IMSA’s Crown Jewel Kicks off January 25th
The 2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona is just weeks away. Fans and teams alike eagerly await the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener. Known for its grueling endurance, this race demands precision, stamina, and teamwork over 24 intense hours.
A Legendary Start to the Season
Held at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, this marks the 63rd running of the Rolex 24. From January 23-26, the event showcases top talent across four classes: Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD).
This year’s event kicks off with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test sessions. Scheduled for January 17-19, the sessions provide teams valuable prep time. For the first time, qualifying moves to race weekend, on Thursday, January 23.
Coverage to Keep You Connected
Fans worldwide can tune into NBC, USA Network, Peacock, and IMSA’s streaming platforms for live coverage. U.S. viewers get flag-to-flag streaming on Peacock starting January 25 at 1:30 p.m. ET. International fans can follow the action on IMSA.tv or YouTube.
Track and Schedule Details
Daytona’s 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course remains a classic challenge for teams. The race begins Saturday, January 25, at 1:40 p.m. ET. Key practice sessions during the Roar ensure teams are battle-ready. Bronze-rated LMP2 and GTD drivers also get a dedicated session on Sunday, January 19.
A Special Place in Our Hearts
IMSA endurance races hold a unique charm for motorsport enthusiasts. For us, the Daytona 24 Hours has personal significance. Our agency’s past collaborations with AIM Autosport and Ferrari cemented our love for these events.
Though the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an undeniable fan favorite, Daytona feels like home. It sets the tone for an unforgettable season, followed by Sebring’s 12 Hours and Watkins Glen’s 6 Hours.
Storylines courtesy of IMSA
- Star Alignment: The usual bevy of extra Rolex 24 drivers boasting experience from Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar join the wealth of international sports car stars the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship fields on a full season basis. Some of the extras this year include Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Romain Grosjean, Kevin Magnussen, Colton Herta, Felipe Massa, Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Connor Zilisch, Austin Cindric, James Hinchcliffe and Parker Kligerman.
- From Timepieces to Titles: Porsche Penske Motorsport (Grand Touring Prototype, GTP) and Winward Racing (Grand Touring Daytona, GTD) kicked off 2024 with Rolex 24 victories and the Rolex custom timepiece that went with it. Nine months later, their opening round success propelled them to season-long WeatherTech Championship titles.
- Reshuffled GTP Grid: All 12 GTP cars spread among Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini and Porsche have some degree of difference to kick off the 2025 season after ending 2024, whether in drivers, team names or manufacturers or in some cases, all of the above.
- Deep GTD PRO/GTD Fields: A 15-car Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class field sets the record for the greatest number of cars in the category, ahead of its fourth season. Additionally, 22 cars in GTD bring the combined number of GT cars up to 37. Entries come from Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
- Fresh Blend in LMP2: In two cases, GTP’s loss is a gain for Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) with Dane Cameron (No. 99 AO Racing ORECA LMP2 07) and Sebastien Bourdais (No. 8 Tower Motorsport ORECA LMP2 07) joining an already stacked 12-car class.
- Lally’s Last (Full-Time) Laps: The most successful active Rolex 24 race winner anticipated to race this year, Andy Lally, is set for his last race before retiring from full-time driving. Sharing the No. 44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO in GTD, Lally has won five Rolex 24 races and is set for his 23rd consecutive start in the race this year.
With 61 entries confirmed, the stage is set for a thrilling competition. Will records fall this year? That’s for the track to decide.
IMAGES: IMSA
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