The long-anticipated 2023 IMSA season is finally here. Out with the DPi cars, in with the hybrid-powered return of the GTP class.
Four manufactures will contest the premier class while a bumper 61 cars fill the entire grid for this year's season opener from Daytona. There are many questions ahead of this season. The new GTP machine are still in the infancy stage of development, and teams are discovering new problems when the cars break down.
Ahead of this year's 24 Hours of Daytona, the feelings harken back to the GTP days of old, when no one was certain if the cars would make it to the end, and seeing the checkered flag could require some feathering of the throttle over the night just to see the sun rise and have a prayer at victory.
Schedule
The calendar looks mostly the same. Daytona remains the season opener, held this weekend over January 28 and 29. There will be six weeks or so off until the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 18 and a month after that will be the Long Beach sprint event for GTP and the two GTD classes.
A month later, IMSA will be back in California for Laguna Seca, and four of the five class will compete on May 14 with LMP3 getting the weekend off. LMP3 will be back at the next round, the Six Hours of the Glen on June 25 before GTP, LMP3 and the GTD classes run at Mosport on July 9.
The first of two GT-only rounds will be on July 22 at Lime Rock Park. All five classes will run at Road America on August 6 before the second GT-only round on August 27 at Virginia International Raceway.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway returns to the calendar for a two-hour and 40-minute race on September 17 with all five classes competing. Indianapolis will be the penultimate round of the season with Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta closing out the year on October 14.
We will look over each entry for this year's race and assess its hopes for the season and the 24-hour classic.
Grand Touring Prototype
#01 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-LMDh
Drivers: Renger van der Zande, Sébastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon
Why this car could win: It has one of the best drivers ever, not just in IndyCar but in all competitions, combined with another great driver who has won everywhere and then another reliable sports car driver. All three drivers have won the 24 Hours of Daytona overall. This is the only car in the GTP class where all of the drivers have won Daytona overall before. Ganassi is one of the best teams in 24 Hours of Daytona history.
Cadillac has been good in IMSA. It was the best out of the box when DPi debuted. The car has been at the top and it was not experiencing the gremlins other teams had during the Roar test and we really haven't heard much from earlier testing either.
Why this car will not win: Ganassi has not won overall since 2015, part of that reason is because it was running the Ford GT GTLM program for most of that time before returning to prototypes in 2021. Also, it is almost too good to be true to think this car will win. Cadillac is good, but this race is going to be a 24-hour learning experience. What we think we know in hour two could be completely disproven in hour 22.
What to expect for the full season: This should be a championship caliber team. Bourdais and van der Zande had a poor start to last year, but ended strong. If the Cadillac is remotely competitive, the #01 Cadillac will be a force. It should win multiple races and really be one of the teams to beat.
#02 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-LMDh
Drivers: Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Richard Westbrook
Why this car could win: Bamber and Lynn did a good job last season in DPi, most notably winning at Sebring. Bamber won the World Endurance GT Drivers' championship with Porsche in 2017, and he has twice won Le Mans overall. Westbrook is a steady driver. He has won in prototypes and the top GT programs.
Why this car will not win: The other Cadillac is the full-time IMSA car. That should get priority late in the race and if both cars are on the same lap. Also, Westbrook's best overall finish in the 24 Hours of Daytona is third on three different occasions, including last year.
What to expect for the full season: This lineup will only run Daytona, as this trio prepares to be Cadillac's lineup in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the American manufacture going for the world championship in Hypercar.
#6 Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963
Drivers: Dane Cameron, Mathieu Jaminet, Nick Tandy
Why this car could win: Porsche has done the most testing and it has been at it for almost a year. This car was on a flier when Nick Tandy had this accident in qualifying, and if he had not crash, Tandy believes he could have been on pole position. The speed is there. Cameron has multiple IMSA championships and is a good rock to build around. Tandy found quick success in the Porsche 919 Hybrid when it entered LMP1 competition. Jaminet won last year at Daytona after a thrilling conclusion in GTD Pro.
Why this car will not win: If any car was snakebitten during the Roar, it was the #6 Porsche. It had a few mechanical issues on Friday and then Tandy had an accident in qualifying at the chicane. It was a disjointed test session and this car keeps finding problems. Add to it Jaminet is getting his first prototype experience.
What to expect for the full season: It will be Tandy and Jaminet full-time in this car. Tandy has plenty of experience in IMSA, but exclusively in GTLM/GTD Pro. I don't think that is going to be a detriment. Porsche has taken its GT drivers and moved them to the GTP program. We are going to learn a lot about these drivers, and Porsche has a bench that includes Romain Dumas and Richard Lietz if it needs to make a chance. Porsche will win races. It will challenge for the championship. It is just a matter of is Porsche leading the way or chasing.
#7 Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963
Drivers: Matt Campbell, Micahel Christensen, Felipe Nasr
Why this car could win: Nasr was brilliant in IMSA and has two championships to show for it. Not to mention, Nasr took the Porsche to second on the grid in the final seconds of qualifying. Campbell has been quick everywhere he has been and he and Nasr were teamed together in the winning GTD Pro entry last year as Campbell went on to win the class championship with Jaminet. Christensen is a past world champion in the WEC GTE Pro and he was runner-up in that championship last year. The Dane also won at Daytona in GTD back in 2017.
