The 61st running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, to be held next weekend, will see the debut of the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class competition, which will showcase hybrid-powered prototype race cars in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Acura, BMW, Cadillac, and Porsche have all committed major resources to factory-supported programs.
Scott Dixon and Earl Bamber have been at the forefront of the development of the Cadillac V-LMDh cars with the Chip Ganassi Racing organisation and are looking forward to a strong showing to start the season.
Scott Dixon will co-drive the No. 01 Cadillac V-LMDh in what will be his 20th career start at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Dixon’s 4 career victories at Daytona are tied for the 2nd-most among drivers competing in this year’s race, while that mark is also tied for the 6th-most throughout the all-time history of the race.
“Being part of the program for a good amount in the off-season, I’ve seen a lot of great development with the car. I’m ready to kick off the season strong. On the Cadillac front, I think all the driver lineups are fantastic, the car has been fast, and they look like winning cars. All the manufacturers coming in have brought a new intensity to IMSA, which is great for the race itself and the long term.”
Earl Bamber who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 and 2017 with Porsche, will team up to drive the twin No. 02 Cadillac V-LMDh with Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook.
“I think having a regular qualifying session instead of a race this year is good for all the GTP class cars. Everyone wishes they had an extra month or two and it’s just the way of the new formula. The guys at GM, Cadillac, and Chip Ganassi Racing have put a huge amount of work and effort into where we are and I think everyone is excited to get the car on track and see what we’ve produced in the last year and a half.”
Bamber, Lynn, and Westbrook will also contest the seven races that make up the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) which kicks off in March with the ‘1000 Miles of Sebring’.
The Roar Before the Rolex 24 will be held from January 20 – 22 and features five practice sessions culminating with qualifying on Sunday afternoon.
The race start for the Rolex 24 at Daytona is at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 29, (NZ time), with live coverage on Sky TV throughout the 24-hour event.
