A field of 61 cars, each with a four-driver roster, will cross the line at 18:00 on Saturday 29th January for the start of a 24-hour high-speed slog. These drivers will be following in the footsteps of the greats around Daytona’s 3.56-mile course. Past winners include Hurley Haywood, Ken Miles, Pedro Rodriguez, Brian Redman, A.J. Foyt, Derek Bell, Martin Brundle, Andy Wallace, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Pruett and many, many more.
Daytona 24 2022 – waving goodbye to DPI, saying hello to GTD Pro
It’s going to be an emotional one, as this year will be the last that the incredible Daytona Prototype International (DPI) class cars will be running at the Daytona 24 before the new LMDh cars take over as a true international class.
These incredible cars have delivered some fabulous racing all while looking and sounding fantastic, since their introduction in 2017. They also brought some relatability to prototype racing, with styling and indeed engines related to cars spectators could actually go out and buy. Whether that’s the rumbling V8s of the Cadillacs, the roaring V6s of the Acuras or the popping four-pots of the Mazdas, these cars had identity in addition to being a worthy flagship sports prototype class.
Cadillac and their DPi-V.R have been mostly dominant in this era with four wins on the bounce from 2017 to 2020. Then Acura finally broke the streak in 2021 with its ARX-05 and will be starting in lead again this weekend. Can the big Caddis get their revenge in this last chance to dance?
Daytona ‘22 will also be a race of new beginnings, as the first Rolex 24 to feature GTD Pro (GT3) spec cars. Last year the relatively new Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTLM cars finally came good delivering a one-two finish in class. This year it’s being pegged back to conform to the new GTD Pro specification and going to battle with a completely different selection of teams and cars. Where once it faced Porsche and Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Acura and more comprise a more varied class for the General to fight. It’s a Raging Bull that leads for the start of the Rolex 24 this weekend, with a Porsche tailing.