Why this car will not win: Campbell and Christensen are both new to prototype racing. Another thing to note, Penske struggled in endurance races when it ran the Acura program in IMSA from 2018 to 2020.
What to expect for the full season: In the Porsche camp, I give the #7 an edge because Nasr will be full-time and that prototype experience should count for something. Campbell has adapted quickly to many different scenarios in his career. I don't think this will cause the Australian to stumble. The #7 Porsche should be leading the way and should be responsible for a handful of firsts.
#10 Konica Minolta Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport Acura ARX-06
Drivers: Filipe Albuquerque, Ricky Taylor, Louis Delétraz, Brendon Hartley
Why this car could win: Come on... it is Wayne Taylor Racing. It won at Daytona in three of the previous four years. Albuquerque and Taylor came within touching distance of the championship last year. Delétraz had a breakout 2022 season where he won his second European Le Mans Series championship. Hartley won at Le Mans for a third time and he won his third World Endurance Drivers' championship last year. There is no weakness in this lineup.
Acura was quickest at the Roar test. It seemed to be consistently quicker than Porsche and Cadillac, not be a significant margin, but Acura was ahead all the time that you feel confident it has what it takes.
Why this car will not win: For the first time in a long time, the car is a question mark for WTR. Acura has shown teething issues in testing. The pace might be there, but we aren't sure this car will last 24 hours. They didn't appear to be devastating issues in testing, but they are still concerning. It feels like Porsche and Cadillac are better prepared for a 24-hour race.
What to expect for the full season: Though Acura might have a few things to work out, WTR should still be making its presence known. Albuquerque and Taylor will be fighting for podium spots and they should win at least one race, but this is going to be a grueling season and there is a chance we see the team's worst championship result since it was fifth in 2015.
#24 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8
Drivers: Philipp Eng, Augusto Farfus, Colton Herta, Marco Wittmann
Why this car could win: Herta has won in two of his first four starts at Daytona in two different classes. Eng has won at Daytona before, albeit in GTLM, and with Herta and Farfus, and Farfus has won twice at Daytona while also being a solid touring car driver. Wittmann has two Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters championships.
Why this car will not win: BMW has had many problems in testing. It couldn't get a 24-hour test in. The good news is pace does not appear to be an issue. BMW was the slowest, but still within 8/10ths of the top time in class. BMW could be set for a tortoise vs. hare race, but if the car has to push the limit, I am not sure it will last. Herta is the only driver in this bunch with prototype experience. Daytona could be a long race for BMW.
What to expect for the full season: It could be a long season for BMW. Eng and Farfus will be full-time. The other GTP lineups have more experience in similar machinery. Add to it the concerns about BMW's car, I don't think we will see either BMW in many competitive positions this season.
#25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8
Drivers: Connor De Phillippi, Nick Yelloly, Colton Herta, Sheldon van der Linde
Why this car could win: De Phillippi has won at Daytona before and has a long IMSA career. Van der Linde just won the DTM championship. Yelloly has done well in sports car racing since transitioning from single-seater series. Herta will be in both cars.
Why this car will not win: Take everything for the #24 BMW and it applies here. Herta is being split over two cars. It is almost BMW betting if one of the cars retires early then Herta will be fresh and focused for the other, but if both cars keep going, Herta could be spread thin.
What to expect for the full season: It is De Phillippi and Yelloly full-time. I don't expect anything different from these two than I expect from Eng and Farfus. This is going to be a rough season and BMW could be set to make some changes early ahead of the 2024 season.
#31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac V-LMDh
Drivers: Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims, Jack Aitken
Why this car could win: Derani won this race in 2016 and has been one of the best drivers in IMSA since he entered the championship. Sims has raced in IMSA before and just ran for Corvette in WEC. Aitken showed promise in the European junior series, which led to a Formula One start, before moving to sports cars and driving in LMP2 last year in WEC.
Why this car will not win: This is Sims first time driving a prototype and Aitken only has one season of LMP2 under his belt. Also, the #31 Cadillac did not win a race last year, which you could argue means the team is due, but it is on a slump nonetheless. It doesn't help that the #31 Cadillac was the slowest of the three Cadillacs entered.
What to expect for the full season: Derani has Sims as his new co-driver this season. It is difficult imagining it getting worse than last year for Derani, which wasn't terrible, but was a shock after winning the championship in 2021. I trust Derani. I don't think Sims can match Derani's output and I don't think Sims is one of the top drivers in this class. They could win a race, but I could also see another winless season and winding up fifth or sixth in the championship again.
#60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06
Drivers: Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Hélio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud
Why this car could win: Meyer Shank Racing won last year. Three quarters of that lineup is still there. It won pole position for this year's race. Acura is blisteringly quick. Castroneves has won the last two years. Blomqvist won the DPi championship last year. Braun has two class victories at Daytona, including in LMP2 in 2020 and just won his third IMSA class championship last year in LMP3.
Why this car will not win: Back-to-back victories are rare, though Wayne Taylor Racing just got off a run of consecutive victories. Castroneves is gunning to become only the second driver with three consecutive 24 Hours of Daytona victories with Peter Gregg. Three consecutive wins is rare. Life is a numbers game. The numbers are lining up against shank. Acura wasn't flawless in testing compared to some of the other GTP entries.
