The new year brings the start of a new era for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which will open the 2023 schedule with the 61st running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
A new premier class for prototypes is the overriding story entering the 24-hour endurance race that unofficially kicks off the major-league racing season.
The new Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) cars of the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) top category will re-establish a bridge to the 24 Hours of Le Mans while bringing a new layer of engine electrification to IMSA.
With at least a few of the cars on the grid at Daytona also slated to race at Le Mans in June, it’s possible for the first time in decades (since the “Ford vs. Ferrari” battles) to have the same car win the overall title at Daytona and Le Mans.
The GTP category will feature four manufacturers, two of which are new to IMSA’s premier division. Porsche Motorsport (with Team Penske) and BMW (with Rahal Letterman Lanigan) will be fielding LMDh prototypes, joining (now-defunct) DPi category holdovers Acura (Meyer Shank Racing, Wayne Taylor Racing) and Cadillac (Chip Ganassi Racing, Action Express Racing).
Here’s what else you need to know ahead of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener Jan. 29-30 at Daytona International Speedway:
NOTABLE DRIVER ADDITIONS
The Rolex 24 will feature 10 active drivers from the NTT IndyCar Series, including the IMSA debuts of Team Penske drivers Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin, who will be teamed in an LMP2 entry (teammate Will Power unfortunately had to withdraw from this debut).
Colton Herta will move into the GTP category with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud return with Meyer Shank Racing to defend their overall 2022 Rolex 24 victory. Scott Dixon also returns in the premier category with Chip Ganassi Racing for his 20th Rolex 24 start and third consecutive in the No. 01 Cadillac.
Other IndyCar drivers in the field: Romain Grosjean will make his debut in GTD Pro with Iron Lynx Racing (as a precursor to driving a GTP Lamborghini next year); Devlin DeFrancesco (Rick Ware Racing) and Rinus VeeKay (TDS Racing) are in LMP2; and Kyle Kirkwood will return in GTD with Vasser Sullivan.
Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric also will return, teaming with DeFrancesco in an LMP2 entry for Rick Ware Racing.
CAR COUNT
The Rolex 24 field was capped at 61 cars, matching last year’s field (which was the largest since 2014). The field was capped because of the space limitations for the LMDh cars of GTP in the pits and garages.
Click here for the official 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona entry list.
STARTING LINEUP
Tom Blomqvist captured the first pole position of the GTP era, qualifying defending race winner Meyer Shank Racing in first with the No. 60 ARX-06 Acura that he shares with Colin Braun, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud.
The No. 7 Porsche 963 of Porsche Penske Motorsports will start second.
Click here for the 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona starting lineup
RACE BROADCAST
The 61st Rolex 24 at Daytona will be streamed across the NBC Sports App, NBCSports.com and Peacock, which will have coverage of the event from flag to flag.
Broadcast coverage of the race coverage will begin Saturday, Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC and move to USA Network from 2:30-8 p.m. and then will be exclusively on Peacock and IMSA.TV from 8-10 p.m. Coverage will return to USA Network from 10 p.m. to midnight and then move to Peacock/IMSA.TV until 6 a.m.
From 6 a.m. until noon on Sunday, Jan. 29, Rolex 24 coverage will be available on USA Network. The conclusion of the Rolex 24 will run from noon through 2 p.m. on NBC.
HOW TO WATCH IMSA ON NBC SPORTS: Broadcast schedule for 2023
Other events that will be streamed on Peacock from Daytona during January (all times ET):
—Jan. 21: IMSA VP Racing Sports Car Challenge, 2:05 p.m.
—Jan. 22: IMSA VP Racing Sports Car Challenge, 12:20 p.m.
—Jan. 22: IMSA Rolex 24 qualifying, 1:25 p.m.
—Jan. 27: BMW Endurance Michelin Pilot Challenge, 1:45 p.m.
