This week, the IMSA collective tests are being held at the Daytona International Speedway. Thirty-one cars are expected, namely 12 in GTP, 7 in LMP2, 5 in GTD Pro and 7 in GTD. If the entry list is available below, here is what to remember.
As a reminder, this is the first time that GT3 teams will be equipped with torque meters, as is already the case in WEC and ELMS since the start of 2024.
GTP
Laurens Vanthoor retained in Macau, it is Julien Andlauer who will lend a hand this week to Nick Tandy and Felipe Nasr on the 963 n°7 of the Porsche Penske Motorsport. On the sister car, Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet and Kévin Estre will take turns, who will support the first two mentioned in the rounds of the Endurance Cup next year.
As had already been announced, the Wayne Taylor Racing has called on all its drivers apart from those who will only be requisitioned for the 24 Hours of Daytona, namely Brendon Hartley and Kamui Kobayashi.
Chez Aston Martin The Heart of Racing Teamwe decided this week to trust Ross Gunn, Roman de Angelis and Alex Riberas, for what will be the Valkyrie’s first outing against its future IMSA rivals.
Chez BMW M Team RLLthe decision was made to enter the same four drivers on both cars, namely Philipp Eng, Marco Wittmann, Max Hesse and Robin Frijns. As a reminder, according to our information, the first two mentioned will compete for the entire season alongside Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde, unavailable due to the FIA GT World Cup in Macau.
Chez Meyer Shank Racingall the drivers expected at the 24 Hours of Daytona and made official this afternoon will be there. Japonias Kaku Ohta is registered on number 93. His presence at the start of the Florida double clock probably depends on his performance.
Finally, despite the uncertainties hovering over the program, Lamborghini Iron Lynx will be there with an SC63 entrusted to Romain Grosjean and Andrea Caldarelli.
The only private stable present, JDC-Miller Motorsports will entrust his 963 to Tijmen van der Helm, Chris Miller and… Gianmaria Bruni.
LMP2
In LMP2, note the presence of Ben Hanley, Manuel Maldonado and Phil Fayer on the No. 2 Oreca of the United Autosports. While n°22 will be entrusted to Daniel Goldburg, Paul di Resta and Rasmus Lindh.
Riley will trust ex-F1 driver Felipe Massa, who will rub shoulders with Gar Robinson, Felipe Fraga and Josh Burdon. Finally, the presence of Dane Cameron on the No. 99 Oreca 07 of the AO Racing confirms the information we revealed to you several weeks ago. The American will share the wheel with PJ Hyett, Christian Rasmussen and Jonny Edgar.
GTD Pro
Official BMW driver, Neil Verhagen will drive the M4 GT3 n°1 of the Paul Miller Racing with Madison Snow. The American could indeed play the entire season in this car.
Waters Sullivan will trust Jack Hawksworth, Ben Barnicoat and Kyle Kirkwood, while Klaus Bachler and Tom Sargent are expected in the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Finally, Ford Multimatic Motorsport seems to have reshuffled its crews somewhat since the trios Dennis Olsen / Christopher Mies / Frédéric Vervisch and Mike Rockenfeller / Seb Priaulx / Ben Barker have been requisitioned. This suggests that Joey Hand, Dirk Müller and Harry Tincknell will no longer be there next year in the Mustang GT3s.
GTD
Maxime Robin will take the wheel of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 this week Van der Steur Racing which will be entrusted during the season to Rory van der Steur and Valentin Hasse-Clot. Pipo Derani is registered on the Corvette Z06 GT3.R of the DXDT Racing. Finally, on n°83 of Iron Dameswe will find Karen Gaillard and Rahel Frey as well as Matteo Cressoni and Claudio Schiavoni, whom we are not used to finding on a pink car and who is… a Porsche!
