IMSA News: 59-car entry for Roar Before the Rolex 24

IMSA has released a 59-car entry list for the “Roar Before the Rolex 24” at Daytona International Speedway.

A jam-packed field is on the entry list for the Roar, which runs Jan. 19-21 on the 3.56-mile road course that encompasses nearly the entire famous oval plus the challenging infield section. The WeatherTech Championship qualifying session for all four classes concludes the weekend’s on-track activities and will stream live at 1:55 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 21 on IMSA.com/TVLive.

As usual, there are a multitude of fascinating storylines heading into the Roar, the Rolex 24 and the season in general. Here are some to keep an eye on in the weeks and months ahead:

Acura Shoots for Fourth Straight Overall Win: Acura is riding a three-year overall win streak into this year’s Rolex 24. Wayne Taylor Racing delivered the victory in 2021 with the Acura ARX-05 in the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class. Meyer Shank Racing followed it with the DPi triumph in an ARX-05 in 2022 before the team repeated the overall victory in the first race for the Acura ARX-06 last year in the debut of the modern Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class. Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti fields both Acura entries in 2024 but will face stiff competition from BMW, Cadillac and Porsche. Can another manufacturer steal the glory?

Blomqvist Chases Rolex 24 Three-Peat: Tom Blomqvist will go for his third straight overall win at the Rolex 24 this year, which would tie him with Helio Castroneves for the record. Blomqvist won in 2022 and ’23 in a Meyer Shank Racing Acura but has joined the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R team for the endurance races this season. Castroneves was also part of the Meyer Shank winners in ’22 and ’23, with the first of his three straight overall wins coming with Wayne Taylor Racing in 2021.

Familiar Faces in New Places: Besides Blomqvist joining the Whelen team, a number of veteran drivers will be wheeling new machinery at the Roar and Rolex 24. After a successful stint at Corvette Racing, Jordan Taylor returns to the family team where he will co-drive the No. 40 WTRAndretti Acura in GTP. Dane Cameron raced last year for Porsche Penske Motorsport in the FIA World Endurance Championship but will run full-time in the team’s No. 7 Porsche 963 in the WeatherTech Championship this season. Alexander Sims shared the GTP championship with Pipo Derani with the Whelen Cadillac team in 2023, but Sims will be in a Corvette Racing with Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette in the GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class this season.

Colin Braun was Blomqvist’s teammate at Meyer Shank in ’23 but will race a Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) with CrowdStrike Racing by APR in ’24. Ben Keating won the LMP2 title last season with PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports but has joined United Autosports in LMP2 for 2024. His teammate at PR1, Paul-Loup Chatin, is now in the new AO Racing LMP2. Oliver Jarvis joins Pfaff Motorsports with its new McLaren 720S GT3 Evo in GTD PRO. Corey Lewis is part of the driver lineup for Proton Competition with its customer Ford Mustang GT3 program in GTD. And the entire Paul Miller Racing team, including full-season drivers Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow, have moved to the GTD PRO class after dominating GTD a season ago.

Stars Come out for Rolex 24: A constellation of stars from other racing disciplines have aligned with teams for the Roar and Rolex 24. Past Formula 1 champ Jenson Button will be in a WTRAndretti GTP. Multi-time F1 race winner Felipe Massa is set in LMP2 with Riley. The IndyCar Series is highly represented with Scott Dixon and Alex Palou (Cadillac Racing), Marcus Ericsson and Colton Herta (WTRAndretti) and Josef Newgarden (Penske) in GTP, Scott McLaughlin (Tower Motorsports) and Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist (United) in LMP2. The GTD PRO class includes Alexander Rossi alongside former IndyCar racer James Hinchcliffe with Pfaff and Romain Grosjean with Iron Lynx, while Devlin DeFrancesco (Forte Racing) races in GTD.

