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International Motor Sports Association    Lamborghini Super Trofeo series

International Motor Sports Association 

 

www.imsa.com

 

About the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)

International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, as well as four one-make series: Ferrari Challenge North America, Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America and Porsche Carrera Cup North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

 

Applications Being Accepted for 2027-28 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship

Winner Will Receive up to $300,000 in Benefits and Chance to Race in One of Four IMSA-Sanctioned Series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 8, 2026) – Now set for its fifth year, applications are open and being accepted for the 2027-28 IMSA Diverse Driver Development (3D) Scholarship. 


 

Up to $300,000 in benefits is available to the scholarship recipient with thanks to IMSA and several corporate partners. As in 2026-27, the recipient will be able to select one of four IMSA-sanctioned series in which they can compete.


 

To learn more about the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship and apply, click here.


 

The IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship promotes and empowers drivers from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to participate in an IMSA series. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and/or describe how they have overcome obstacles to reach goals. They must possess a strong desire to compete in IMSA, have outstanding previous race results and/or proven on-track potential in junior racing categories, plus the ability to create a compelling strategy to compete in a full season in one of four IMSA-sanctioned series: the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge or Mustang Challenge.


 

In 2025, the first scholarship recipient, Jaden Conwright, won his first Michelin Pilot Challenge race in Touring Car (TCR) at VIRginia International Raceway. Last year’s 2025-26 recipient, Celso Neto, scored multiple podiums and finished fourth in the TCR championship. Nicky Hays is this year’s recipient and is set to embark on a full season in Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) in a Random Vandals Racing BMW. Neto returns for his sophomore season in TCR with new team Stallion Motorsports and its Cupra. 


 

“Going into its fifth year, the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship is making its impact on the IMSA paddock with the success and accolades achieved by its recipients,” said Brandon Huddleston, vice president, IMSA Partnership Marketing and Business Development. “It’s with sincere thanks to so many forward-thinking IMSA partners who have committed to this scholarship and are working to further it, grow it, and sustain it for up-and-coming drivers.” 


 

The scholarship provides a full-season premium prepaid entry fee for the first year to drive in one of the four series and 50 percent of the prepaid entry fee for the second season. It also includes tools to bring deserving drivers into IMSA and position them for holistic success both on and off the racetrack.


 

The application window for the 2027-28 scholarship is open now through February 6. The application process includes a summary of the driver’s on-track history and accomplishments, their marketing abilities through social media and existing partners/sponsors, and a video that provides insight into their interviewing skills.


 

After a thorough review of all applications, finalists will be notified later that month and will then begin IMSA-developed modules. Previous topics included marketing, business development, personal branding, media training, nutrition and how to approach teams and represent an automotive manufacturer. The final step for finalists is submission by August 14 of a business plan and securing a full-season ride with a team in one of the four participating IMSA-sanctioned series for the following season.


 

Finalists should be revealed in March, with the 2027-28 recipient set to be announced in the fall.


 

The scholarship includes financial assistance from IMSA and is supported by a growing number of corporate partners: Michelin, VP Racing Fuels, OMP, Bell, RAFA Racing Club and Lumen Digital Agency. 

 

 

Entry List Notebook – 2026 Roar Before the Rolex 24

Two Weeks in Daytona Set to Launch 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Season


 

January 7, 2026

By Tony DiZinno

IMSA Wire Service

Entry List (Click Here)

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The field is set to launch the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, first with today’s release of the entry list for next week’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. As this test is mandatory for all teams participating in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the entry list for the Roar should look substantially the same as the entry list for the race when it is released next week. 


 

As ever, the Roar and the Rolex 24 combines a range of IMSA champions, past and potentially future Formula 1 drivers, IndyCar race winners and NASCAR stars. Most of the driver lineups are confirmed with only a handful of updates and additions from the mid-December Rolex 24 entry list release. With the withdrawal of Team Tonis’ entry, a field of 60 cars is now set to compete – split 11 Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), 13 Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), 15 Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) and 21 Grand Touring Daytona (GTD). 


 

The Roar test features seven total sessions over three days. All four classes are active over two sessions Friday, January 16, three sessions Saturday, January 17 and a morning session Sunday, January 18. The seventh and final session of the weekend on Sunday afternoon is reserved for Bronze-rated drivers only. 


 

That leads into the Rolex 24 race week itself, with two practice sessions Thursday, January 22 sandwiching qualifying, a final practice on Friday, January 23 and the race start on Saturday, January 24 at 1:40 p.m. ET with live coverage starting on network NBC at 1:30 p.m. ET and streaming flag-to-flag on Peacock. 


 

Fast Facts

64th Rolex 24 At Daytona

Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Florida

January 22-25, 2026

Race Day/Time: Saturday, January 24 – 1:40 p.m. ET (WeatherTech Championship | IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Round 1)

NBC Network Coverage: LIVE, Saturday, January 24 – 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET; Sunday, January 25, 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET

Peacock Streaming Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET in the U.S.; International feed coverage available on IMSA.tv and IMSA Official YouTube Channel (outside the U.S.)

Live Qualifying Stream: Thursday, January 22 – 2:05 p.m. ET on Peacock and IMSA.tv (in the U.S.) and IMSA Official YouTube Channel (outside the U.S.)

Circuit Type: 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course

Classes Competing: Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), Grand Touring Daytona (GTD)

Race Length: 24 hours

Track Social Media: 

Event Hashtags: #IMSA, #Rolex24 


 

WeatherTech Championship Track Records – Daytona International Speedway

GTP: Pipo Derani, Cadillac V-Series.R, 1:32.656 / 138.318 mph, January 2024

LMP2: Paul-Loup Chatin, ORECA LMP2, 1:35.532 / 134.154 mph, January 2022

GTD PRO: Seb Priaulx, Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), 1:44.382 / 122.780 mph, January 2024

GTD: Parker Thompson, Lexus RC F GT3, 1:44.494 / 122.648 mph, January 2024


 

2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona Motul Pole Award Winners:

GTP: Dries Vanthoor, No. 24 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8

LMP2: Daniel Goldburg, No. 22 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07

GTD PRO: Mike Rockenfeller, No. 64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3

GTD: Elliott Skeer, No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)


 

2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona Winners:

GTP: Nick Tandy/Felipe Nasr/Laurens Vanthoor, No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963

LMP2: Rasmus Lindh/James Allen/Paul Di Resta/Daniel Goldburg, No. 22 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07

GTD PRO: Christopher Mies/Frederic Vervisch/Dennis Olsen, No. 65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3

GTD: Orey Fidani/Matthew Bell/Lars Kern/Marvin Kirchhoefer, No. 13 AWA Corvette Z06 GT3.R


 


 