What to expect for the full season: Blomqvist won the title last year with Oliver Jarvis after remarkable consistency that saw five consecutive runner-up finishes in the middle of the season while bookending the season in victories. Braun nearly won the Prototype championship driving an LMP2 car with Jon Bennett in 2018. The driver quality is there for a repeat for MSR, but this season will come down to the car and its development. I expect a dip from 2022, but still a few strong days. If MSR is in the fight until the very end that will not be a surprise either.
LMP2
#04 Crowdstrike Racing by APR Oreca-Gibson
Drivers: Ben Hanley, Esteban Gutiérrez, George Kurtz, Matt McMurry
Why this car could win: McMurry won the LMP2 championship in 2019 and GTD title in 2020. Kurtz had good results in LMP3 the last few years. Hanley knows what he is doing in LMP2 and won this race in 2020. Gutiérrez was once in Formula One. For a new group, it showed good pace in testing.
Why this car will not win: It is a new team with many new faces coming together and Kurtz is making a big jump from LMP3 to LMP2.
What to expect for the full season: Crowdstrike is only running the Endurance Cup races.
#8 Tower Motorsports Oreca-Gibson
Drivers: Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, John Farano, Kyffin Simpson
Why this car could win: Newgarden is a two-time IndyCar championship with 25 career victories. McLaughlin is coming off a breakout IndyCar season with three victories added to his historic Supercars career. Simpson has shown some pace in the junior series in the United States. Oh, and Farano is the defending LMP2 champion.
Why this car will not win: This will be the first LMP2 race for Newgarden, McLaughlin and Simpson. Newgarden has not run a professional sports car race before let alone an endurance race. Farano had an accident in qualifying, meaning the car needed repairs. This team looks good on paper but looks can be deceiving.
What to expect for the full season: Farano won the title last year with Louis Delétraz as his co-driver for most of the season. Delétraz will be busy, but he will run the sprint rounds. We don't know who will run the other endurance races, but Farano will put up a good title defense.
#11 TDS Racing Oreca-Gibson
Drivers: Scott Huffaker, Mikkel Jensen, Steven Thomas, Rinus VeeKay
Why this car could win: Huffaker and Jensen won the Endurance Cup championship the last two seasons in LMP2 with Ben Keating and PR1/Mathiasen, and Jensen took the full season LMP2 title in 2021. Huffaker has shown good speed every year he has run in IMSA. Thomas had an impressive rookie season in WEC last year. VeeKay is quick and comfortable jumping into many different cars.
Why this car will not win: TDS Racing has another car entered in this class that will be hard to beat and that other car was already faster in qualifying.
What to expect for the full season: Thomas will be full-time but his co-driver has not been confirmed. He has had success with different co-drivers before. Combined with the right driver, he could push for the championship, but until we know who Thomas is with, it will remain a question mark.
#18 Era Motorsport Oreca-Gibson
Drivers: Ryan Dalziel, Dwight Merriman, Oliver Jarvis, Christian Rasmussen
Why this car could win: It won at Daytona two years ago. Dalziel and Merriman have a good partnership. Jarvis won overall last year at Daytona and has had success competing in LMP2. Rasmussen is still a quick young driver and rounds out this lineup nicely.
Why this car will not win: The team had a gearbox issue take it out of the race and then didn't meet drive time for one of its drivers in 2022. There is always a way to lose one of these races. Plus, I think LMP2 has gotten tougher this season.
What to expect for the full season: After being second in the championship last year, a championship is possible, but I don't think Dalziel and Merriman is the strongest pairing at the start of this season. They will put up a fight, but could finish second again.
#20 High Class Racing Oreca-Gibson
Drivers: Dennis Andersen, Anders Fjordbach, Ed Jones, Raffaele Marciello
Why this car could win: Andersen and Fjordbach competed full-time in IMSA last year and improved over the course of the season. Jones had a good first season in WEC driving in LMP2 for Jota Sport. Marciello is an underrated driver and won the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup title last year while also winning two of four Intercontinental GT World Challenge raes.
Why this car will not win: Andersen and Fjordbach are not the quickest amateur drivers and Jones and Marciello are not even to counterbalance that lack of pace. Plus, this will be Marciello's first race in an LMP2 car.
What to expect for the full season: High Class will run full-time for the Danes again in 2023. A couple podium results are possible, but victory most likely comes on a day when everyone else in class is having trouble.
#35 TDS Racing Oreca-Gibson
Drivers: Giedo van der Garde, François Heriau, Josh Pierson, Job van Uitert
Why this car could win: Van der Garde and van Uitert know each other well from their time with Racing Team Nederland. Pierson had a good first season in LMP2 competition last year driving in IMSA and WEC. Heriau has won in the European Le Mans Series, and he made his Daytona debut last year. This car was second in qualifying.
Why this car will not win: One car is just a little bit better. This will be a tough entry to top. Pierson is also only 16 years old. He is still maturing as a driver.
What to expect for the full season: Van der Garde and Heriau will drive full-time in IMSA. They have a shot at the championship. Both drivers will be learning these circuits, but I think they will pick them up quick and be competitive at every round.
#51 Rick Ware Racing Oreca-Gibson
Drivers: Austin Cindric, Devlin DeFrancesco, Pietro Fittipaldi, Eric Lux
Why this car could win: It has half of last year's LMP2 winning team, one of the most diverse 24-year-old race car drivers in the world and a driver who is wasting his talent waiting for a Formula One seat that will never be open but will start branching back into sports car racing in 2023.