Four Classes, Not Five: With demand high across the board, the WeatherTech Championship no longer includes the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) class, allowing additional entries in the remaining four classes at the Rolex 24 and throughout the season. The entry list includes a total of 59 cars following the withdrawal earlier this week of the previously named No. 91 Kellymoss with Riley entry.

GTP – Year Two: The hybrid-electrified top prototype Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class lived up to the hype when it debuted in 2023. Parity reigned, with six teams and all four manufacturers in contention for the championship heading into the season finale. Now, with a full year of development under their belts, what will the second year of the platform look like? The Roar and the Rolex 24 will provide an early barometer.

Practice Makes Perfect: Five WeatherTech test sessions are scheduled for all Roar entrants on Jan. 19-20, with a short sixth session for GTP cars only on Jan. 21, just ahead of qualifying. In addition to the WeatherTech Championship, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge will use the weekend for testing and the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge will embark on its second season with a pair of 45-minute races.

WeatherTech Championship Track Records – Daytona International Speedway

GTP: Tom Blomqvist, Acura ARX-06, 1:34.031 / 136.295 mph, January 2023

LMP2: Paul-Loup Chatin, ORECA LMP2, 1:35.532 / 134.154 mph, January 2022

GTD PRO: Laurens Vanthoor, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 1:45.087 / 121.956 mph, January 2022