Storylines

  • Global All-Stars: As usual at the Rolex 24, a wide range of drivers from across Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar join the wealth of international sports car stars that race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship full-time. Among the extras to watch this year: Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Connor Zilisch, AJ Allmendinger, Kevin Magnussen and Colton Herta in the GTP class; Logan Sargeant (LMP2); James Hinchcliffe, Kyle Kirkwood, Will Power and Chaz Mostert (GTD PRO); and Romain Grosjean, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Ericsson (GTD). 
  • At Least 30 Countries: Proving the “international” is true in the International Motor Sports Association and the flags flying above Daytona’s famed “International Horseshoe,” at least 30 countries will be represented in the race.
  • Rolex 24 and IMSA Title Three-Peat Pursuits: Porsche Penske Motorsport kicks off its run to attempt winning both a third straight Rolex 24 overall and its third straight IMSA GTP championship. Winward Racing, meanwhile, seeks its third straight GTD title and a third Rolex 24 win to add to its 2021 and 2024 triumphs.
  • A Dozen Manufacturers: A total of 12 of IMSA’s 18 automotive manufacturers race in the Rolex 24, with others sprinkled in additional IMSA-sanctioned championships at Daytona. The dozen present in Daytona include Porsche with a race-high nine cars, along with Ferrari, Chevrolet, Mercedes-AMG, BMW, Aston Martin, Ford, Acura, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Lexus and McLaren. All LMP2 entries utilize ORECA chassis powered by Gibson engines. 
  • What’s New to Watch: A mix of new teams, new drivers and one new car – the Aston Martin Valkyrie makes its Rolex 24 debut – will look to impress in their first outings in this race. With BMW M Team WRT taking over the BMW GTP program, RLL Team McLaren shifts to GTD PRO and brings the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo back to IMSA after a year’s absence. There’s also new Michelin GTP and GT tires and multiple evo kits across both the GTP and GT ranks.
  • What May be Saying Farewell: With Toyota’s new GR GT3 car on the way, the 10th try for the Lexus RC F GT3 may be Vasser Sullivan Racing’s last with this model to gain its elusive first Rolex 24 win. Additionally, the three-time Rolex 24-winning Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 may be set for its final Rolex run as well, with the new Temerario GT3 readying for its race debut in March’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. 
  • Family Ties: There are multiple sets of brothers and family connections in the field. In GTP, Jordan and Ricky Taylor and Dries and Laurens Vanthoor will go head-to-head. In LMP2, brothers Enzo and Pietro Fittipaldi share the same car. And in GTD, a father-son pairing of Dave Musial Sr. and Dave Musial II share a car. 


 

With most of the field confirmed, there will be more than 60 Rolex 24 winners, more than 50 IMSA champions and more than 50 24 Hours of Le Mans winners in this year's field, with potentially more in each category to come.


 

Rolex 24 At Daytona Winners in 2026 Rolex 24 Field (65)

  • Scott Dixon (4): DP/Overall – 2006; P/Overall – 2015; GTLM – 2018; DPi/Overall – 2020 
  • Filipe Albuquerque (3): GT – 2013; P/Overall – 2018; DPi/Overall – 2021 
  • Colin Braun (3): PC – 2014; LMP2 – 2020; GTP/Overall – 2023 
  • Antonio Garcia (3): DP/Overall – 2009; GTLM – 2015, 2021 
  • Richard Lietz (3): GT – 2012; GTLM – 2014; GTD – 2022 
  • Felipe Nasr (3): GTD PRO – 2022; GTP/Overall – 2024, 2025
  • Jordan Taylor (3): P/Overall – 2017; DPi/Overall – 2019; GTLM – 2021 
  • Tom Blomqvist (2): DPi/Overall – 2022; GTP/Overall – 2023 
  • Mirko Bortolotti (2): GTD – 2018, 2019
  • Sebastien Bourdais (2): P/Overall – 2014; GTLM – 2017
  • Matt Campbell (2): GTD PRO – 2022; GTP/Overall – 2024 
  • Indy Dontje (2): GTD – 2021, 2024 
  • Philip Ellis (2): GTD – 2021, 2024 
  • Maro Engel (2): GTD – 2021; GTD PRO – 2023 
  • Joey Hand (2): P/Overall – 2011; GTLM – 2017 
  • Colton Herta (2): GTLM – 2019; LMP2 – 2022
  • Oliver Jarvis (2): GT – 2013; DPi/Overall – 2022
  • Alessandro Pier Guidi (2): GTD – 2014; GTD PRO – 2024
  • John Potter (2): GT – 2012; GTD – 2016
  • Spencer Pumpelly (2): GT – 2006, 2011
  • Rene Rast (2): GT – 2012; GTD – 2016
  • Nick Tandy (2): GTLM – 2014, GTP/Overall – 2025 
  • Ricky Taylor (2): P/Overall – 2017; DPi/Overall – 2021 
  • Renger van der Zande (2): DPi/Overall – 2019, 2020
  • Russell Ward (2): GTD – 2021, 2024 
  • AJ Allmendinger (1): DP/Overall – 2012 
  • Scott Andrews (1): LMP3 – 2021 
  • Matthew Bell (1): GTD – 2025 
  • James Calado (1): GTD PRO – 2024 
  • Andrea Caldarelli (1): GTD – 2020 
  • Dane Cameron (1): GTP/Overall – 2024 
  • Nicky Catsburg (1): GTLM – 2021 
  • Roman De Angelis (1): GTD – 2023 
  • Connor De Phillippi (1): GTLM – 2019
  • Paul Di Resta (1): LMP2 – 2025 
  • Philipp Eng (1): GTLM – 2019 
  • Orey Fidani (1): GTD – 2025 
  • Felipe Fraga (1): LMP3 – 2022 
  • Misha Goikhberg (1): PC – 2016
  • Daniel Goldburg (1): LMP2 – 2025 
  • Jules Gounon (1): GTD PRO – 2023 
  • Ben Hanley (1): LMP2 – 2020 
  • Ryan Hardwick (1): GTD – 2022 
  • Henrik Hedman (1): LMP2 – 2020 
  • Ben Keating (1): GTD – 2015
  • Lars Kern (1): GTD – 2025 
  • Marvin Kirchhoefer (1): GTD – 2025 
  • Kenton Koch (1): PC – 2016 
  • Corey Lewis (1): GTD – 2020 
  • Rasmus Lindh (1): LMP2 – 2025 
  • Christopher Mies (1): GTD PRO – 2025 
  • Tommy Milner (1): GTLM – 2016
  • Chaz Mostert (1): GTLM – 2020 
  • Dennis Olsen (1): GTD PRO – 2025 
  • Christian Rasmussen (1): LMP2 – 2024 
  • Davide Rigon (1): GTD PRO – 2024 
  • Zacharie Robichon (1): GTD – 2022 
  • Mike Rockenfeller (1): DP/Overall – 2010
  • Daniel Serra (1): GTD PRO – 2024 
  • Madison Snow (1): GTD – 2020 
  • Marco Sorenson (1): GTD – 2023 
  • Laurens Vanthoor (1): GTP/Overall – 2025 
  • Nico Varrone (1): LMP3 – 2023 
  • Frederic Vervisch (1): GTD PRO – 2025 
  • Connor Zilisch (1): LMP2 – 2024


 

IMSA Champions in 2026 Rolex 24 Field (52)

