The final preparations for the Rolex 24 in Daytona are underway. The famous 24-hour race on the high banks of the Speedway is not only the season opener for the IMSA WeatherTech Championship; It is also the first major event in the 2024 North American racing calendar. The late January slot offers many current and former stars from Formula 1 and IndyCar the opportunity to try their hand at sports car racing. On the other end of the spectrum, amateur racers are given a huge platform to showcase their skills. If you're looking for a good reason to tune in, you're in luck: there are plenty.
2024 Kia EV9 GT-Line | First drive
IMSA GTP sophomore season
Cheers before the Rolex 24 in Daytona qualifying | ADVANCED HIGHLIGHTS | 01/21/24 | Motorsports on NBC
The second campaign for the new sports prototype category got off to a triumphant start last weekend when all nine GTP cars that took part in Rolex 24 qualifying broke the track record. Pipo Derani took the pole in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R with a time of 1 minute, 32.656 seconds, beating the previous record by a full second.
The new GTP class set high expectations by adopting the moniker of the fabled category of the 1980s, but quickly overcame its teething problems last year and delivered exciting action on track. The 2023 IMSA GTP Championship concluded with the season-ending Petit Le Mans, where a collision between Derani and Filipe Albuquerque decided the title fight in Derani's favor.
A field dotted with stars
Photo: Porsche
The Rolex 24 at Daytona has always had the feel of an all-star race, and this year is no different. The biggest star of the race this weekend is Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 World Champion. Button is taking part in the race as a one-off addition to a Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-06 GTP entry. He will share the track with one-time LMP2 competitor Felipe Massa, the self-proclaimed 2008 F1 world champion.
The IndyCar Series has the largest contingent of active drivers at the Rolex 24 with 14. Josef Newgarden, the reigning Indy 500 winner, and Alex Palou, the current IndyCar champion, will participate in their teams' GTP programs. Newgarden will share driving duties in a Penske-Porsche 963, and Palou will get behind the wheel of a Ganassi-powered Cadillac GTP.
Miata mayhem
Mazda MX-5 Cup 2023. Race 1 Daytona Road Course. Last rounds| Fight for victory
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup may have the slowest car on the Daytona road course all weekend, but it will likely feature the wildest racing. Normally, the MX-5s race around the huge track, checking each other's hips to check their position as the laps slow down. The Support Series often races in incredible photo finish races where multiple Miatas cross the finish line side by side. It's the ultimate appetizer before the 24-hour all-star racing buffet.
The Rolex 24 at Daytona begins January 27th at 1:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 is available to watch for free on IMSA.tv, with Race 1 taking place on January 25th at 4:15 p.m. and Race 2 on January 26th at 10:15 a.m