Why this car will not win: Come on? Is Rick Ware Racing actually going to win a race? This will be Cindric's first time in an LMP2 car and he is tall. Height can be a disadvantage in these prototypes. The Oreca is a tight cockpit. Also, no offense to Cindric and Fittipaldi, but I am not sure they are as good as Colton Herta and Patricio O'Ward.
What to expect for the full season: Rick Ware Racing has said it will field a full-time entry, but the full-time lineup is still questionable. It appears Lux will be full-time but his co-driver is unknown.
#52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca-Gibson
Drivers: Paul-Loup Chatin, Ben Keating, Nicolas Lapierre, Alex Quinn
Why this car could win: This team won the LMP2 Endurance Cup championship the previous two seasons. Keating won the WEC GTE Am title last year. Keating took pole position by 1.210 seconds over the #35 TDS Racing entry. Lapierre has been one of the best drivers in LMP2 competition while Chatin has also been successful at this level. Quinn swept his only weekend in U.S. F2000 in 2022 on the IMS road course.
Why this car will not win: Quinn is new to sports car racing and there are strong entries in this class. One slip and it cost the team victory. Also, Keating's only Daytona victory was in GTD in 2015.
What to expect for the full season: Keating will only be running the endurance races as he will also defend his WEC crown with a Corvette this year. Chatin will run the full season and the other sprint round drivers is still unconfirmed, but Patrick Kelly, 2020 LMP2 champion, is expected to be the driver. Chatin and Kelly can win races, which mean Chatin could win this championship.
#55 Proton Competition Oreca-Gibson
Drivers: Gianmaria Bruni, James Allen, Fred Poordad, Francesco Pizzi
Why this car could win: Bruni has been great in sports car racing, albeit almost exclusively in GT competition. Allen has won in LMP2 in ELMS competition. Pizzi is coming from single seaters and Poordad has run in GT World Challenge America.
Why this car will not win: It was the slowest car in LMP2 and this is the most inexplicable lineup at Daytona. How did these four drivers come together?
What to expect for the full season: Proton hopes to get a Porsche 963 to run in GTP.
#88 AF Corse Oreca-LMP2
Drivers: Julien Canal, Nicklas Nielsen, François Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxivière
Why this car could win: This team has a lot of time together between WEC and ELMS competition. It has won championships in GTE Am competition. Last year, in LMP2, it was the top pro-am team in WEC and this best pro-am team in ELMS. Canal twice took the WEC LMP2 crown. This car was fourth in qualifying. Nielsen will be a Ferrari Hypercar driver this season.
Why this car will not win: It is a one-off and one-offs don't always click. Perrodo is still relatively new to LMP2 competition and it is his first Daytona appearance since 2017.
What to expect for the full season: This is a Daytona-only entry.
LMP3
#13 AWA Duqueine D08-Nissan
Drivers: Matt Bell, Orey Fidani, Lars Kern, Mortiz Kranz
Why this car could win: Kranz has been successful in LMP3 competition on both sides of the Atlantic. Fidani, Kern and Bell ran together last year at Daytona and Petit Le Mans, and Kern won at Sebring in 2021 driving for Pfaff Motorsports in the GTD class. Fidani has won at Daytona before in the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class and he was sixth in the LMP3 championship last year with Kern his co-driver for four races.
Why this car will not win: It is LMP3. Anything can happen. Any of these teams can have one minor error ruin their race and the race of another team as well. But this car was eighth out of nine cars in LMP3 qualifying.
What to expect for the full season: Bell and Fidani will be full-time. I think this team will be about where it was last year.
#17 AWA Duqueine D08-Nissan
Drivers: Wayne Boyd, Anthony Mantella, Thomas Merrill, Nicolás Varrone
Why this car could win: Boyd has competed regularly in LMP3 in ELMS and has run in LMP2. Mantella drove in Prototype Challenge last year. Merrill ran the Endurance Cup races in LMP2 in 2021 with WIN Autosport and won at Watkins Glen. Varrone had a good season in ELMS last year in a GTE car.
Why this car will not win: Half of the drivers are making their 24 Hours of Daytona debut and the other two are making their second Daytona start. This car was slowest in LMP3 qualifying.
What to expect for the full season: Boyd makes the move up to full-time competition from Prototype Challenge and Boyd will be his co-driver. I think the main competition will be the other AWA car all season.
#33 Sean Creech Motorsport Ligier-Nissan
Drivers: João Barbosa, Nico Pino, Nolan Siegel, Lance Willsey
Why this car could win: It has been runner-up the last two years at Daytona. Barbosa and Willsey have been together for the better part of the last two seasons. Pino won three ELMS races in LMP3 last year while finishing second in that class and he ran Daytona last year. Add on top of it Pino took pole position in the class. Siegel comes in after a strong Indy Pro 2000 season.
Why this car will not win: Riley Motorsports is still fielding a car in this class.
What to expect for the full season: Barbosa and Willsey should be one of the better cars in this class and likely pick up a victory or two. Any full-time entrant can win this championship.
#36 Andretti Autosport Ligier-Nissan
Drivers: Gabby Chaves, Jarett Andretti, Dakota Dickerson, Rasmus Lindh
Why this car could win: Andretti won at Petit Le Mans last year with Chaves and Andretti. Dickerson and Lindh have both been successful in LMP3 competition. It was second quickest in LMP3 qualifying. This is a strong lineup. There isn't a driver you are overly concerned about.
