track and watching from home will be lucky to witness such a congregation of top-quality competitors.
Change Afoot in GT
Going into the 2024 season, the big story is the introduction of not one, not two, but three new GT3 models. In fact, whilst 2023 was the year of GTP, 2024 is all about GTD. Both Ford and Chevrolet come to Daytona with unraced models in the new Mustang and Corvette Z06.R respectively. Aston Martin joins the fray with an evolution on the Vantage.Totally untested, it will be tricky knowing where these cars will stack up in race trim. Throughout testing and qualifying, all three look to be competitive. However, 24 hours are sure to take their toll on new racers.
Elsewhere, competition will not be lacking in the GTD categories. The Pro and Am classes combine to a whopping 36 entries, all theoretically capable of contending for honours. In fact, regardless of driver line-up, which places crews into the Pro or normal class, Balance of Performance and therefore overall pace potential are identical. Picture that, 36 cars all bidding for the same win.
Across the field, several car line-ups catch the eye. From the addition of Toyota Hypercar ace, Mike Conway joining last year's #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus GTD Pro Champions to Pfaff's switch to McLaren and the incredible sextuplet of Ford Mustang racers, combining Multimatic and ex-Audi talent.
The #120 Porsche GTD will feature in the Brad Pitt-Lewis Hamilton F1 film. Image credit: Porsche Newsroom.
One car to keep a close eye on is the #120 Wright Motorsport Porsche. Briefly withdrawn from the entry list, news now emerges that the car will be the focus on an Apple TV film crew, running under the fictional Chip Hart Racing name. It seems the 2024 Daytona 24 will feature in the same movie frequently spotted filming in the F1 paddock last year. Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton seemingly want their star driver to get a call up from IMSA to Formula One. However, judging by this strong field, a move to F1 may well be a step down the motorsport ladder.
Qualifying: The 2024 Daytona 24 Grid
In a break from traditional racing schedules, the Daytona 24 Hours holds its qualifying session on the weekend before the main event. In fact, the Roar Before the 24 will be a name familiar to those competing in iRacing Special Events. Here, teams take part in a four-day testing extravaganza.Said testing weekend culminates in a sprint to the fastest time, otherwise known as Qualifying. Just like the rest of the season, each class got 15 minutes to set the best time possible. Both GTD classes went first, showing off the stunning new cars. Then came the LMP2 gentleman drivers, followed by the 15-minute GTP sprint for overall pole.
After an exciting battle throughout the final session, it was Pipo Derani that put his #31 Cadillac V-Series.R on pole, setting a new lap record in the process - 1:32.656. Meanwhile, Ben Keating who is competing in both LMP2 and GTP managed a top starting position in his #2 United Autosport Oreca 07.
In the mixed GTD-GTD Pro session, Gurnsey youngster Sebastian Priaulx managed to give Rexy his first pole position. The #77 AO Racing Porsche 992 911 GT3 R will lead the GT field to the green flag, sporting its recognisable colours. Further down, but only slightly, the pole-sitting GTD car was the #12 Lexus RC-F GT3 of Vasser Sullivan. Parker Thompson in just his fifth IMSA race flung his non-pro car into P3 of the overall GT grid. And yes, the GTD and GTD Pro cars will fight one-another all race, being considered a single class throughout the race.
How to Watch The 2024 Daytona 24 Hours
If this break down of the 2024 Daytona 24 Hours has whetted your appetite for racing - and how could it not - make sure to catch the race this weekend. Much like the majority of sportscar series, the IMSA Sportscar Championship provide live and free coverage to much of the world. In fact, just the United States - the series' home nation - does not get full live access at no extra charge.Those living outside of the United States of America can tune in to live coverage via IMSA TV. Trackside cameras as well as a selection of onboard shots will pair nicely with the Radio IMSA commentary headlined by everyone's favourite sportscar speaker, John Hindhaugh.
The 2024 Daytona 24 Hours get going at 13:40 local time, in Florida. So make sure to be at your TV by 19:40 CET on Saturday evening. For the UK, that means tuning in for 18:40 GMT. Going by previous runnings, you will not forgive yourself for missing the first hour.
Will you be tuning into the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona?