GTD: Marcos Gomes, Ferrari 488 GT3, 1:44.541 / 122.587 mph, January 2019

Entry List: Total Entries: 59

GRAND TOURING PROTOTYPE (GTP) CAR NO. DRIVERS & NATIONALITY			TEAM & SPONSOR	CAR TYPE	TIRE	Entries: 10 ENGINE FUEL
01	(P) Renger van der Zande (P) Sebastien Bourdais (P) Scott Dixon (?) TBD	NLD FRA NZL ?	Cadillac Racing Cadillac Racing	Cadillac V- Series.R	Michelin	Cadillac	VP R80
5	(P) Gianmaria Bruni (P) Neel Jani (G) Alessio Picariello (P) Romain Dumas	ITA CHE BEL FRA	Proton Competition	Porsche 963	Michelin	Porsche	VP R80
6	(P) Nick Tandy (P) Mathieu Jaminet (P) Kevin Estre (P) Laurens Vanthoor	GBR LUX FRA BEL	Porsche Penske Motorsport	Porsche 963	Michelin	Porsche	VP R80
7	(P) Dane Cameron (P) Felipe Nasr (P) Matt Campbell (P) Josef Newgarden	USA BRA AUS USA	Porsche Penske Motorsport	Porsche 963	Michelin	Porsche	VP R80
10	(P) Ricky Taylor (P) Filipe Albuquerque (P) Brendon Hartley (P) Marcus Ericsson	USA PRT NZL SWE	Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura / HRC / Konica Minolta	Acura ARX-06	Michelin	Acura	VP R80
24	(G) Jesse Krohn (P) Philipp Eng (P) Augusto Farfus (P) Dries Vanthoor	FIN AUT MCO BEL	BMW M Team RLL BMW of North America	BMW M Hybrid V8	Michelin	BMW	VP R80
25	(G) Connor De Phillippi (P) Nick Yelloly (P) Maxime Martin (P) Rene Rast	USA GBR BEL AUT	BMW M Team RLL BMW of North America	BMW M Hybrid V8	Michelin	BMW	VP R80
31	(P) Pipo Derani (P) Jack Aitken (P) Tom Blomqvist	BRA GBR MCO	Whelen Cadillac Racing Whelen / Cadillac Racing	Cadillac V- Series.R	Michelin	Cadillac	VP R80
40	(P) Jordan Taylor (G) Louis Deletraz (G) Colton Herta (P) Jenson Button	USA CHE USA GBR	Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura / HRC / DEX Imaging	Acura ARX-06	Michelin	Acura	VP R80
85	(G) Tijmen van der Helm (P) Richard Westbrook (G) Phil Hanson (B) Ben Keating	NLD GBR GBR USA	JDC-Miller MotorSports Trofi Pack / S3s / Wiha / OMP	Porsche 963	Michelin	Porsche	VP R80
LE MANS PROTOTYPE 2 (LMP2) CAR NO. DRIVERS & NATIONALITY			TEAM & SPONSOR	CAR TYPE	TIRE	ENGINE	Entries: 13 FUEL
2	(B) Ben Keating (S) Nico Pino (G) Ben Hanley (P) Patricio O’Ward	USA CHL GBR MEX	United Autosports USA Mission Foods / Wynn’s / Max Connect / RainX	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
04	(B) George Kurtz (G) Colin Braun (S) Toby Sowery (G) Malthe Jakobsen	USA USA GBR DNK	CROWDSTRIKE RACING BY APR	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
8	(B) John Farano (S) Michael Dinan (?) TBD (P) Scott McLaughlin	CAN USA ? NZL	Tower Motorsports Motul	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
11	(B) Steven Thomas (P) Mikkel Jensen (S) Hunter McElrea (G) Charles Milesi	USA DNK AUS FRA	TDS Racing	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
18	(B) Dwight Merriman (G) Ryan Dalziel (?) TBD (G) Christian Rasmussen	USA GBR ? DNK	Era Motorsport Motul / Moduline / Control IO / Sparco	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
20	(B) Dennis Andersen (S) Seth Lucas (G) Laurents Hoerr (G) Scott Huffaker	DNK USA DEU USA	MDK by High Class Racing Motul	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
22	(B) Daniel Goldburg (P) Paul Di Resta (S) Bijoy Garg (G) Felix Rosenqvist	USA MCO USA SWE	United Autosports USA CSCI / Wing / Terra Energy / Baccharis	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
33	(B) Lance Willsey (G) Joao Barbosa (G) Nolan Siegel (S) Jonny Edgar	USA USA USA GBR	Sean Creech Motorsport Focal One	Ligier LMP2	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
52	(S) Jakub Smiechowski (B) Nick Boulle (G) Tom Dillmann (G) Clement Novalak	POL USA FRA FRA	Inter Europol by PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports Inter Europol	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
74	(B) Gar Robinson (G) Felipe Fraga (S) Josh Burdon (P) Felipe Massa	USA BRA AUS BRA	Riley 74 Ranch Resort	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
81	(B) Eric Lux (G) Kyffin Simpson (G) James Allen (S) Sebastian Alvarez	USA CYM AUS MEX	DragonSpeed	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
88	(B) Luis Perez Companc (P) Nicklas Nielsen (S) Lilou Wadoux Ducellier (G) Matthieu Vaxiviere	ARG DNK FRA FRA	Richard Mille AF Corse	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C
99	(B) PJ Hyett (G) Paul-Loup Chatin (S) Matt Brabham (G) Alex Quinn	USA FRA USA GBR	AO Racing	ORECA LMP2 07	Michelin	Gibson	E-20C

