Daytona 24 Hours preview: Who is racing, when does it start and how can I watch?

What is the Daytona 24 Hours?

Glad you asked, it’s a 24-hour race for sportscars held at the Daytona International Speedway. As opposed to the Daytona 500, which exclusively uses the oval at Daytona, the 24 hours uses the infield sections as well, creating a mixture of oval banking and classic race track that challenge both cars and drivers.

When does the Daytona 24 Hours start?

The main race starts at 6.40pm UK time on Saturday 28^th January, or 1.40pm EST if you’re watching in the USA.

How can I watch the Daytona 24 Hours?

In the UK, and any other country outside the US, you’ll be able to watch the whole race live on imsa.tv, with no breaks for adverts. They normally also offer a suite of live onboards throughout the 24 hours for you to switch between.

In the USA, Peacock will broadcast the whole 24 hours online, with selected sections shown live on NBC and USA network:

Saturday, 28^th January, 1:30-2:30pm – NBC

Saturday, 2:30-8:00pm – USA network

Saturday, 10:00-11:59pm – USA network

Sunday, 29^th January, 6:00am-12:00pm – USA network

Sunday, 12:00-2:00pm – NBC

What cars race at the Daytona 24 Hours?

Sportscars is the simple answer. As with most forms of sportscar racing there are multiple classes racing at the same time. To easier understand how that works, it’s best to look at it this way: Three classes are for so-called “prototype” cars, both are purpose-built racing cars that are not related to any road-going machines. The other two are for GT cars, racing cars that not only look like beefy versions of road cars that you know, but have to be based on those designs. To simplify it even more, GT cars slow, prototypes fast.

OK, so what is GTP?

GTP is the name chosen for the top class that’s racing in 2023. These GTP cars are all hybrid, they use identical hybrid systems provided by Bosch and WAE, and they are all based on chassis that can be bought off the shelf to save costs. These chassis are made by one of four manufacturers: Oreca, Dallara, Multimatic and Ligier. Manufacturers are then allowed to take one of those spec chassis and fit their own bodywork and engine, making them distinct.

In order to keep costs down, the formula will also be balanced on a Balance of Performance, which will mean that it doesn’t matter how much money you spend on developing the car, it won’t give you a better chance of winning.

Is GTP different to LMH?

No. It is a little murky here, but in reality the same cars can race in LMH in the World Endurance Championship as can race in IMSA’s GTP class. There are more differences, but the only cars racing at Daytona this year are as above.

What are the other classes?

LMP2 is the fastest, with a mix of pro and gentleman racing drivers all in Oreca 07 prototype cars. Then LMP3 is another step down, still prototype cars, but now a mixture of chassis, which are slower than LMP2 cars.

GT is split into two categories. GTD Pro is for fully pro driver line-ups in GT3-spec racing cars, while GTD is the same cars with pro-am mixed line-ups.

What manufacturers are racing at Daytona?

There are 10 different car manufacturers represented on the entry list at Daytona. The headlines of which are of course found in the top level GTP class. Porsche, Cadillac, Acura and BMW have built cars to GTP regulations ready to race in this year’s IMSA season.

The rest of the brands can be found in the GTD ranks, where Porsche, Acura and BMW also field GT3 cars. There you’ll also find GT3 cars from Corvette, Lexus, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Mercedes.

When is qualifying?

It has already been! This year the grid for the race was set during a session the week before during the ‘Roar before the 24’ test session.

Who is on pole for the Daytona 24?

Acura and its new ARX-06 GTP clinched pole during qualifying, with Goodwood regular Tom Blomqvist behind the wheel. The front row will be completed by the first of Penske’s two Porsche 963s.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.