After receiving more than 70 entries from teams wishing to compete in the 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29, 2023, IMSA officials today confirmed a capacity 60-car field for the season-opening round of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Fifty-six of the 60 entries have committed to the complete, four-race IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup season, with 45 cars planned for full-season WeatherTech Championship programs. The 60-car field at Daytona represents the maximum field size with new Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) machines requiring slightly larger pit boxes than their predecessors.
“More than 70 total entries and a 60-car field as we kick off a new era for WeatherTech Championship competition speaks volumes for the interest in international endurance sports car racing and our IMSA platform,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “Arriving at this 60-car entry list for the 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona required a substantial effort from our team at IMSA. We are proud to present one of the strongest and most competitive fields we have seen and cannot wait to put on a tremendous show for a global audience of racing fans next month.”
The debut race for the GTP class will see a total of nine entries representing four manufacturers: Acura, BMW, Cadillac and Porsche. All nine cars participated in a two-day, IMSA-sanctioned test session at Daytona International Speedway last week. The entire, 60-car field will participate in the three-day Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona test on Jan. 20-22, culminating with Rolex 24 qualifying on Sunday, Jan. 22.
The GT Daytona (GTD) class again will have the largest field with 24 entries having been selected. The GTD field will include GT3-spec race cars from nine different manufacturers – Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche – with Pro-Am driver lineups.
The GTD PRO class returns with eight entries from seven different manufacturers: Aston Marin, Corvette, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche. Two brand-new race cars – the Ferrari 296 GT3 and the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) – and the updated Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 will make their respective debuts in the GTD PRO and GTD classes. At least one car from the GTD Pro class is on the reserve list with an expected entry from 2022 podium finishers KCMG, this time with an Acura NSX, somewhat surprisingly not on the provisional entry.
One surprise on the GTD Pro list is the appearance of the #64 TGM/ TF Sport Aston Martin, set to be crewed by bronze graded drivers Ted Giovanis and Hugh Plumb, and silver racers Matt Plumb and Owen Trinkler, the GTD Pro entry understood to have been an active choice by the team to tap into the different drive time regulations (and with only 8 cars listed, any finish is certain to be in the top 10 – this writer mischievously suggests!)
Amongst the teams that declared they had entered but are not shown on this provisional list, the ST Racing BMW M4 GT3 and SunEnergy1 Mercedes AMG are presumeed to be on the reserve list.
Both Pro-Am prototype classes also will feature full fields in the Rolex 24. The LMP2 class boasts a 10-car field of ORECA LMP2 07 machines. The LMP3 class includes a nine-car entry consisting of four Duqueine D08 race cars and five teams fielding the Ligier JS P320.
Again one high profile LMP2 entry sits on the reserve list with the Racing Team Turkey Oreca not featuring on the provisional entry, with a likely Muehlner Motorsport Duqueine MP3 reserve listed too together with an entry understood to be posted by Eurointernational.
Rick Ware Racing’s full season entry is incorrectly listed with a Ligier, the team will field their newly acquired ex High Class Racing Oreca.
One surprise entry in LMP2 is that of Proton Competition, the team awaiting delivery of their customer Porsche 963.
Entries that were not selected have been placed on a reserve list and may replace any current entries that withdraw prior to the event. An updated entry list including driver lineups will be released in early January.
One more question to be answered is – will it be 60 – or will they innovate and name a 61st?
More to follow
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December 16, 2022 at 03:13AM
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60 Car Provisional Entry For 2023 Rolex 24 Hours Released - Dailysportscar
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