Why this car will not win: For being Andretti Autosport, it has an underwhelming track record in LMP3 competition.
What to expect for the full season: This will only be an Endurance Cup program, but Michael Andretti hinted that the team will participate in some GTD Sprint Cup rounds this season.
#38 Performance Tech Motorsports Ligier-Nissan
Drivers: Christoper Allen, Connor Bloum, John De Angelis, Cameron Shields
Why this car could win: Performance Tech has been an IMSA regular for a long time and has had success in the past. Somehow, this group wound up third in qualifying.
Why this car will not win: This is an inexperienced lineup. It doesn't feel ready to complete a 24-hour race.
What to expect for the full season: The belief is Performance Tech will run this car full-time, but details beyond Daytona are hazy.
#43 MRS GT-Racing Ligier-Nissan
Drivers: Sebastián Álvarez, Danial Frost, Guilherme Oliveira, James Frech.
Why this car could win: French won at Daytona in Prototype Challenge in 2017 and won the PC championship that season. He also won at Petit Le Mans in LMP2 in 201. Oliveira was marvelous in LMP3 last year's ELMS season with three victories driving for Inter Europol Competition where Pino was his co-driver. Frost has been a good driver in the Road to Indy series. The car was fourth in qualifying!
Why this car will not win: It is a GT team moving up to LMP3 with a hodgepodge of drivers.
What to expect for the full season: This appears to be a Daytona-only entry.
#74 Riley Motorsport Ligier-Nissan
Drivers: Gar Robinson, Felipe Fraga, Josh Burdon, Glenn van Berlo
Why this car could win: It has won every year LMP3 has run the 24 Hours of Daytona. Fraga is much better than an LMP3 car. Robinson is a tough man to beat in this class.
Why this car will not win: Three consecutive victories? That is asking a lot. Nothing lasts forever.
What to expect for the full season: Robinson and Fraga will be full-time again. With CORE Autosport gone, this is the clear class favorite. This team should win multiple races and be one of the toughest to beat.
#85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Duqueine D08-Nissan
Drivers: Till Bechtolsheimer, Mason Filippi, Tijmen van der Helm, Luca Mars
Why this car could win: It is a team with experience in the top class of IMSA competition. Bectholsheimer and Filippi have been successful in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition. Van der Helm had a good first season in ELMS last year.
Why this car will not win: It is a piecemeal lineup without much cohesion.
What to expect for the full season: JDC-Miller is waiting for delivery of its Porsche 963, which may not come in time for the month of April. It is unclear how many LMP3 races JDC-Miller will do in the interim, but expectations is it will field a GTP entry at some point this season.
#87 FastMD Racing Duqueine D08-Nissan
Drivers: Yu Kanamaru, Nick Boulle, Antonio Serravalle, James Vance
Why this car could win: Boulle won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2017 in the Prototype Challenge class. Serravalle brings Road to Indy experience. Kanamaru had good runs in a handful of European junior series not long ago.
Why this car will not win: Boulle is not as active as he once was, Kanamaru and Serravalle are Daytona rookies and Vance is making his first Daytona appearance since 2015.
What to expect for the full season: FastMD plans on running the entire season.
GTD Pro
#3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R GTD
Drivers: Antonio García, Tommy Milner, Jordan Taylor
Why this car could win: Taylor and García have each won three times at Daytona, including together in 2021. They have won two of the last three GTD Pro/GTLM championships. Milner won at Daytona in GTLM in 2016 and won four times in his last full IMSA season in 2021.
Why this car will not win: There might be only nine cars, but GTD Pro will be a pure battle royale with eight different manufacturers represented in class. If any team slips up, it could cost that team the race. It could be incidental but still be crushing.
What to expect for the full season: Corvette is always in the championship discussion. That will not change this year. It won at Sebring last year. I expect more than one victory in 2023.
#9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
Drivers: Klaus Bachler, Patrick Pilet, Laurens Vanthoor
Why this car could win: Pfaff Motorsports won this race last year as well as the GTD Pro championship and that was a year after it won the GTD title, where Vanthoor was one of its drivers. Vanthoor and Pilet went toe-to-toe with Pfaff last year driving a Porsche for KCMG last year, only to finish third after the physical battle in the closing laps.
Why this car will not win: None of these three drivers were in that winning Pfaff team last year. Those drivers are all now spread among the Porsche 963s. Also, the Porsches are struggling with speed and it is attributed to how Balance of Performance was set.
What to expect for the full season: Pfaff has Bachler and Pilet set for its full-time program. I don't see a championship. Perhaps a race victory or two, but a step back from what Campbell and Jaminet accomplished in 2022. If Pfaff does win the title, it is not as emphatic as it did last year.
#14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3
Drivers: Ben Barnicoat, Jack Hawksworth, Mike Conway
Why this car could win: Barnicoat and Hawksworth ended 2022 with finishes of third, first, third and first over the final four races. The #14 Lexus was second in the GTD Pro championship. Throw in Mike Conway, a two-time World Endurance Drivers' champion and past overall Le Mans winner and this is a dangerous all-British lineup.
Why this car will not win: This is going to be Conway's first race in this car and Lexus isn't known for Daytona success.
What to expect for the full season: Barnicoat and Hawksworth could win the championship. They should be in the fight again this year with a few victories.
