[h=2]IMSA: 50 cars set to Roar at Daytona[/h] Tuesday, 03 January 2017


Marshall Pruett / Images by LAT

IMSA's final pre-season test has drawn 50 entries for the Roar Before the 24 held at Daytona International Speedway. Across its four classes, the 50 are comprised of 12 in Prototype, two in the depleted PC category, 11 in GT Le Mans and 25 in GT Daytona. Additional PC entries could increase the car count for the Jan. 6-8 test and, despite a great number of cars being listed without confirmed drivers on the list, most are known and have been named by teams in separate press releases.
Although few surprises are contained within the 50 entries, IMSA fans will get an advance look at the new Nissan Onroak DPi as it makes its public debut with Tequila Patron ESM, and Mazda's attractive RT24-P DPis will appear in full and unique liveries for the first time.
The diversity of IMSA's new direction for its Prototype will be on display at three World Endurance Championship-spec 2017 P2s (from Ligier, ORECA and Riley/Multimatic) and three IMSA-only DPis (from Cadillac, Mazda and Nissan) will be in action. Had Dallara's WEC P2 made the entry list, every version of the 2017 WEC and IMSA P2s would be on the grid.
In addition to the ESM Nissans, WEC LMP1 privateer champions Rebellion Racing is back with an ORECA P2 car, the American DragonSpeed team – a successful and regular presence in the ELMS – returns and two PC teams – JDC-Miller and PR1/Mathiasen – will also take part in their first big test ahead of season-long Prototype campaigns.
So far, Brian Alder's BAR1 Motorsports team is the sole representative on the PC entry list with two cars, and in GTLM, the same five teams and nine cars that waged war during the 2016 season are back. Thanks to Ford doubling its effort by bringing its two WEC GTs over, GTLM has swelled to 11 cars with the Blue Oval holding the majority – 36 percent – of the factory GT grid.
Speaking of percentages, GTD entries comprise 50 percent of the Roar and even with the potential of a few more PC cars showing up, IMSA's Pro-Am, GT3-based class is the heartiest offering for sports car fans to follow this year.
On top of seven new cars from Acura, Lexus and Mercedes-AMG, familiar sights and sounds from Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche will add to the spectacle.
Recent Balance of Performance updates will keep the cars in Prototype, GTLM and GTD in the same general window on lap time during the Roar, and by the time teams return for the big Rolex 24 at Daytona race on Jan. 28-29, IMSA should have its strongest opening since its relaunch in 2014.
Click here for the full entry list for the Roar Before the 24