  • Antonio Garcia (7): American Le Mans Series GT – 2013; WeatherTech Championship GTLM – 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021; GTD PRO, 2025; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2015
  • Ben Keating (7): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 – 2021, 2023; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2017, 2018, 2019; LMP2 – 2021, 2022
  • Felipe Nasr (7): WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2018; DPi 2021; GTP – 2024; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype – 2018; DPi – 2019; GTP – 2024, 2025
  • Dane Cameron (6): WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2014; Prototype – 2016; DPi – 2019; GTP – 2024; LMP2 – 2025; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTP – 2024 
  • Mikkel Jensen (5): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 – 2021; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 – 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
  • Colin Braun (4): WeatherTech Championship PC – 2014, 2015; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup PC – 2014; WeatherTech Championship LMP3 – 2022
  • Tommy Milner (4): American Le Mans Series GT – 2012; WeatherTech Championship GTLM – 2016; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2016, 2021
  • Madison Snow (4): WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2018, 2023; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2020; GTD PRO – 2024 
  • Jordan Taylor (4): GRAND-AM DP – 2013; WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2017; GTLM – 2020, 2021 
  • Philip Ellis (3): WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2024, 2025; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2024
  • Felipe Fraga (3): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2019; LMP3 – 2022, 2023
  • Alexander Sims (3): WeatherTech Championship GTP – 2023; GTD PRO – 2025; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTP – 2023 
  • Ricky Taylor (3): WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2017; DPi – 2020; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup DPi – 2021 
  • Russell Ward (3): WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2024, 2025; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2024
  • Filipe Albuquerque (2): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype – 2017; DPi – 2021 
  • Tom Blomqvist (2): WeatherTech Championship DPi – 2022; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup DPi – 2022 
  • Matt Campbell (2): WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO – 2022; GTP – 2025 
  • Joey Hand (2): American Le Mans Series GT – 2011; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2018
  • Trent Hindman (2): WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2019; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2021 
  • Hunter McElrea (2): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 – 2024, 2025
  • Oliver Jarvis (2): WeatherTech Championship DPi – 2022; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup DPi – 2022 
  • Nick Tandy (2): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2021; GTP – 2025 
  • Renger van der Zande (2): WeatherTech Championship PC – 2016; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup DPi – 2020 
  • Laurens Vanthoor (2): WeatherTech Championship GTLM – 2019; GTD – 2021 
  • Scott Andrews (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP3 – 2021 
  • Earl Bamber (1): WeatherTech Championship GTLM – 2019 
  • Ben Barnicoat (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO – 2023 
  • Roman De Angelis (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2022
  • Tom Dillmann (1): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 – 2024 
  • Indy Dontje (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2024
  • John Farano (1): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 – 2022 
  • Jon Field (1): American Le Mans Series LMP675 – 2002 
  • Jules Gounon (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO – 2023 
  • Jack Hawksworth (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO – 2023 
  • Ben Hanley (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 – 2023 
  • Dan Harper (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO – 2025 
  • Laurin Heinrich (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO – 2024
  • Max Hesse (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO – 2025 
  • Jan Heylen (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2021 
  • PJ Hyett (1): WeatherTech Championship LMP2 – 2025 
  • Brendan Iribe (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2022 
  • Kenton Koch (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD 2023
  • George Kurtz (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 – 2023 
  • Simon Mann (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2025
  • Alessandro Pier Guidi (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2025
  • John Potter (1): GRAND-AM North American Endurance Cup GT – 2012 
  • Davide Rigon (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO – 2022 
  • Zacharie Robichon (1): WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2021 
  • Daniel Serra (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO – 2022 
  • Luca Stolz (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2018 
  • Neil Verhagen (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO – 2024
  • Lilou Wadoux (1): IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2025

 

24 Hours of Le Mans Winners in 2026 Rolex 24 Field (59)

  • Richard Lietz (6): GT2 – 2007, 2010; GTE Pro – 2013, 2022; LMGT3 – 2024, 2025
  • James Calado (3): GTE Pro – 2019, 2021; Hypercar/Overall – 2023 
  • Antonio Garcia (3): GT1 – 2008, 2009; GTE Pro – 2011 
  • Alessandro Pier Guidi (3): GTE Pro – 2019, 2021; Hypercar/Overall – 2023
  • Earl Bamber (2): LMP1/Overall – 2015, 2017
  • Oliver Jarvis (2): LMP2 – 2017, 2024
  • Ben Keating (2): GTE Am – 2022, 2023
  • Tommy Milner (2): GTE Pro – 2011, 2015
  • Nicklas Nielsen (2): GTE Am – 2021; Hypercar/Overall – 2024 
  • Francois Perrodo (2): GTE Am – 2021; LMP2 Pro-Am – 2024 
  • Mike Rockenfeller (2): GT2 -2005; LMP1/Overall – 2010 
  • Daniel Serra (2): GTE Pro – 2017, 2019 
  • Jakub Smiechowski (2): LMP2 – 2023, 2025 
  • Will Stevens (2): GTE Am – 2017; LMP2 – 2022
  • Harry Tincknell (2): LMP2 – 2014; GTE Pro – 2020 
  • Nico Varrone (2): GTE Am – 2023; LMP2 Pro-Am – 2024 
  • Filipe Albuquerque (1): LMP2 – 2020 
  • Julien Andlauer (1): GTE Am – 2018 
  • Ben Barnicoat (1): LMP2 Pro-Am – 2024
  • Mathias Beche (1): LMP1-L – 2014 
  • Sebastien Bourdais (1): GTE Pro – 2016
  • Colin Braun (1): LMP2 Pro-Am – 2023
  • Dane Cameron (1): LMP2 Pro-Am – 2025
  • Matt Campbell (1): GTE Am – 2018
  • Nicky Catsburg (1): GTE Am – 2023
  • Albert Costa (1): LMP2 – 2023 
  • Antonio Felix da Costa (1): LMP2 – 2022
  • Louis Deletraz (1): LMP2 Pro-Am – 2025
  • Paul Di Resta (1): LMP2 – 2020 
  • Tom Dillmann (1): LMP2 – 2025 
  • Charlie Eastwood (1): GTE Am – 2020 
  • Kevin Estre (1): GTE Pro – 2018 
  • Robin Frijns (1): LMP2 – 2021 
  • Antonio Fuoco (1): Hypercar/Overall – 2024
  • Bijoy Garg (1): LMP2 – 2024 
  • Ferdinand Habsburg (1): LMP2 – 2021 
  • Joey Hand (1): GTE Pro – 2016 
  • Ben Hanley (1): LMP2 Pro-Am – 2021
  • Ryan Hardwick (1): LMGT3 – 2025 
  • Henrik Hedman (1): LMP2 Pro-Am – 2021 
  • David Heinemeier Hansson (1): GTE Am – 2014 
  • PJ Hyett (1): LMP2 Pro-Am – 2025
  • George Kurtz (1): LMP2 Pro-Am – 2023
  • Maxime Martin (1): GTE Pro – 2020 
  • Charles Milesi (1): LMP2 – 2021 
  • Miguel Molina (1): Hypercar/Overall – 2024 
  • Riccardo Pera (1): LMGT3 – 2025 
  • Alessio Rovera (1): GTE Am – 2021 
  • Morris Schuring (1): LMGT3 – 2024 
  • Nolan Siegel (1): LMP2 – 2024 
  • Marco Sorensen (1): GTE Am – 2022 
  • Nick Tandy (1): LMP1/Overall – 2015 
  • Jordan Taylor (1): GTE Pro – 2015
  • Nicki Thiim (1): GTE Am – 2014 
  • Dries Vanthoor (1): GTE Am – 2017
  • Laurens Vanthoor (1): GTE Pro – 2018
  • Yifei Ye (1): Hypercar/Overall – 2025 
  • Nick Yelloly (1): LMP2 – 2025 
  • Salih Yoluc (1): GTE Am – 2020 


 

IndyCar Champions in 2026 Rolex 24 Field (3)

  • Scott Dixon (6): 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020
  • Alex Palou (4): 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
  • Will Power (2): 2014, 2022


 

Indianapolis 500 Winners in 2026 Rolex 24 Field (3)

  • Scott Dixon (1): 2008 
  • Alex Palou (1): 2025
  • Will Power (1): 2018


 

Supercars Champions in 2026 Rolex 24 Field (2) 

  • Scott McLaughlin (3): 2018, 2019, 2020
  • Chaz Mostert (1): 2025

 

 

Lexus’ Champion Duo Reunites for RC F GT3’s Likely Swan Song

With New Toyota GR GT3 On the Way, a Potential “Last Dance” Beckons


 

January 5, 2026

By John Oreovicz

IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It’s been darn near a decade since Jack Hawksworth first drove a Lexus RC F GT3. It was December 2016, and the occasion was the IMSA Winter Test at Daytona International Speedway.