#23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Drivers: Ross Gunn, David Pittard, Alex Riberas
Why this car could win: Gunn and Riberas ended that season with eight consecutive top five finishes. Pittard is experienced in many different GT3 competitions. The car missed out on GTD Pro pole position by 0.041 seconds, and Aston Martin was consistently at the top of the charts in testing.
Why this car will not win: This is a good trio, but there are a handful that are better.
What to expect for the full season: Respectable results, perhaps a victory, but nothing spectacular.
#62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3
Drivers: James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, Davide Rigon, Daniel Serra
Why this car could win: Calado and Pier Guidi are coming off another GT World Endurance Drivers' Championship. Rigon and Serra are provide entities and won the GTD Pro Endurance Cup championship last year. . These four drivers wound up second last year in this race
Why this car will not win: This is the first race for the Ferrari 296 GT3. It is against tried and true competition. Not many cars win on debut. It doesn't help that Risi was the slowest in GTD Pro qualifying and over a half-second behind the next slowest car.
What to expect for the full season: Another crack at the Endurance Cup.
#63 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
Drivers: Mirko Bortolotti, Andrea Caldarelli, Romain Grosjean, Jordan Pepper
Why this car could win: Lamborghini has a great record in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Caldarelli and Pepper were nearly unbeatable in GT World Challenge America. Caldarelli won in GTD at Daytona in 2020 while Bortolotti won in GTD at Daytona in 2018 and 2019. Grosjean is returning to sports car racing after a brief cup of coffee over a decade ago, but he has found new life in the last few years.
Why this car will not win: It is really difficult to make an argument against this team other than Iron Lynx will just be getting its arms around the Lamborghini, and it doesn't help that Lamborghini was sixth in qualifying.
What to expect for the full season: It will be an Endurance Cup entrant.
#64 TGM/TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Drivers: Ted Giovanis, Hugh Plumb, Matt Plumb, Owen Trinkler
Why this car could win: It will be on the grid. You have to be there to have a chance. TGM is a close-knit team, competing together last year at Daytona and all these drivers run together in Michelin Pilot Challenge. There is always a chance of eight other cars retiring, but TGM was showing its own raw pace as Aston Martin was regularly one of the quickest at the Roar.
Why this car will not win: It is a pro-am lineup competing against the pros because it is looking to take advantage of the different drive time regulations for GTD Pro. It is the weakest car in class in terms of drivers. Though it was showing good speed, its hope for any type of respectable result lie with this being a race of attrition.
What to expect for the full season: These drivers will be full-time competitors in Michelin Pilot Challenge.
#79 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
Drivers: Maro Engel, Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella, Cooper MacNeil
Why this car could win: Gounon and Juncadella won the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup championship, which included a victory in the Spa 24 Hours. Engel has a fabulous record in GT3 competition. MacNeil is competent and knows what he is doing. Engel took GTD Pro pole position.
Why this car will not win: WeatherTech Racing does not have a great record at the 24 Hours of Daytona.
What to expect for the full season: Gounon and Juncadella will be full-time in this car. They will win races and contest for the championship.
#95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3
Drivers: Bill Auberlen, John Edwards, Chandler Hull, Bruno Spengler
Why this car could win: Auberlen has the most victories in IMSA history while Edwards won at Daytona in 2020. Spengler has become a Daytona regular over the last few seasons and he was one of the best drivers in DTM over the 2010s. Turner is used to competing against larger grids in GTD. Nine cars in GTD Pro will not make them blink.
Why this car will not win: This is a deep class. Hull will be one of the more inexperienced drivers in class.
What to expect for the full season: Auberlen and Hull will compete for the GTD Sprint Cup championship, a title they could win and should be competitive in. This car will run for the Endurance Cup championship in GTD Pro with Edwards.
GTD
#1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3
Drivers: Bryan Sellers, Madison Snow, Maxime Martin, Corey Lewis
Why this car could win: Paul Miller Racing is one of the top teams in GTD. Sellers and Snow are one of the best combinations in the class. They won this race two years, and Lewis was a member of that winning team as well. Martin only brings more strength to this group after years with the Aston Martin program.
Why this car will not win: This team struggled in endurance races last year, finishing outside the top ten at Sebring and Watkins Glen, and it doesn't help that the team was 11th in qualifying.
What to expect for the full season: Sellers and Snow can win the championship. They were Sprint Cup champions last year and were only out of the full GTD title because BMW didn't have a new M4 GT3 ready for Paul Miller Racing to run at Daytona last year. They will win multiple times and be fighting for silverware at Petit Le Mans.
#12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3
Drivers: Aaron Telitz, Frankie Montecalvo, Kyle Kirkwood, Parker Thompson
Why this car could win: There are proven race winners in this car with Telitz, Montecalvo and Kirkwood. Thompson was consistently good in the Road to Indy and he has kept up in Porsche Carrera Cup North America competition.
Why this car will not win: Lexus has not done well the last three years at Daytona, with only one top ten finish during that timeframe.
What to expect for the full season: It will be Telitz and Montecalvo again full-time in this car. Their results were up and down all season in 2022. A race victory is not out of the question, but they have to seize whatever moment they are given. If they maximize their potential, a championship is possible, but they are currently outsiders for the title.
#16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
Drivers: Jan Heylen, Ryan Hardwick, Dennis Olsen, Zacharie Robichon
Why this car could win: It won last year! The only difference is Olsen is in for Richard Lietz. Hardwick and Heylen wound up second in the championship. They know each other well after years of racing with one another. Robichon is always quick. This is a proper quartet.
