Rolex 24 at Daytona: Final Preparations, Strategy, and Milestones
The Rolex 24 at Daytona race week concluded with teams finalizing preparations, addressing technical issues, and refining strategies for the grueling endurance event. Key developments included significant car repairs, adjustments to Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations, detailed discussions on tire strategy, and confirmations regarding driver lineups and manufacturer commitments. The event also highlighted new partnerships and celebrated historical milestones in motorsports.
Race Preparations and Team Developments
The 13 Autosport team successfully repaired its Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R following a refueling fire during Thursday's night practice. A GM spokesperson confirmed no engine damage, and driver Matt Bell recorded the third-quickest time in the GTD class during Friday's final practice session.
Team owner Orey Fidani acknowledged the crew's work in reassembling the car overnight.
WRT, making its GTP debut with a two-car factory BMW M Hybrid V8 operation, qualified its Nos. 24 and 25 entries in ninth and tenth positions, respectively.
Team principal Vincent Vosse commented on the challenges of preparing the team within a few months, describing the race as "almost like a 22‑hour race followed by a two‑hour sprint at the end."
Ferrari’s head of endurance race cars, Ferdinando Cannizzo, noted positive feedback from drivers and engineers regarding the Evo update for the 296 GT3, which debuted competitively at Daytona. The No. 033 Triarsi Competizione car was Ferrari’s top qualifier in GTD Pro, starting fourth, while the No. 21 AF Corse entry qualified sixth in GTD. Cannizzo acknowledged a "lack [of] some straight line performance" and indicated plans to manage the package with "clever strategy."
Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Stefan Wendl stated that the five customer teams are in an improved position compared to the previous year, when they faced torque sensor-related issues. Wendl confirmed ongoing development for a successor to the current Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, with a potential debut in 2027.
The Heart of Racing team confirmed Eduardo Barrichello will undertake a full season in its GTD entry. Barrichello is also under consideration for the team's expanded two-car LMGT3 lineup in the WEC, alongside FIA Bronze-rated driver Gray Newell. Rolex 24 class pole-sitter Zach Robichon and Mattia Drudi will return to the team’s No. 27 WEC car alongside team principal Ian James. A replacement for Tom Gamble in the No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo for two clashing WEC weekends has not yet been determined.
United Autosports team principal Richard Dean clarified the full-season driver lineups for its two WeatherTech Championship LMP2 entries. Paul di Resta will return to the No. 2 Oreca 07 Gibson for the full season, with the exception of one clashing WEC weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Mikkel Jensen will participate in all seven rounds in the No. 22 car alongside Phil Fayer. Di Resta's replacement for the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park race has not been announced but will be selected from a group of drivers participating this weekend.
Magnus Racing's webcast, providing behind-the-scenes pit box access and live team radio communication, returned in an un-hosted format on the team's YouTube channel.
Technical Regulations and Race Strategy
IMSA's managing director of engineering, Matt Kurdock, confirmed that the Balance of Performance (BoP) for both GTP and GTD Pro/GTD classes for the weekend was established according to each car's homologation parameters. This approach excluded previous track-based data due to factors including Evo jokers for all LMDh cars, Evos for three of the ten GT3 models, and all-new or updated Michelin tires. Kurdock indicated plans to revert to a rolling race average for BoP calculations starting with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.
Penske Racing President Jonathan Diuguid, strategist for the No. 6 Penske Porsche 963, projected that Michelin’s new-generation Soft tire in the GTP class would not be as significant a factor as initially anticipated due to unseasonably warm temperatures forecast for the race. An IMSA competition bulletin permits teams to use the Soft tire between 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday, while the Medium compound has no restrictions throughout the race. Diuguid suggested Soft tire usage would likely be influenced by the consumption of Medium tires during practice sessions.
IMSA issued a pre-race bulletin instructing LMP2 teams to disconnect their leader light systems due to a reported systems issue. All leader light system components must remain installed, with the issue understood to be related to the system's integration in LMP2 cars.
Following the race, IMSA will impound the top-four finishing cars from both the GTP and GTD Pro classes for comprehensive vehicle inspections. These inspections are scheduled to begin Monday morning, with cars released by 3 p.m. Entrants and manufacturers are required to provide specific equipment for these inspections.
Driver and Manufacturer News
Porsche Motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach affirmed the German manufacturer's commitment to continue its factory Porsche Penske Motorsport program in GTP beyond next year. Sportscar365 reported that Penske holds a contract with Porsche through the end of the 2027 season.
Reigning GTP champion Matt Campbell, confirmed for the first two races of the season as the third driver in the No. 6 Porsche, commented on the absence of Mathieu Jaminet, who has signed for Genesis Magma Racing in the WEC and is missing his first Rolex 24 since 2021. Felipe Nasr is aiming to achieve three consecutive overall wins at the Rolex 24.
Roger Penske stated that NTT IndyCar Series drivers Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin were not selected as fourth drivers for his team due to a lack of regular Porsche 963 experience. Penske also indicated a decision against running a throwback livery for the team's 60th anniversary, prioritizing a third consecutive Rolex 24 victory. Team Penske has recorded 50 wins in 198 starts with Porsche machinery.
Laurens Vanthoor anticipates a similar number of races this year, following his full-time transition to the IMSA GTP ranks with Porsche Penske Motorsport. His 2023 season included six wins and 11 podiums across 16 race starts.
Lamborghini factory driver Mirko Bortolotti and Pfaff Motorsports team manager Steve Bortolotti were identified as being related through their grandfathers, who were cousins.
Partnerships, Anniversaries, and Event Context
IMSA President John Doonan noted high attendance figures for the Rolex 24 at Daytona and stated that sports car racing is in its best historical period.
Sentronics Limited, a UK-based fluid flow sensor technology company, entered a multi-year marketing agreement with IMSA as a 'Proud Technology Supplier.' IMSA also expanded its partnership with BDO USA, designating it as the 'Official Digital Transformation Partner of IMSA Labs.' IMSA Labs focuses on data, technology, and competition-enhancing solutions.
The AMR Safety Team introduced new 2026 Ford F-150 Raptors as recovery trucks, with the F-150 Raptor designated as the 'Official Truck' of IMSA.
Corvette Racing entries have accumulated over 74,000 racing miles at Daytona International Speedway since the Chevrolet Corvette C5-R debuted in 1999. The program is projected to surpass half a million total miles midway through the current season.
Ford is commemorating 125 years of racing in 2024, featuring the 1901 "Sweepstakes" car at its display. This year also marks 60 years since Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby secured Ford's first 24 Hours of Daytona victory in a Ford GT40 Mk II.
The Rolex 24 pace car is a Type-992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS equipped with a Manthey Kit. Manthey's Michelin Endurance Cup program aims to support its commercial business for Porsche road cars in North America.
In Saturday morning's HSR IMSA Classic race, Jim Matthews secured a victory, finishing nearly nine seconds ahead of Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley. Matthews drove the Doyle Racing Riley & Scott Mk. III Oldsmobile, which was the 1996 Rolex 24 at Daytona winning car.
Broadcast Information
NBC Sports will provide coverage of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with portions airing on NBC and the entire race available live on Peacock. The broadcast team includes Leigh Diffey, Brian Till, Calvin Fish, Townsend Bell, and Oliver Gavin in the booth, with various reporters on pit lane. IMSA Radio's international feed will feature commentary from John Hindhaugh, Ryan Myrehn, Bruce Jones, and Peter Mackay, alongside pit lane reporters.