 

Fast forward to November 2025, and Hawksworth was back at Daytona for another IMSA-sanctioned test – still wheeling a Lexus RC F GT3, but now with more than 100 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship career starts, 12 race wins and the 2023 Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class championship added to his résumé.


 

On December 4 in Tokyo, Toyota Gazoo Racing unveiled the GR GT3, the car that is set to replace the RC F GT3 as GR’s worldwide production-based sports car platform in 2027. But until then, Hawksworth has one more season of IMSA competition to look forward to in the Lexus. As a bonus, Vasser Sullivan is reshuffling its driver lineup and Hawksworth will be reunited his ’23 championship-winning co-driver Ben Barnicoat in the No. 14 RC F GT3 running in the GTD PRO class.

Barnicoat and Hawksworth were teamed together from 2022-24, and they never finished lower than fifth in the GTD PRO standings. Last year, Hawksworth transferred to Vasser Sullivan’s No. 12 GTD entry, which he and Parker Thompson guided to fourth in that class’ points chase. Meanwhile, Barnicoat and Aaron Telitz endured a character-building year in the No. 14 GTD PRO car; in fact, Barnicoat sustained injuries in a March mountain biking accident that forced him to miss three races as the team rotated in multiple co-drivers.


 

The final decision to team Hawksworth and Barnicoat in the No. 14 GTD PRO car (with IndyCar star Kyle Kirkwood joining them for IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds) was not confirmed until after the November Daytona test. But both drivers seemed confident that they would be reunited for another championship run. 


 

“It’s been a good combination in the past, so it kind of makes sense,” Hawksworth said between sessions at Daytona shaking down a brand-new Lexus RC F GT3 chassis. “We’re already preparing for 2026, and it’s nice to get back out there. It’s the beginning of the marathon. Before you know it, we’ll be at the Roar (Roar Before the 24 test sessions), then the race (the Rolex 24 At Daytona). That’s the one race that’s eluded us as a team so far.


 

“At the end of last year, we started to come back strong, but there was some stuff as a team we needed to improve this past season,” he added. “The team has taken some good steps. Personnel wise, we’re genuinely way more prepared than last season. Sometimes it’s good to freshen things up as well. We’re as confident as we can be.”


 

Barnicoat is eager to turn the calendar to 2026 and put behind a year when if it could go wrong, it generally did. He’s particularly enthusiastic about again sharing a car with his friend and fellow Englishman Hawksworth.

“Obviously I had the best memories I’ve had in IMSA racing with Jack and Kyle,” Barnicoat said. “What me and Jack achieved from the end of 2022 to the end of 2024 was really special; it was the peak and highlight of my career. When you start racing in IMSA and sports cars, you dream of being champions and winning the big races. We’ve won Petit (Motul Petit Le Mans) and Sebring (Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring), so we just need to tick off Daytona as a trio.”


 

While not eager to dwell on the star-crossed 2025 campaign, Barnicoat was willing to discuss it. 


 

“2025 will easily go down as the worst and toughest year of my career,” he noted. “Hopefully I don’t have to experience anything like that again. It was obviously awesome to recover, bounce back, get back in the car, but the second half of the season was a bit mixed. The results weren’t what we wanted them to be. We didn’t get the reward as a team for a challenging year. 


 

“It’s the first season that we haven’t had a podium in the No. 14 since I’ve been there, which was a big shock and a disappointment. But at the same time, that kind of last kick was a huge step of motivation – let’s work hard and do everything we can to make sure we start everything perfectly in Daytona.”


 

Hawksworth and Barnicoat were happy to see the GR GT3 finally revealed to the public; the car has been demonstrated in disguised form over the past year at events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed to build interest and anticipation. But they will have one more year racing the RC F GT3 in conjunction with the new car’s development for its 2027 racetrack debut. 


 

“If we have a completely new package, maybe it’s a hindrance because gremlins, teething issues can come and get you,” Barnicoat noted. “We’ve learned a lot over 10 seasons with this car and I think we have the best shot we’ve had. This the one race that’s eluded us. We haven’t put all the pieces together yet to finally take home the big win and get the Rolex watch.”


 

The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opens January 16-18 at Daytona International Speedway with the Roar Before the Rolex 24, followed Jan. 22-25 by the 64th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

 

 

Rockenfeller, Ford Seek to “Write Some More History Together”

In Revised Michelin Endurance Cup Role, Rockenfeller has Long Race Focus in 2026


 

December 30, 2025

By Tony DiZinno

IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Although he’s now 42, Mike Rockenfeller is practically ageless. He still looks as young and drives as fast as his younger teammates within the Ford Multimatic Motorsports stable of Mustang GT3 drivers. He can easily be viewed one of sports car racing’s greatest drivers, ambassadors and gentlemen of the millennium with his affable attitude and incredible insights. 


 

The German driver best known as “Rocky” made his early mark coming up the sports car ladder with two distinct German brands: Porsche and Audi. In 2010, he won both the Rolex 24 At Daytona and 24 Hours of Le Mans overall in the same year; the Rolex aboard an Action Express Racing Riley-Porsche closed cockpit Daytona Prototype and Le Mans in a factory Audi R15 TDI Plus diesel LMP1 open prototype. He’s the second most recent driver to do that, as Fernando Alonso did so in 2019 with a Cadillac DPi-V.R at the Rolex 24 and a Toyota TS050 Hybrid in LMP1 at Le Mans.


 

But in recent years, “Rocky’s” manufacturer presence has been distinctly American. He raced both GT and Daytona Prototype Corvettes off-and-on through the mid-2010s, and then was the sports car expert who guided Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button and the Hendrick Motorsports collaborative Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZR1 to take NASCAR back to Le Mans in 2023. He also ran select NASCAR Cup Series races for Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club team when it still ran Chevrolets. 


 

Since 2024, “Rocky” has been a “blue oval” man through and through. He’s been back in a full-time seat in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as part of Ford’s Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) effort, and through the end of 2025, was the only driver Ford kept in that full-time role for both seasons.

For 2026, things change a bit. After Rockenfeller and Harry Tincknell shared the No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3 in 2024 and Rockenfeller and Seb Priaulx then partnered to be the proverbial veteran and young charger pairing in 2025, both “Rocky” and “Sebby” shift to Michelin Endurance Cup roles in 2026 split between the Nos. 64 and 65 cars. 


 

Rockenfeller seems to feel something different with Ford than he did with the German brands he raced with earlier in his career. As he reflected during the IMSA-sanctioned November test, being part of Ford means going back more than a century and building on it as Ford continues its global motorsports ramp-up to be one of the world’s most pre-eminent motorsport manufacturers.


 

“Where I’ve come from, I was not surprised… but at Charlotte when they did the season launch two years ago, I’d just joined the program so I only understood it somewhat,” Rockenfeller explained. “But they do NASCAR. Off-road. Baja. Obviously sports car racing. They will do F1. Then Hypercar/GTP… yes, it’s Europe for now, but hopefully they come to the U.S. It’s unreal how big their program is. The Red Bull F1 thing I hope will be very successful, super cool and exciting. The range they go is unreal.”


 

Ford’s perception is changing globally, too, he noted. 


 

“For me coming from different brands and joining a new one, in Europe, Ford is a different brand than what it is in the U.S.,” Rockenfeller said. “Here, it’s massive. There, the Germans are quite big. That’s normal. 


 

“But I always had friends driving Ford. A friend of mine in go-karts has three Ford dealerships. I always looked at it, but I never imagined I’d race for Ford. To get to know the family and Jim Farley and all of them, (Mark) Rushbrook, it’s such a family. And they’re emotional with racing. They really love it, and you can see it in the programs they do.”


 

Rockenfeller then proceeded to tell just how much of the Ford family presence the manufacturer wanted to share with its drivers.