Why this car will not win: It is a 24-hour race and repeating is difficult, and none of the Porsche teams are happy with BoP. This was the quickest Porsche in GTD, and it was 14th out of 24 cars. Out of the 33 GTD cars between the two classes, none of the Porsches cracked the top 20.
What to expect for the full season: Another championship push, a few race victories, and maybe this is the year Wright Motorsports comes out on top.
#19 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
Drivers: Raffaele Giammaria, Rolf Ineichen, Franck Perera, Claudio Schiavoni
Why this car could win: Ineichen has won at Daytona twice, one of those years was with Perera. Giammaria and Schiavoni have been co-drivers the last two years at Le Mans, and they were third in WEC GTE Am in 2021.
Why this car will not win: Ineichen has not had the same kind of luck at Daytona as he did before, and Giammaria has only run at Le Mans the last two years.
What to expect for the full season: This entry will only run at Daytona.
#21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3
Drivers: Francesco Castellacci, Simon Mann, Luis Pérez Companc, Miguel Molina
Why this car could win: Castellacci has plenty of GT3 experience while Mann and Pérez Companc were co-drivers in the Endurance Cup races last year and were in the top five at Daytona and Sebring before finishing second in the Endurance Cup championship. Molina brings some muscle to this lineup. He was third in GTE Pro last year in WEC and Molina is set for a Hypercar ride for Ferrari.
Why this car will not win: It feels like Molina will have to carry this entry too much and not be enough to win the race. AF Corse was 17th in qualifying.
What to expect for the full season: At the moment, this car is only entered for Daytona.
#023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3
Drivers: Andrea Bertolini, Alesio Rovera, Charlie Scardina, Onofrio Triarsi
Why this car could win: Rovera has been burst on the scene the last few season with a WEC GTE Am title and good results in LMP2 last year in WEC and ELMS. Bertolini won that same GTE Am championship in 2015 and has had good results in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup's pro-am class.
Why this car will not win: This feels like the most amateur of the entries in this pro-am class, and it is a team new to IMSA. It was 21st in qualifying.
What to expect for the full season: Triarsi will compete only in the endurance races.
#27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Drivers: Roman De Angelis, Ian James, Marco Sørensen, Darren Turner
Why this car could win: This is the defending GTD championship team. De Angelis was third in the championship the year prior. Sørensen is a three-time world champion, including winning in WEC GTE Am last year, which included a victory at Le Mans. James was the endurance driver last year and there is no doubt in Turner's ability.
Why this car will not win: Heart of Racing does not have great results at Daytona. It is the one race the team struggles at.
What to expect for the full season: De Angelis can defend his championship with Sørensen as his co-driver. This is a great pairing. It would not be surprising if this pair wins the title with a few race victories for good measure.
#32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3
Drivers: Maximilian Götz, Mikaël Grenier, Kenton Koch, Mike Skeen
Why this car could win: Korthoff was third in the championship last year with Skeen in the lineup. Götz has won his fair share of GT3 races in a number of series, and he was DTM champion in 2021. Grenier has spent the last few seasons driving a Mercedes-AMG. Koch has a Daytona class victory. Mercedes-AMG took the top three spots on the grid.
Why this car will not win: With Stevan McAleer leaving, this is an entirely different lineup compared to last year. It is a big change. Also, it was the third fastest Mercedes-AMG! It will have a fight on its hands just within the Mercedes-AMG camp.
What to expect for the full season: A step back. Grenier will be Skeen's co-driver over the full season. Third in the championship is a stretch. There could be a few competitive days.
#42 NTE Sport Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
Drivers: Jaden Conwright, Alessio Deledda, Kerong Li, Don Yount
Why this car could win: Conwright and Yount competed together last year. Li is coming from the European Lamborghini Super Trofeo series. Deledda competed in DTM last year.
Why this car will not win: The team struggled for results last year. It was the slowest car in qualifying. Li is an unknown. Deledda hasn't lit the world on fire in any series he has participated in.
What to expect for the full season: It is unclear. NTE has registered for the full season but the team hasn't announced any full-time drivers.
#44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Drivers: Andy Lally, John Potter, Spencer Pumpelly, Nicki Thiim
Why this car could win: Magnus Racing has won this race before. This team was second in class last year. The Aston Martin is a quality car. Thiim is a great driver.
Why this car will not win: Magnus Racing has not won since at Lime Rock Park in 2016.
What to expect for the full season: Magnus Racing will only run the endurance races.
#47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari 296 GT3
Drivers: Alessandro Balzan, Antonio Fuoco, Roberto Lacorte, Giorgio Sernagiotto
Why this car could win: Balzan has had plenty of success in IMSA competition and twice was GTD champion. Fuoco is set for a Ferrari Hypercar role after years of GT success and he, along with Lacorte and Sernagiotto, won at Sebring last year.
Why this car will not win: We don't know if the new Ferrari will have all the kinks ironed out, and while this team won Sebring, this is a tough field, and Balzan has only one start over the previous two years.
What to expect for the full season: Cetilar Racing will be full-time in IMSA this season. I think competition will be difficult and it will be difficult for this car to get on the podium.
