Especially with Thar three Brand New, Shiny
Competitors…
Although they’ll definitely be overshadowed, a
la All “supporting” Classes by the Headlining GTP Category.
But much excitement, like the Brand New GTP
Class machinery has to be in the Tintops’ category. With initially two brand
new, shiny Gran tourismo chassis, i.e.; Ferrari and Porsche.
Since I didn’t know who the third GT3
Manufacturer taking part in IMSA’s mandated test last December was? Where IMSA
wanted to capture “Baseline” performance Data for it’s Dreaded BoP, aka Balance
of Performance regulations.
Turns out Thars actually two new Italian
marques vs. Germany’s lone entry. With Ferrari’s new 296 GT3 model. Lamborghini
rolls out it’s new Huracan GT3 Evo2 model. While Porsche joins the party with it’s
latest 911 GT3 R iteration, with All three debuting at Daytona.
(GTD) Grand Touring Daytona Saloons’
For which Y’all Arse-sumedly know is split into
two classes, i.e.; GTD Pro an GTD. With All Competitors utilizing GT3 Spec’
racecars. And the easy difference is that GTD Pro consists of All Professional Drivers,
Hence it’s Name vs. GTD running Amateur Drivers.
As once again, this will be the largest field
overall at Day-toner’, with a total of 32 entries originally. Before IMSA
granted an extra GTD entry on January 5th, bringing the total up to 33. Hmm,
where have I heard that number 33 before, Eh?
The GTD Pro field comprises of eight cars, and
GTD has more than triple that amount, i.e.; 25.
GTD Pro
From what I could tell originally in Mid-December,
before IMSA announced it’s initial 60 Car lineup. Thar were supposedly going to
be nine GTD Pro entries for this year’s Rolex 24. Although I’ve since learned
that the class has shrunk to eight entries. With one of the new Lambo’s and a
Acura NSX being scratched, with a second Aston being added, Cornfuzed?
But we’ll had to wait until January’s Rolex 24
Entry list being confirmed to figure out who All of the Drivers are. Not to
mention what categories everyone’s competing in!
Thus the GTD Pro field is comprised of the
following Car numbers: #3 Corvette Racing: Corvette C8.R, #9 Pfaff Motorsports:
Porsche 911 GT3 R, #14 Vasser Sullivan Racing: Lexus RC F GT3, #23 Heart of Racing: Aston Martin
Vantage AMR GT3, #62 Risi competizione: Ferrari 296 GT3, #63 Iron Lynx: Lamborghini
Huracan GT3 Evo2, #64 Team TGM with TF Sport: Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 and #79
WeatherTech Racing: Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
Hand
Ironically, I
heard Graham Doodwin pleading with both the FIA and IMSA to quit putting out a
Kuhzillion Entry list Press Releases. Since this then entails a million more
Press releases from each individual racing team and a never ending game of
Wackam-ahmole!
Since on Friday the 13th, turner Motorsports
announced that it was now fielding one of it’s two BMW M4 GT3 entries in GTD
Pro for the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds. Being the team’s No. 95 entry.
Giving us a new total of nine GTD Pro entries.
Obviously this field is Stacked! And I have
Zero Clue who to pick for winner! Although I suppose I’d have to lean towards
either the No. 3 Corvette with Antonio Garcia, Tommy Milner and Jordan Taylor.
Or the Defending Rolex 24 Class winning No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports entry. Whilst
the #14 Lexus could be a Sleeper, since it won the final round last year, the
Petit Le Mans with presumably the same Driver lineup of Jack Hawksworth, Ben
Barnicoat and Kyle Kirkwood. Yet strangely Kirkwood’s been shifted to the team’s
No. 12 entry instead. With Mike “Ice Ice, Baby!” Conway being tabbed as the third
driver at Daytona.
And while I’ll forever be a Fan of Prancing
Horses, I’m wondering it the #62 Risi competizione will suffer from Brand New
Car Gremlins?
Which Ditto could be said about the #63 Iron
Lynx Lambo’, which I’m Arse-suming many IndyCar Fans Eyeballs will be focused upon.
Since Thar’s some Frenchman named Romain Grosjean as part of it’s Drivers Quartet.
Oh Yeah, how could I leave out what will
forever be considered my Homeboyz’ entry? The No. 23 Heart of Racing with Ross
Gunn, Alex Riberas and newcomer David Pittar.