 

“The first year in Detroit, we went to the Henry Ford House, where he basically lived. It’s kind of a museum almost,” he said. “It’s unreal to hear the stories; Edsel and that. It’s unreal. To hopefully write some history together is great. I feel such a part of it. To identify, it takes a bit of time. You need to know the cars, the people, and success and not success together. Year three … this year changed a lot for me. I feel like I’m there now.”


 

Indeed, the leap Ford made in IMSA from year one in 2024 to year two in 2025 with the Mustang GT3 was paramount. Rockenfeller won the Motul Pole Award for the Rolex 24 and the duo finished third with third driver Austin Cindric, who was deputizing for the injured Ben Barker. The sister No. 65 car won the Rolex with Frederic Vervisch, Christopher Mies and Dennis Olsen.

Ford’s No. 64 car enjoyed major success as the year progressed with two wins on the streets of Detroit – notably cast against the corporate headquarters and backdrop of crosstown rivals General Motors – and then the six-hour TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks in Indianapolis. With one other podium (second at Road America), Rockenfeller and Priaulx finished third in GTD PRO points.


 

“Every victory is special in its own,” Rockenfeller admitted. “Detroit is the only street circuit (for GTD PRO). It’s cool scenery and it’s different. I love to race in cities anyway but that’s the only chance on the calendar to do so. We don’t do Long Beach. Then obviously that’s the home race for Ford Motor Company and GM is there. It’s a big battle between us. To come out on top was the highlight. 

“Indy was so cool; we were second the year before. We knew it was a strong place for us. To win with ‘Sebby’ was good as we just started working together this year and it turned out to be a pretty good combo. 


 

“Then at Indy, it was special to have the whole family (as part of new IMSA Resilient Racers program) there enjoying it, taking the pictures, being on the podium. Especially as a father of three, you understand what matters in life. You think racing is the most important or when you’re doing it. But there’s a lot more in life, to share emotions and give something back. That’s very special.”


 

For 2026, Rockenfeller will share the No. 64 car with Olsen and Barker, who are set to embark on the full-season effort. That means Rockenfeller’s IMSA goal for 2026 is trophy hunting at the three longest Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, and notably, adding another Rolex watch to his 2010 one. Missing out in 2025 stung, he admitted.


 

“In the end, to win you need to be perfect,” he said. “The other car had a better setup and we didn’t. The last two tenths, probably. They deserved it! I’m happy they did. Obviously, I’m a Ford driver, so it’s good for all of us if the car wins. 


 

“In the end we had a strong season. I’m sure the big goal is to win the championship. If you ask me what do you prefer, I don’t know if I would pick between 24 and the championship. Probably the championship. It gives a better picture of the whole year. 


 

“But at Daytona, I’d like to get a free watch and not have to buy one!”

 

 

“All” Back in the Acura Meyer Shank Racing Family

Allmendinger Return Highlights Vastly Experienced No. 60 Acura Lineup


 

December 29, 2025

By John Oreovicz

IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian is as serious and professional as any team in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship paddock. But team owner Mike Shank can possibly be viewed as most casual, ‘rock and roll’ team principal among his peers.


 

So maybe it’s appropriate to say that Shank is “putting the band back together” by welcoming the return of AJ Allmendinger to the team for the 64th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona International Speedway. 


 

Allmendinger, now a star in the NASCAR Cup Series for Kaulig Racing, is a Michael Shank Racing alumnus with 15 past starts in IMSA’s season-opening endurance racing classic (2006 through 2021, with the exception of 2017), including overall victory in 2012 with co-drivers Justin Wilson, Ozz Negri, and John Pew.


 

“The guy’s pretty damn cool,” observed Allmendinger, who recently joined MSR at Daytona for the IMSA-sanctioned November Test, where he turned laps in the No. 60 Acura ARX-06. “Mike’s a lot of fun. He’s a racer. He bleeds for this sport. He put his house and everything up.”

It’s a new, more complex Acura prototype and a markedly different Shank organization since Allmendinger made his last Rolex 24 appearance with the team in 2021 – and worlds apart since the then-IndyCar racer made his MSR debut in 2006. He has fond memories of teaming with the late Wilson to help grow ‘the little team that could’ into an American sports car racing powerhouse.


 

“Mike reached out to the Indy car team I was driving for in 2005 to ask would Justin and I want to come run Rolex next year,” Allmendinger recalled. “We ran it January ’06 and it just kind of took off from there. He called me back the next year and it grew for every year straight. It’s been a fun ride and hopefully this isn’t the last one. We’ll see if there’s more.


 

“I saw Mike’s new shop, and wow!” he continued. “It’s a little different than the GRAND-AM days with the same eight guys working on the car. What a beautiful shop…there’s a lot of cool pictures of us in there.”

While Allmendinger was able to get reacquainted with some familiar faces, his biggest task at the sanctioned test was to get to grips with the No. 60 Acura he will share in the Rolex 24 with full-season WeatherTech Championship drivers Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist and six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, who is the team’s IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup pilot. 


 

Although not all 61 entries have been finalized, the No. 60 car is likely to be the most experienced driver lineup in the Rolex 24 field with more than 60 career starts in the race. 


 

Dixon has started every Rolex 24 since 2004, while Braun is just one year behind him. This means Dixon is set for his 23rd consecutive Rolex start in 2026 and Braun his 22nd. Meanwhile, Blomqvist has opened his Rolex 24 career with finishes of first, first, second, and second. No pressure for Allmendinger to slot back in, then… 


 

“There’s definitely a lot to this car – it’s a proper race car,” he admitted. “The last time I was in (an IMSA prototype) was the (Acura ARX-05) DPi in ’21. There’s lots of buttons and it’s tricky to drive – what’s the threshold of not too much braking or too much? I found ‘too much’ right away! I’m trying to learn as quick as I can. I don’t want to be the slow guy and let them down. I know I’ll be the weak link, I just don’t want to be the weakest link in the chain. 


 

“I want to hold my weight; that’s the biggest thing,” he added. “It’s my job to run good stints and hand the car back off looking the same as it started. I told Mike, ‘I don’t want to let you down.’ He said, ‘Ain’t gonna happen - you never have.’”

Braun, 37, groaned when reminded he has participated in the Rolex 24 every year since he was 16. His first run came 20 years ago this year in 2005, as part of a “Team 16” Porsche GT effort with three teenagers and fourth driver and coach Ross Bentley, who now cohosts the “It’s Not The Car” podcast with Braun’s dad Jeff, a longtime engineer currently working with 13 Autosport, and veteran automotive journalist Sam Smith. All four drivers in the No. 60 have posted overall Rolex 24 wins.


 

Braun and Blomqvist won the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International in June to highlight what was a mixed bag of results in 2025. After a year’s absence from IMSA’s top prototype class, MSR and its drivers quickly understood that the car had changed considerably from when the No. 60 duo won at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (the Motul Petit Le Mans) to finish a close third in the 2023 GTP standings.


 

“Last year, we had a great Daytona; that was perfect for a new team to get together and knock out a solid P2 result,” Braun remarked. “Then there were some growing pains, I think, kind of getting it all going. But I feel the second half of the year was pretty strong as a group for the for the HRC and MSR guys, and we hit the end of the season with some good momentum and knew what we needed to work on over the off season. 


 

“I feel like we’re in a really good place and excited to go to year two with all that experience and knowledge in our pocket,” he added. “We’re not, in a way, going to everywhere kind of ‘new’ again. Obviously, we had 2023, but with the break, it was kind of like restarting in ‘25. This feels like the ‘real’ second year of the program, so it’s good.”


