Corvette Racing and the C8.Rs will have their hands full at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona if the size of the new GTD-Pro class that’s entered for the Roar Before the Rolex 24 is any indication. No more racing ourselves as the new GTD-Pro class will feature eight manufacturers and 13 entries at the Roar!
IMSA released the entry list for the practice event that’s held ahead of the 60th running of the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway on January 29-30th. A total of 61 cars have been entered for the Roar Before the 24 test session on Jan. 21-23.
The Roar Before the 24 features two full days of on-track testing at Daytona’s 3.56-mile road course, followed by the 100-minute qualifying race on Sunday, Jan. 23 that sets the starting grid for the Rolex 24. The qualifying race will livestream at 2p.m. ET on Peacock.
The Corvettes will be racing under the new GT3 specifications with the C8.Rs are now equipped with ABS Brakes and other changes to meet those new regulations.
The No.3 Corvette C8.R with drivers Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor will be the full-time entrant for the IMSA season and they will be joined at the Rolex 24 for a one-off race by the No.4 C8.R that will be campaigned by Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy in the World Endurance Championship.
The Roar entry list breaks down with the following manufacturers:
3 – Porsche 911 GT3R
2 – BMW M4 GT3
2 – Corvette C8.R GTD
2 – Mercedes AMG GT3
1 – Aston Martin Vantage GT3
1 – Ferrari 488 GT3
1 – Lamborghini Huracan GT3
1 – Lexus RC F GT3
Here is the blurb from IMSA which offered a preview of the class:
GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO): The new class that replaces GT Le Mans (GTLM) is loaded with 13 entries and eight manufacturers. Corvette Racing bears watching as always, but in particular, as it shifts from the GTLM platform to the GT3 specification the GTD PRO falls under. The No. 3 Corvette won last year’s Rolex 24 and the driver trio returns with Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg. The No. 4 Corvette won the 2021 qualifying race and is back on a one-off for the Rolex 24 before taking on a full season in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
BMW Team RLL was the 2019 and 2020 GTLM winner at the Rolex 24 and brings back two entries with the new BMW M4 GT3. WeatherTech Racing has three entries using two manufacturers (Porsche and Mercedes-AMG). Pfaff Motorsports moves to GTD PRO with the plaid No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3R after claiming last year’s GT Daytona (GTD) championship.
Other manufacturers for the debut of this highly anticipated class include Aston Martin, Ferrari Lamborghini and Lexus.
Source:
IMSA.com
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The article refers to WeatherTech having 3 entries, but in the chart I only see 2 listed — #79 Porsche and #97 Mercedes-AMG.
Finally some real competition for Corvette. The GTLM was a laugh with only two other manufactureres representing 4 contenders.
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