ROLEX 24 COVERAGE FROM NBC SPORTS
Wayne Taylor Racing takes a step up to the next level with Andretti Autosport
Austin Cindric seeks to join legendary club of Rolex 24-Daytona 500 winners
Helio Castroneves recalls “Days of Thunder” moment in 2022 Rolex 24 victory
The “Bus Bros” tackle the “Bus Stop” for Rolex 24 at Daytona debuts
Romain Grosjean adds Rolex 24 at Daytona to his crown jewel career
Tom Blomqvist beats the clock to win Rolex 24 at Daytona pole position
GTP cars make debut in “Gymkhana”-level traffic
Five things to watch in the new GTP class as a golden era of sports cars returns
Cadillac unveils paint schemes for LMDh cars
Austin Cindric, Devlin DeFrancesco, Pietro Fittipaldi teaming up in LMP2
IndyCar drivers in the 61st Rolex 24
ROLEX 24 DAILY SCHEDULE, START TIMES
Here’s a rundown of everything happening at Daytona International Speedway over the last two weeks in January, starting with the Roar test session. Rolex 24 start times and full schedule:
Wednesday, Jan. 18
7 a.m.: GTP garages open
4 p.m.: Non-GTP garages open
4 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship haulers load-in (park only)
6:30 p.m.: Non-GTP garages close
9:30 p.m.: GTP garages close
Thursday, Jan. 19
7 a.m.: Garages, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship haulers open
8:30 a.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship safety inspection
10 a.m.: Rolex 24 Media Day
2 p.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge driver and team manager briefing
3 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver and team manager briefing
5:15 p.m.: Track walk
7:30 p.m.: Non-GTP garages close
9:30 p.m.: GTP garages close
Friday, Jan. 20
7 a.m.: Garages open
8:45-9:15 a.m.: VP Racing SportsCar Challenge practice
9:30-10:45 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge practice
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice
1:45-2:15 p.m.: VP Racing SportsCar Challenge practice
2:30-4 p.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge practice
4:15-6 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice (GTD/LMP3/LMP2 4:15-5:45; 4:30-6: GTD Pro, GTP)
8 p.m.: Non-GTP garages close
9:30 p.m.: GTP garages close
Saturday, Jan. 21
7 a.m.: Garages open
8:40-9:15 a.m.: VP Racing SportsCar Challenge qualifying
9:30-11 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge practice
11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice
2:05-2:50 p.m.: VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, Race 1 (streaming on Peacock)
3:10 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice
4:30-5:30 p.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge practice
6:30-8:30 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice
10 p.m.: Garages close
Sunday, Jan. 22
7 a.m.: Garages open
10:15-11:15 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge practice
12:20-1:05 p.m.: VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, Race 2 (streaming on Peacock)
1:25-3 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Rolex 24 qualifying (streaming on Peacock)
8:30 p.m.: Garages close
Wednesday, Jan. 25
6 a.m.: Garages open
7:30-10 a.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship safety inspection, non-GTP
8 a.m.: Mazda MX-5 load-in
10-11:30 a.m.: Track walk
10 a.m.-noon: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship car photos
11:30 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge team manager briefing
Noon: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team manager briefing
12:30 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship new driver briefing
Noon-2 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship safety and technical inspection, non-GTP
1:45-2:30 p.m.: Mazda MX-5 practice
2:45-3:45 p.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge practice
2:30-7:30 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship safety inspection, GTP only
4-5:30 p.m.: Track walk
6:45 p.m.: Garages close
Thursday, Jan. 26
7 a.m.: Garages open
9-9:30 a.m.: Mazda MX-5 practice
9:45-10:45 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge practice
11:05 a.m.-12:35 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice
12:55-1:10 p.m.: Mazda MX-5 qualifying
2:25-3 p.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge qualifying
3:20-5:05 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice (3:20-5:05: GTD, LMP3, LMP2; 3:35-5:05: GTD Pro, GTP)
5:30-6:15 p.m.: Mazda MX-5, Race 1
7:15-9 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice
10:15 p.m.: Garages close
Friday, Jan. 27
7 a.m.: Garages open
9:25-9:55 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge practice
10:15-11 a.m.: Mazda MX-5, Race 2
10:30 a.m.: Michelin Pilot Challenge driver and team manager briefing
11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practice
1:45-5:45 p.m.: BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona (Michelin Pilot Challenge; streaming on Peacock)
8:45 p.m.: Garages close
Saturday, Jan. 28
6:30 a.m.: Garages open
9:45 a.m.: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver and team manager briefing
12:30-12:40 p.m.: Rolex 24 engine warmup
1:30-1:40 p.m.: Rolex 24 formation laps
1:40 p.m.: The 61st Rolex 24 at Daytona (starting on NBC; streaming flag to flag on Peacock)
Sunday, Jan. 29
1:40 p.m.: Finish of the 61st Rolex 24 at Daytona
7:30 p.m.: Garages close
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