 

Braun said he and Allmendinger have never shared a car, though they both competed in separate MSR entries in the 2009 Rolex 24.


 

“Teammates, I guess, but he was in the other car,” Braun laughed. “It’s been fun, man. He’s a cool dude. Obviously, a great race car driver, and he fits in with our culture good, so it’s fun. It’s good times.” 


 

The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship kicks off with the annual Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, January 16-18, followed Jan. 22-25 by the 64th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

 

 

IMSA STEM Curriculum Reflects on Successful First Year and Sets Its 2026 Schedule

Program For High School Students Set to Continue Online and at Six More Weekends in 2026

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 18, 2025) – Throughout 2025, IMSA highlighted Science, Technology Engineering, and Math elements to premier the IMSA STEM curriculum across both six IMSA race markets, as well as online as part of its new partnership with Gainbridge® and an expanded partnership  with Konica Minolta. With the first year of the program in the books, it’s worth reflecting on what was achieved for students across the U.S. and Canada.


 

The IMSA STEM curriculum was developed in conjunction with EVERFI who works with 60,000+ teachers and their schools throughout the country, providing interactive, game-based lessons, at no cost to the schools, teachers or students. 


 

In 2025, with curriculum developed in conjunction with EVERFI, the IMSA STEM program reached more than 14,000 students, more than 420 schools and nearly 500 teachers, primarily through an online resource.  In addition, 180 students attended the six on-site programs held at IMSA race venues during the 2025 season, roughly 30 per program.


 

Students completed a pre-course survey before and post-course survey at the end of the program. Students increased their knowledge of engineering career opportunities across two modules – Building & Moving and Engineering Careers Within Auto Racing – by 65 percentage points while nearly half, 49 percent, expressed at least some degree of interest in a career in auto racing after completing the two modules. Perhaps more importantly, 93 percent of those students identified potential career paths they did not know existed prior.


 

“Everfi, IMSA and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway put together such a cool day for us,” a Purdue Polytech High School teacher relayed after the IMSA STEM curriculum day at the TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks in Indianapolis. “Our students got to learn about careers in manufacturing, Motorsports and engineering in general, and it has been such a breath fresh air to see students see why the classes that they're taking in STEM especially matter in the real world.”


 

A student who attended the same day added, “For me, the activities were great. Every single one was very informative and interesting. Like I said, I loved talking to the race teams about the data collection. It was crazy to be so close to the race cars  as we were walking from location to location.”

The first of six IMSA STEM curriculum days of 2025 premiered during the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test at Daytona International Speedway. A group of 30 students from two local high schools in Volusia County, Port Orange-based Spruce Creek High School and Atlantic High School, visited the track on Friday and went through four specific stations that ladder up to the STEM curriculum. 


 

Students ran through the following four stations at Daytona, with similar stations occurring throughout the year:


 

  • Tires, Traction and Tread at the Michelin Tire Center, focusing on Physics and Engineering
  • Data-Driven Racing at the IMSA Engineering Center, focusing on Data Science and Technology
  • Engineering Safety at the IMSA Tech Inspection Area, focusing on Material Science
  • IMSA Technology Lab – Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) Hybrid Electrified Race Car at the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R garage, focusing on Physics and Engineering


 

“I'm so proud that we could kick this off this year,” IMSA President John Doonan said during the Roar. “It's something, that I think is incredibly important for the entire sport. I have a personal interest and fascination with it, simply because I have had an experience and been able to do this previously in IMSA.” 


 

For 2026, the IMSA STEM curriculum program will continue at the same six venues as in 2025. Four of the six events come in the front half of the season while students are still in school through the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix weekend at the streets of Detroit, with a continuation of the program in the fall. 


 

2026 IMSA STEM SCHEDULE​


 

  • Daytona International Speedway – 1/16​
  • Long Beach Street Circuit – 4/17​
  • WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – 5/1 ​
  • Detroit Street Circuit – 5/29​
  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway – 9/18​
  • Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta – 10/1

 

NBC Sports to Present 160+ Hours of 2026 IMSA Coverage Across NBC, Peacock and NBCSN

2026 Schedule on NBC Features 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 24-25, Battle on the Bricks on Sept. 20, Petit Le Mans on Oct. 3, and More

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 18, 2025) – From Daytona to Indy to Watkins Glen, NBC Sports will present more than 160 hours of IMSA coverage in 2026, headlined by the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN.


 

NBC Sports’ 2026 IMSA schedule includes over 15 hours of live coverage on NBC broadcast network and over 160 hours on Peacock, with over 140 hours exclusively on Peacock. Notable races on the WeatherTech Championship schedule include the historic 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 24-25, Six Hours of The Glen on June 28, the Battle on the Bricks from famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sept. 20, and the season finale Petit Le Mans from Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Oct. 3. 


 

NBC’s live coverage includes the start and finish of January’s Rolex 24 At Daytona; flag-to-flag coverage of the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18; Detroit Grand Prix on May 3; GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway on Aug. 23; September’s Battle on the Bricks; and the opening hours of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans in October. 


 

Additionally, a special 2026 season preview show will be presented on Jan. 3 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. A 2026 season review special will also be presented on NBC and Peacock on Oct. 11 at 2:30 p.m. ET.


 

Peacock will serve as the streaming home of the WeatherTech Championship with flag-to-flag live coverage of all races as well as exclusive coverage of qualifying and portions of select endurance races, including the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Six Hours of The Glen, and Twelve Hours of Sebring.


 

NBCSN, NBC Sports’ recently-launched 24/7 linear network featuring a wide range of marquee sporting events and programming, will present simulstreamed coverage of select races this season, including the final portions of the Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans as well as the entire race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.


 

Peacock will once again present live coverage of IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, and IMSA-sanctioned Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, Ford Mustang Challenge, and Porsche Carrera Cup races in 2026.


 

NBC Sports’ motorsports play-by-play commentator Leigh Diffey – the “Voice of Speed” – will lead IMSA coverage, along with 1990 Rolex 24 winner and former IMSA GT driver Calvin Fish (analyst) and former CART Championship Car driver Brian Till (analyst).


 

Below is NBC Sports’ 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule:
 

Connor Zilisch Confirmed in Cadillac Whelen GTP Entry for 2026 Rolex 24

Past Rolex 24 Class Winner, Young NASCAR Phenom Back for Third Start


 

December 9, 2025

Staff Report

IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Connor Zilisch has been officially confirmed as part of the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R for the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona. He’ll join the previously announced trio of Earl Bamber, Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti to kick off the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.


 

“I’m excited to be with Action Express Racing for the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” Zilisch said. “The Rolex 24 is one of my favorite races and I’m thrilled to be with one of the best teams in the IMSA paddock. I’m very thankful to everyone at GM and Cadillac Racing for their help in making this happen. This is such a cool opportunity. We had a solid test in November at Daytona. I really enjoyed working with all the guys on the Whelen team and can’t wait to get back there for the race.” 


 

He’ll make his third straight Rolex 24 start in as many classes. In 2024, he premiered in the No. 18 Era Motorsport ORECA LMP2 07 in Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) and won on debut. Last January, he was part of an all-star No. 91 Trackhouse by TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R in Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO). 


 

He tested the Cadillac GTP car for the first time at the IMSA-sanctioned November test at Daytona International Speedway. Meeting with media in-between sessions, Zilisch explained how well he adapted to the new car.


 

“It was awesome,” he said. “Very different, but at the same time similar to things I've driven in the past. It's kind of a mixture between the LMP2 car and the Corvette GT3 that I drove this year. A little heavier than the P2. More power, really cool. A lot of new controls and things that I have to learn, and it was a lot of fun getting to feel it out and just run a lot of laps.”