GT DAYTONA PRO (GTD PRO) CAR NO. DRIVERS & NATIONALITY			TEAM & SPONSOR	CAR TYPE	TIRE	Entries: 13 ENGINE FUEL
1	(G) Bryan Sellers (G) Madison Snow (G) Neil Verhagen (P) Sheldon van der Linde	USA USA USA ZAF	Paul Miller Racing I Heart Radio / UIS / Paul Miller Auto Group	BMW M4 GT3	Michelin	BMW	E-10
3	(P) Antonio Garcia (P) Alexander Sims (P) Daniel Juncadella	ESP GBR ESP	Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Oshkosh / Mobil 1	Corvette Z06 GT3.R	Michelin	Chevrolet	E-10
4	(P) Tommy Milner (P) Nicky Catsburg (P) Earl Bamber	USA NLD NZL	Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Oshkosh / Mobil 1	Corvette Z06 GT3.R	Michelin	Chevrolet	E-10
9	(P) Marvin Kirchhöfer (P) Oliver Jarvis (G) James Hinchcliffe (P) Alexander Rossi	CHE GBR CAN USA	Pfaff Motorsports Driveway.com / Motul / Motomaster / McLaren Toronto	McLaren 720S GT3 EVO	Michelin	McLaren	E-10
14	(G) Jack Hawksworth (P) Ben Barnicoat (G) Kyle Kirkwood (P) Mike Conway	GBR GBR USA GBR	VasserSullivan	Lexus RC F GT3	Michelin	Lexus	E-10
19	(P) * Franck Perera (P) Jordan Pepper (P) Andrea Caldarelli (P) Mirko Bortolotti	FRA ZAF ITA ITA	Iron Lynx	Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2	Michelin	Lamborghini	E-10
23	(P) Ross Gunn (G) Alex Riberas (G) Mario Farnbacher	GBR ESP DEU	Heart of Racing Team Heart of Racing	Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo	Michelin	Aston Martin	E-10
60	(B) Claudio Schiavoni (S) Matteo Cressoni (P) Romain Grosjean (P) Matteo Cairoli	ITA ITA SWZ ITA	Iron Lynx	Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2	Michelin	Lamborghini	E-10
62	(P) Daniel Serra (P) Davide Rigon (P) Alessandro Pier Guidi (P) James Calado	BRA ITA ITA GBR	Risi Competizione Pennzoil	Ferrari 296 GT3	Michelin	Ferrari	E-10
64	(P) Harry Tincknell (P) Mike Rockenfeller (P) Christopher Mies	GBR CHE DEU	Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Performance	Ford Mustang GT3	Michelin	Ford	E-10
65	(G) Joey Hand (P) Dirk Mueller (G) Frederic Vervisch	USA SWZ BEL	Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Performance	Ford Mustang GT3	Michelin	Ford	E-10
75	(B) Kenny Habul (P) Jules Gounon (P) Luca Stolz (P) Maro Engel	AUS FRA DEU MCO	Sun Energy 1	Mercedes AMG GT3	Michelin	Mercedes AMG	E-10
77	(G) Laurin Heinrich (G) Seb Priaulx (P) Michael Christensen	DEU GBR DNK	AO Racing	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	Michelin	Porsche	E-10
GT DAYTONA (GTD) CAR NO. DRIVERS & NATIONALITY				TEAM & SPONSOR	CAR TYPE	TIRE	Entries: 23 ENGINE FUEL
12	(S) Frankie Montecalvo (S) Parker Thompson (G) Aaron Telitz (G) Ritomo Miyata	USA CAN USA JPN	VasserSullivan	Lexus RC F GT3	Michelin	Lexus	E-10
13	(B) Orey Fidani (G) Matthew Bell (S) Lars Kern (P) Alex Lynn	CAN GBR DEU GBR	AWA	Corvette C8.R GTD	Michelin	Chevrolet	E-10