GTD
This category is simply too large to completely
go thru All of it’s first 24, then 25 and now back to 24 entries! And Arguably
will feature some of the fiercest competition. Thus Thar will be several cars
of interest for Mwah.
Beginning with two new team entries this year,
both being Porsche 911 GT3 R customers. As I just learned about Kelly Moss
Racing thanks to Marshall Pruett’s interview with Female Team Owner Victoria
Thomas last October.
As they’ve teamed up with Riley Technologies
and will run a two car entry at Daytona, and All four Endurance events with the
Nos. 91-92. While it’s the #91 entry’s Drivers I’m most curious about, since
Kelly Moss is running a Femme Fatale Driver Full Season this year.
Although the team’s now finalized it’s two cars
line-ups, along with upgrading the #92 to a Full season effort. The Femme
Fatale in Question is Sabre Cook, who’ll be chauffeuring Kelly Moss’s 911
Panzerwagen in the North America Porsche Carrera Cup series this year instead…
The No. 53 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 entry
will be a fun one to keep track of. Specifically since Half of it’s Drivers are
Magnussen’s. With Father Jan and Son Kevin teaming up again. This time joining Trenton
Estep and Mark Kvamme.
Unfortunately, just a Fortnight prior to the race.
Kevin announced He would be having surgery performed to His left wrist to
remove a syst causing it to be painfully sore. And most likely would have to
miss racing at Daytona in order to Heal 100% for His upcoming Formula 1 season
with Haas F1…
Also before Christmas was Ah-waitin’ to find
out which Femme Fatals would be piloting the All Female No. 83 Iron Dames
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2?
As the team’s finally revealed that Rahel Frey,
Michelle Gatting and Sarah bovy will be joined by Doriane Pim. As Pim Deputized
for Bovy last May at the Six Hours of Spa, making Her FIA World Endurance
Championship (WEC) GTE Am Debut. And the 19yr Old Teenager Pim who Hails from Ivry-Sur-Seine,
Paris (France) is the reigning Ferrari Challenge Europe series Champion. Whilst
Frey, Gatting and Bovy have all raced together previously in WEC, including last
season aboard the Iron Dames No. 85 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo…
As the Diversity of this class is wonderful!
With nine different Manufacturers: Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini,
Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes and Porsche.
Thus the three BMW M4 GT3’s shouldn’t be
overlooked. With the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing and Turner Motorsport No. 96 entries
in the GTD class. Having already mentioned the late news of Turner entering it’s
#95 in the GTD Pro category above.
And Yuhs should never count out Magnus Racing.
As it’s No. 44 Aston Martin is stacked with Andy “The Enforcer” Lally, Spencer
Pumpelly and John Potter. Plus Nicki thiim for Daytona.
And since I’m running long here, just a few more
quick Jots’. As I’ll expect SuperMarioII’ to be back in Gradient Racing’s 66 Acura
NSX. As Mario Farnbacher, Kyffin Simpson and Till Hechtolsheimer won last year’s
Petit Le Mans season finale aboard this Acura NSX GT3 Evo22. Although Kyffin
Simpson’s moved up to the LMP2 Prototypes category this year.
As Gradient’s announced an All Femme Fatale regular
season line-up with Thy Leggy Juan’, aka Katherine Legge being joined by IMSA
GTD Rookie Sheena Monk. With the Duo being joined at Daytona by Mario Farnbacher
and Marc Miller.
While the No. 93 WTR-Racers Edge Motorsports Acura
NSX sees Former IndyCar Star Ryan Briscoe as part of the Quartet at it’s controls,
as it’s Biggest “Name” Driver.
As Arse-sumedly both the #93 and #66 Acura NSX GT3
Evo22’s are the ex-Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX’s…
And I always have a “Soft Spot” for former Champ
Car racer Jan Van Hagar’ Heylen and the No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3
R.
And most definitely cannot forget the other
Half of my perennial Homeboyz’ Squad Heart of Racing’s No. 27 Aston Martin.
With GTD Champion Roman De Angelis at the wheel, along with new Full season
Co-Pilot Marco Sorenson. With Team leader Ian James and Darren Turner joining
at Daytona.
“As let’s Get Ready to Rumble!”