 

Zilisch has Daytona road course experience dating to his time in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin.


 

“The first time I came to Daytona racing was in MX-5 Cup,” he said. “And I've loved it ever since, and just being able to race in the 24 hours is something that I dreamed of as a kid and that's why I always come back and keep doing it. And, you know, it's my third time doing it and my third different car that that I've done it in. I'm just excited for the opportunity to even be here today and get this chance to test the car. It's been such a dream of mine to get to drive in the highest class of IMSA and doing that today has been really cool.”


 

The 19-year-old won 10 races and finished second in his first full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025 (soon to be renamed O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026) and will graduate full-time into the NASCAR Cup Series ranks next year. 

 

 

 

 

Capacity Grid Set Again for 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona

Full Field Set for Fifth Straight Year to Open 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Season


 

December 9, 2025

By Tony DiZinno

IMSA Wire Service

Roar Before the Rolex 24 Entry List

Rolex 24 At Daytona Entry List


 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For the fifth consecutive year, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will open its new season with a capacity grid set to run the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The full field of 61 cars set to contest the 64th running has been revealed with roughly six weeks to go until cars hit the track for the mandatory Roar Before the Rolex 24 test January 16-18, then Rolex 24 At Daytona race weekend January 22-25. 


 

There are 11 Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), 14 Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), 15 Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) and 21 Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) cars making up the 61 entries. A total of 12 of the 18 participating OEMs in IMSA are part of the Rolex 24 lineup (Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche).


 

Included as always are a mix of IMSA champions blended with open-wheel and NASCAR stars. The pursuit of a custom Rolex timepiece and the points to start the season off on the right foot remain the goal ahead of North America’s annual January endurance racing classic to kick off the global motorsports calendar. 


 

Grand Touring Prototype (11 Cars, 5 Manufacturers: Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche)

 

The GTP grid for the fourth year of the class sees all four of the LMDh specification manufacturers – all except Aston Martin – set to debut some degree of car and aerodynamic updates at the race. The drivers gracing the 11 cars in class have strong backgrounds and resumes across all forms of motorsport.


 

Fittingly, there are 11 full-season IMSA champions in the class (Laurens Vanthoor, Matt Campbell, Felipe Nasr, Laurin Heinrich, Earl Bamber, Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Colin Braun, Tom Blomqvist, Renger van der Zande and Roman De Angelis) with nine of them looking to add another full-season crown this year. Campbell and Heinrich are IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup extras for two-time IMSA and Rolex 24 defending winners Porsche Penske Motorsport in the Nos. 6 and 7 Porsche 963s, respectively.


 

Beyond the IMSA champions, GTP also includes marquee 24-hour race overall or class winners at either Daytona or Le Mans featuring Filipe Albuquerque (both); previous Daytona winners Rene Rast, Philipp Eng; and Le Mans winners Kevin Estre, Julien Andlauer, Louis Deletraz and Nick Yelloly.


 

The endurance extras for Daytona also feature prominently with six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon and four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou split between the Nos. 60 and 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06 entries, NASCAR star AJ Allmendinger in the No. 60 Acura, Formula 1 reserves Frederik Vesti (Mercedes-AMG) and Colton Herta (Cadillac) in the No. 31 Whelen and No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.Rs, respectively, and past F1 driver Kevin Magnussen back with BMW in the No. 25 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8. Dixon, Allmendinger and Herta all have Rolex 24 overall or class wins on their résumés. 


 

For nearly a decade, the Rolex 24 overall winner has been on a series of “streaks.” Cadillac won four straight from 2017 to 2020, with Acura winning the next three from 2021 to 2023, and Porsche winning the last two in 2024 and 2025. BMW last won the Rolex 24 overall as an engine provider in 2013, a Riley DP chassis with Chip Ganassi Racing, while Aston Martin has never won overall and most recently won in the GTD class with Heart of Racing Team in 2023.


 

Le Mans Prototype 2 (14 Cars, All ORECA LMP2 07)

 

LMP2 can be one of the toughest classes to predict at the Rolex 24 with four different team winners in the last four years. United Autosports USA enters as defending winners and is one of two teams in the class with two cars, the other being Inter Europol Competition. Daniel Goldburg, Paul Di Resta, Rasmus Lindh and newcomer Gregoire Saucy are set to race the No. 22 car while its refreshed No. 2 lineup includes two-time defending Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 champs Mikkel Jensen and Hunter McElrea alongside Phil Fayer and Ben Hanley.


 

AO Racing is keen to add its first Rolex 24 for “Spike,” the LMP2 Dragon with an unchanged quartet of Dane Cameron, PJ Hyett, Jonny Edgar and Christian Rasmussen in the team’s No. 99 car. This entry nearly won in 2025 but for late-race mechanical woes; alas, they went on to win the LMP2 Pro/Am class at Le Mans, two straight IMSA races and the LMP2 title.


 

Strong lineups also feature from Tower Motorsports, CrowdStrike Racing by APR, TDS Racing, Inter Europol Competition and Af Corse USA, teams which have all won marquee IMSA endurance rounds but not yet won at Daytona. Era Motorsport has two Rolex 24 wins but a new lineup including ex-F1 driver Logan Sargeant set for his Rolex 24 debut. Pratt Miller Motorsports will look to translate its GT success into LMP2 form ahead of its second season, and features brothers Pietro and Enzo Fittipaldi – grandsons of F1 and IndyCar champion Emerson Fittipaldi – sharing its No. 73 car.


 

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports has several Rolex 24 wins but goes for a new one this year partnered with Bryan Herta Autosport as the multi-time IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Touring Car (TCR) champions with Hyundai stepping into prototype racing in 2026. Intersport Racing and Team Tonis complete the entries, both new-for-2026 WeatherTech Championship teams but both featuring a mix of past experience across other sports car series in previous years.


 

Grand Touring Daytona Pro (15 Cars, 9 Manufacturers: BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche)

 

The first four years of GTD PRO at the Rolex 24 have also produced parity, with four different brands having taken the checkered flag. Porsche won the first go-around in 2022, with Mercedes-AMG winning in 2023, Ferrari in 2024 and Ford in 2025. Each of those four has a contender or two competing in 2026. 


 

Porsche comes with AO’s “Rexy,” the green dinosaur now driven by Nick Tandy, Harry King and Alessio Picariello and a second striking livery in the “Grello” yellow and green Manthey entry. Defending winners Ford are back with its two Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3s, albeit with revised driver lineups. Mercedes-AMG has three customer-run entries from Winward Racing, GetSpeed by Bartone Bros. Racing and 75 Express. Ferrari sees Risi Competizione back on its own after a year in a technical alliance with DragonSpeed, along with Triarsi Competizione stepping up to GTD PRO.


 

That leaves five other manufacturers looking for their first GTD PRO Rolex win.


 

Chevrolet won in GTD in 2025 but has not tasted top-class GT spoils at Daytona since 2021. Its two Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs are up for the task, including defending WeatherTech Championship GTD PRO champions Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims joined by Marvin Kirchhoefer in the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Lamborghini, a three-time Daytona winner in GTD, is giving its venerable Huracán GT3 Evo2 one final GTD PRO run before the anticipated debut of its new Temerario GT3 at Sebring. Pfaff Motorsports won that 2022 race with Porsche in GTD PRO’s debut and now looks to give the Huracán one more big 24-hour race win. 


 

Lexus’ RC F GT3 has won major enduros at Sebring, Watkins Glen and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta but not at Daytona. BMW earned back-to-back GTLM victories in the Rolex 24 in 2019 and 2020, but is still looking for a win with its GT3 race car. Could partner team Paul Miller Racing deliver the BMW M4 GT3 EVO a win? 


