But we’ll have to wait a further 48 Hours to find
out whose this year’s winner…
Without further Adu, here’s a triumvirate of IMSA
GTP Class entrants. (In alphabetical order)
ACURA
Acura
ARX-06
Engine:
2.4-litre V-6 Twin Turbo
Team:
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian
#60
Tom Blomqvist, Colin Brown, Scott Dixon and A.J. Allmendinger
#93
Renger van der Zande, Nick Yelloly, Alex Palou and Kakunoshin Ohta
Meyer Shank Racing continues as Acura’s GTP Factory
entry, with one driver change amongst it’s eight Pilotes.
The “lead” No. 60 MSR entry again features Tom
“The Bomb” Blomqvist and Colin Brown as it’s full season drivers.
Blomqvist and Brown were the 2023 IMSA GTP
Prototypes champions, along with winning that year’s Rolex 24 for Acura. The
team’s and Acura’s latest win, which surely must seem like a long time ago now,
Eh?
Scotty thee Iceman 2.0’ Dixon returns as the
No. 60’s Endurance “Specialist”. Whilst the Ohio based squad “Plug’s ‘n Play” with
the return of the Dinger’, a la A.J. Allmendinger. Getting what I believe is
His debut aboard the Acura ARX-06 GTP racecar, replacing Felix-the-Cat’
(Rosenqvist) who raced last year.
As the No. 60 entry’s loaded for Bear, with a
total of seven Rolex winner’s wristwatches behind it’s keyboard. As MSR aims
for it’s fourth Rolex 24 win. Having won in 2012 and 2022-2023.
The “second” No. 93 entry remains unchanged
with Renger van der Zande and Nick
Yelloly for the full season. Attacking Daytona’s High Banks with assistance
again from Cheeps’ IndyCar multi-times Champions Alex Palou! Along with
Kakunoshin Ohta.
As Ohta, who competes in Super GT and Super
formula, drove for MSR at Daytona, Watkins Glen and Indianapolis last year.
Aston
Martin
Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH
Engine:
6.5-litre normally aspirated V-12
Team: Aston Martin THOR Valkyrie
#23 Roman De Angelis, Ross Gunn and Alex
Riberas
Aston Martin makes it’s Rolex 24 IMSA GTP
prototypes debut with The Heart Of Racing. (THOR) As this shrieking, I said
speak up sonny! Normally aspirated Cosworth V-12 lump’ is a definite Fan
favourite!
As Racer’s Marshall Pruett “Dropped” this exclusive recording of an ‘Ol
school 6.5-litre normally aspirated glorious sounding V-12 motor getting a
proper workout on Daytona’s 3.56-mile road course during testing over a year
ago…
MP1569:
Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH In-Car at Daytona
Having made it’s competition debut at the 12
Hours of Sebring with a single entry. Aston Martin then ran two Valkyrie
AMR-LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) entries at last year’s 24 Heurs du Mans, with both
cars finishing P12 and P14.
Fast forward to last October’s Petit Le mans,
where the No. 23 Valkyrie claimed it’s maiden podium, with an excellent second
place finish, with the same three drivers. And who knows how the Valkyrie will
fair in it’s maiden Rolex 24? Being the only LMH entry to contest IMSA GTP…
CADILLAC
Cadillac V-Series.R
Engine:
5.5-litre normally aspirated V-8
Team: Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing
#10 Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Will
Stevens
#40 Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz and Colton
Herta
As previously noted, Wayne Taylor has a long,
successful relationship with Cadd-Oh-lac’. Having won multiple Rolex 24 and
IMSA SportsCar Championship titles with them.
As Wayne Taylor Racing )WTR) has won the Rolex
24 with Cadillac machinery three times in the past decade, i.e.; 2017 and 2019-2020.
The driver roster remain largely intact from
last year’s WTR lineups. Although K-Squared’, aka Kamui Kobayashi, who’s won
two Rolex wristwatches with WTR. Along with Bad Arse Sports Car Ace Brendan
Hartley have both been dropped from WTR this year.
The “Big” news is that Cadillac F1 Development
Driver and Formula 2 racer Colton Herta becomes the No. 40’s “Endurance
Specialist”, slated to race at Daytona, Sebring and Petit le Mans, when not
busy with His “Day Jobs” across thoust gory Puddle.
As both WRT entries will slim down to just
three drivers rotation this January. While WTR seeks it’s fifth outright
victory since 2017. Having “Three-peated” between 2019-2021 with Cadillac and
Acura, before returning to General Motors luxury brand last year.
Team: Cadillac Whelen Action Express Racing
#31 Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti
and Connor Zilisch
Although officially known as Whelen Cadillac,
it’s run by Action Express Racing. (AXR)
Earl Bamber and Jack “Achey Breaky” Aitken
continue their fulltime season IMSA GTP campaign. Along with Frederik Vesti
running the endurance rounds, for a second, straight year.
The trio’s joined by rising NASCAR Star Connor
Zilisch, making His Rolex 24 debut. As Zilisch, who finished runner-up in the Xfinity
series last year with 10 wins. Replaces Aston Martin F1 reserve driver Felipe
Drugovich, who raced at Daytona last year.
As AXR’s latest Rolex 24 win came Wayback in 2018! With the team having three Rolex 24 victories overall, i.e.; 2010, 2014 and 2018. Whilst Cadillac hasn’t won since 2020, which is a very long time ago…