17	(B) Anthony Mantella (G) Nico Varrone (S) Thomas Merrill (G) Charlie Eastwood	CAN ARG USA IRL	AWA	Corvette C8.R GTD	Michelin	Chevrolet	E-10
21	(S) Simon Mann (B) Francois Heriau (P) Miguel Molina (G) Kei Cozzolino	CHE FRA ESP JPN	Af Corse	Ferrari 296 GT3	Michelin	Ferrari	E-10
023	(S) Onofrio Triarsi (B) Charles Scardina (G) Riccardo Agostini (P) Alessio Rovera	USA USA ITA ITA	Triarsi Competizione Ferrari of Central Florida / David SW	Ferrari 296 GT3	Michelin	Ferrari	E-10
27	(G) Roman De Angelis (S) Zacharie Robichon (B) Ian James (P) Marco Sorensen	CAN CAN USA DNK	Heart of Racing Team Heart of Racing	Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo	Michelin	Aston Martin	E-10
32	(G) Mikael Grenier (S) Mike Skeen (S) Kenton Koch (P) Maximilian Goetz	CAN USA USA DEU	Korthoff/Preston Motorsports	Mercedes AMG GT3	Michelin	Mercedes AMG	E-10
34	(S) Manny Franco (P) Albert Costa Balboa (G) Alessandro Balzan (S) Cedric Sbirrazzuoli	USA ESP ITA MCO	Conquest Racing	Ferrari 296 GT3	Michelin	Ferrari	E-10
43	(S) Jarett Andretti (G) Gabby Chaves (S) Scott Hargrove (P) Thomas Preining	USA USA CAN AUT	Andretti Motorsports Gallant / MI / Window World	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	Michelin	Porsche	E-10
44	(B) John Potter (G) Andy Lally (S) Spencer Pumpelly (P) Nicki Thiim	USA USA USA DNK	Magnus Racing	Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo	Michelin	Aston Martin	E-10
45	(G) Kyle Marcelli (S) Danny Formal (S) Graham Doyle (S) Ashton Harrison	CAN CRI USA USA	Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti DEX Imaging	Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2	Michelin	Lamborghini	E-10
47	(B) Roberto Lacorte (S) Giorgio Sernagiotto (P) Antonio Fuoco (G) Eddie Cheever	ITA ITA MCO ITA	CETILAR RACING CETILAR	Ferrari 296 GT3	Michelin	Ferrari	E-10
55	(B) Ryan Hardwick (P) Dennis Olsen (?) Giammarco Levorato (S) Corey Lewis	USA NOR ITA USA	Proton Competition	Ford Mustang GT3	Michelin	Ford	E-10
57	(S) Russell Ward (G) Philip Ellis (S) Indy Dontje (G) Daniel Morad	USA GBR NLD CAN	WINWARD RACING Techemet / First Horizon	Mercedes AMG GT3	Michelin	Mercedes AMG	E-10
66	(B) Sheena Monk (G) Katherine Legge (S) Tati Calderon (G) Stevan McAleer	USA GBR COL GBR	Gradient Racing JG Wentworth 877CASHNOW.com / Acura / HPD	Acura NSX GT3	Michelin	Acura	E-10
70	(B) Brendan Iribe (G) Frederik Schandorff (S) Ollie Millroy (G) Tom Gamble	USA DNK GBR GBR	Inception Racing	McLaren 720S GT3 EVO	Michelin	McLaren	E-10
78	(S) Misha Goikhberg (G) Loris Spinelli (S) Devlin Defrancesco (P) Sandy Mitchell	CAN ITA CAN GBR	Forte Racing	Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2	Michelin	Lamborghini	E-10
80	(?) TBD (?) TBD (?) TBD (?) TBD	? ? ? ?	Lone Star Racing ACS Manufacturing / Sonangol / Visit Angola	Mercedes AMG GT3	Michelin	Mercedes AMG	E-10
83	(S) Rahel Frey (G) Michelle Gatting (B) Sarah Bovy	CHE DNK BEL	Iron Dames	Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2	Michelin	Lamborghini	E-10
86	(S) Kerong Li (S) Anders Fjordbach (?) Larry Voorde (P) Klaus Bachler	CHN DNK NLD AUT	MDK Motorsports MDK	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	Michelin	Porsche	E-10
92	(B) David Brule (S) Alec Udell (G) Trent Hindman (G) Julien Andlauer	USA USA USA FRA	Kellymoss with Riley	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	Michelin	Porsche	E-10
96	(G) Robby Foley (S) Patrick Gallagher (S) Jake Walker (G) Jens Klingmann	USA USA USA DEU	Turner Motorsport Turner Motorsport / Liqui Moly / Belle Haven	BMW M4 GT3	Michelin	BMW	E-10
120	(S) Adam Adelson (S) Elliott Skeer (G) Jan Heylen (?) TBD	USA USA USA ?	Wright Motorsports	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	Michelin	Porsche	E-10