 

Lastly, a mashup of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and McLaren sees a new McLaren 720S GT3 EVO back in GTD PRO for the first time in three years. RLL knows how to find its way to victory lane at Daytona having gone back-to-back in GTLM in 2019 and 2020. 


 

With primarily sports car stars in this category, the extras of note include two-time IndyCar champion Will Power set for his Rolex 24 debut with 75 Express and five-time IndyCar race winner Kyle Kirkwood in Vasser Sullivan’s Lexus.


 

Grand Touring Daytona (21 Cars, 9 Manufacturers: Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche)

 

Since the merger of GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series created what we know now as the WeatherTech Championship in 2014, the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class has been the most voluminous of entries at the Rolex 24 with anywhere from 18 to 29 entries. That stays true once more in 2026 with another 20-plus car grid set to compete in this year’s race.


 

Similar to GTD PRO, there’s been recent parity among class winners the last four years. Porsche won in 2022, Aston Martin in 2023, Mercedes-AMG in 2024 and Chevrolet in 2025. 


 

Defending class winners AWA will seek to defend under a rebranded name of 13 Autosport with three of the four drivers it won with last year: Orey Fidani, Matt Bell and Lars Kern with newcomer Ben Green in the No. 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Winward Racing, the 2021 and 2024 winners, begin their pursuit of their third straight GTD title with Russell Ward and Philip Ellis anchoring the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 they share with Indy Dontje and Lucas Auer. 


 

Beyond those four brands, entries from BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini and Lexus ensure there’s also nine manufacturers in this class too as there are in GTD PRO. Ford’s new-look No. 16 Myers Riley Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3 includes ex-F1 and IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean among its drivers. 


 

Among the 21 entries, no one manufacturer has more than four cars (Ferrari and Porsche have four apiece), so no one manufacturer’s deck is too stacked.


 

On-track action begins with the Roar test January 16-18, with the Rolex 24 track activity January 22-25.

 

 

Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Seeking Strong 2026 Bounce Back 

Optimism Abounds After November Test in Daytona


 

December 2, 2025

By John Oreovicz

IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The second half of the 2025 season was very good for the Cadillac V-Series.R. 


 

The Cadillac Whelen No. 31 entry shared by Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Frederik Vesti won the last two races of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, elevating Aitken to second place in the final Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class driver standings, with the team also moving into the runner-up position at season’s end. Meanwhile, both V-Series.Rs fielded by Team Jota finished 1-2 to earn the brand’s first FIA World Endurance Championship top class victory at the Sao Paulo 6 Hours.


 

Conspicuously absent from the list of 2025 Cadillac race winners are Wayne Taylor Racing. Much was expected from WTR’s reunion with the General Motors racing program and the Cadillac brand, which in 2017 produced a Prototype class championship for the driver pairing of brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor in the then-new Cadillac DPi-V.R. 


 

Both Taylors subsequently left the team owned by their father, Wayne Taylor (himself a three-time IMSA champion as a driver) and won championships elsewhere – Ricky the 2020 Daytona Prototype international (DPi) title with Acura Team Penske, and Jordan a pair of GT Le Mans (GTLM) crowns with Corvette Racing in ’20 and ’21. Ricky returned to WTR in 2021, followed three years later by Jordan as the team expanded to run two cars for the first time, in conjunction with Acura and the Andretti Global organization.


 

There were growing pains. Both WTR Acuras took race wins, but the No. 10 car shared by Ricky Taylor and longtime co-driver Filipe Albuquerque dropped from second in the 2023 DPi standings to sixth in ‘24, one spot behind the team’s new No. 40 entry driven by Jordan Taylor and Louis Deletraz. 


 

The switch to Cadillac for 2025 was intended to feel like a homecoming for the Taylor family and many longstanding members of the team. But GTP prototypes are complicated racing cars; the learning curve was steep, and two years of philosophies, habits, and procedures accumulated running the Acura ARX-06 had to be purged from the memory banks. The drivers and crews sometimes struggled to get the best from the Cadillac V-Series.R, as neither of the WTR cars qualified higher than fourth or finished better than fifth in the season’s first four races.

Still, the second half of the ’25 campaign left WTR with plenty of reason for optimism, even if it went winless in GTP (it did win a race in GTD and also secured the Lamborghini World Final Pro title in addition to Pro, Am, Team and Dealer titles for Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America).


 

Wayne Taylor was able to celebrate his team’s first double podium at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International, as the No. 40 and No. 10 Cadillacs finished second and third respectively. The No. 10 notched additional second place finishes at Detroit at Indianapolis, as Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor scored the third-most points from Rounds 5-9 of the WeatherTech Championship, just 50 points fewer than the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac collected over that span of races.


 

Potential is clearly there, and the Taylor brothers came away from the recent IMSA sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway buoyed by optimism after their first laps experiencing the ‘Evo’ updates on the Cadillac V-Series.R.


 

“Everything was new last year, and we basically had just the Roar (“Roar Before the 24” test sessions) and maybe one other day of testing before the Rolex 24,” said Jordan Taylor. “The Rolex itself was kind of like a big test session for everyone to understand what the car does and how the tools influence it. Now having a whole year under our belt was important. Every time we go on track, we feel like we learn something new; we were learning all the way through Petit (the 2024 IMSA season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta). 


 

“I think there’s only so much you can do away from the track with sim work and prep, but once you get it on track, you really see where you are.”

“When we came to this (November IMSA-sanctioned) test last year, it was chaos,” added Deletraz. “It was a good chaos, but you were learning all the time. Every track we went to, we needed to create a database and learn. To come back with the same car as 11-12 months ago is so much smoother and easier. And the upgrades are great. Everything targeted semes to be working, and it’s very positive to drive. It’s different but it definitely feels improved.”

 

Ricky Taylor was recently drafted in by Cadillac to drive at the WEC’s annual rookie test at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain as part of an increased effort by the manufacturer to share information between its teams that compete in IMSA (Wayne Taylor Racing and Whelen) and the JOTA Sport team that runs the two V-Series.Rs in WEC. 


 

In fact, Whelen’s full-time IMSA drivers Aitken and Earl Bamber will also contest the full 2026 WEC slate in Jota’s No. 38 Cadillac, teamed with Sebastien Bourdais. There’s one weekend conflict between the two (Long Beach IMSA and Imola WEC in April), where Vesti is expected to reprise his substitute role for Bamber alongside Aitken in the No. 31 Whelen car. 


 

“It was just a good opportunity to drive the car more, and it was my first time on the Brembo brakes,” said Ricky Taylor. “Everybody else had had tested the Brembos but me, so it was a good chance for me to get a little taste as well as to create a bit of a crossover between Jota and WTR and just exchange some notes and see you how they do some stuff differently, how we do it. And just trying to make ourselves better.


 

“I think the unique thing about how Cadillac has set it up is there’s going to be three different teams with three different approaches, and you’re going to get to tackle the same problems,” he added. “(Whelen) does things so differently to the way WTR does things, and JOTA lives a totally different life than either of us. We push each other, but at the end of the day, everything is fully open - GM makes sure of that. It’s been interesting, and really good.”


 

There’s expected third driver consistency too for Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, with Will Stevens (No. 10) and Colton Herta (No. 40) on for Daytona, Sebring and Michelin Raceway. The No. 40 car cycled through three different third drivers in 2025 (Kamui Kobayashi, Brendon Hartley, Norman Nato) while F2-bound Herta, a Cadillac Formula 1 test driver, returns to the team after racing as its third driver in 2024. 


 

The 2026 WeatherTech Championship season opens with the traditional Roar Before the Rolex 24 test sessions at Daytona International Speedway Jan 15-18, followed Jan. 22-25 by the 64th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
 

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