#53 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
Drivers: Jan Magnussen, Mark Kvamme, Trenton Estep, Jason Hart
Why this car could win: Magnussen has won at Daytona before in GTLM and has fantastic history in endurance races. Magnussen and Kvamme did well in December in the Gulf 12 Hours. Estep was fourth in Porsche Carrera Cup North America last year. Hart has won the GT4 America Pro-Am championship the previous two years.
Why this car will not win: Magnussen has been away from regular competition the last few years. Kevin Magnussen was supposed in this car before hand surgery took him out of the car. There are too many question marks compared to other entries in this class. Hart is jumping from GT4 to GT3.
What to expect for the full season: This is a Daytona-only entrant.
#57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
Drivers: Russell Ward, Philip Ellis, Indy Dontje, Lucas Auer
Why this car could win: Three quarters of these drivers won this race two years ago. This quartet ran together last year. Ellis won pole position for this race. Auer has been strong in DTM, finishing second in the championship last year. This car was on pole position last year before finishing sixth in class. Ellis and Ward won two of the final three races last year in this class.
Why this car will not win: There are two-dozen cars in this class. At least 23 cars are going to lose. Being fast in qualifying does not mean you will win a 24-hour race. The odds are not in its favor. Somebody ends up being better. Winward will be in the conversation though.
What to expect for the full season: More of the same from Ward and Ellis. Good pace, a couple of race victories, and maybe they can win the championship. It is a tough class.
#66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3
Drivers: Katherine Legge, Sheena Monk, Mario Farnbacher, Marc Miller
Why this car could win: Legge and Farnbacher have both excelled in the Acura NSX GT3. Monk is moving up after a good stint in the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS class. Miller has run many different types of cars and is a reliable driver. Gardient won at Petit Le Mans last year. It enters on a high, and it was fifth in qualifying.
Why this car will not win: Since reunification, no team has won the season finale in GTD and then won in class at the 24 Hour of Daytona the following year. In fact, since reunification, across all classes, only twice has the winner of a season finale gone on to win at Daytona the following year. Wayne Taylor Racing did it after winning Petit Le Mans overall in 2018 and then won overall at Daytona in 2019. Riley Motorsports won in LMP3 at Petit Le Mans in 2021 and then won in LMP3 at Daytona in 2022.
What to expect for the full season: Legge and Monk will be full-time. I think Monk will have a few rough weekends with the change. Results will improve over the course of the season as Legge guides the team.
#70 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3
Drivers: Brendan Iribe, Ollie Millroy, Frederik Schandorff, Marvin Kirchhöfer
Why this car could win: Inception Racing is coming off taking the Endurance Cup championship last year. These drivers have a lot of experience racing with one another. Iribe and Millroy also found success in GT World Challenge Europe last year. It was sixth in qualifying.
Why this car will not win: I know it won the Endurance Cup last year, but there are deeper teams here. It will be difficult to crack the top five let alone win the race.
What to expect for the full season: A few good days but I think this will mostly be a mid-field team.
#75 Sun Energy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
Drivers: Kenny Habul, Fabian Schiller, Axcil Jefferies, Luca Stolz
Why this car could win: Sun Energy1 has good results in endurance races around the world. This team won the Bathurst 12 Hour last year The team has been competitive in the past at Daytona. It was second quickest in qualifying despite being a late entry.
Why this car will not win: Jefferies is making his Daytona debut... outside of that, the biggest concern is the other Mercedes-AMGs, now that the BoP adjustments have come out and Mercedes-AMG has received no changes.
What to expect for the full season: This will be an endurance-only program.
#77 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
Drivers: Alan Brynjolfsson, Kévin Estre, Trent Hindman, Maxwell Root
Why this car could win: Estre is a top tier driver and was runner-up in WEC's GTE Pro championship the last two seasons. The Frenchman will be in the Porsche 963 for WEC this season. Hindman and Brynjolfsson are coming off the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS championship. Root has been a regular Porsche Carrera Cup North America competitor.
Why this car will not win: Porsche's BoP issues has this car 18th on the grid. Root isn't quite on the same level as the other three drivers in this team. If Porsche catches a break, this car could be in contention late, but it will need some help.
What to expect for the full season: Off the GS championship, Hindman and Brynjolfsson move up to GTD. A championship feels like a stretch in year one, but I think they can be on the podium a few times and possibly pull off a race victory.
#78 US RaceTronics Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
Drivers: Misha Goikhberg, Loris Spinelli, Benja Hites, Marco Mapelli
Why this car could win: Lamborghini has a good history at Daytona in this class and Mapelli has shown his brilliance in this race before. Goikhberg brings prototype experience into this lineup. Hites ran at Daytona last year.
Why this car will not win: Only one Lamborghini cracked the top ten in GTD qualifying, and it wasn't this car. This was the third quickest Lamborghini, 16th in class.
What to expect for the full season: It is unclear how many races USRT will run in 2023.
#80 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R
Drivers: P.J. Hyett, Gunar Jeannette, Sebastian Priaulx, Harry Tincknell
Why this car could win: Priaulx is coming off a strong 2022 where he won twice in WEC's GTE Am class, were Tincknell was his co-driver, and Priaulx was second in LMP3 last year at Daytona. Tincknell is a stout driver and had a great spell driving for Mazda in DPi. Jeannette has plenty of experience.
Why this car will not win: Again, Porsche BoP. This car was 21st in qualifying. This is Jeannette's first IMSA race since 2018. Hyett is fairly new to racing and he will be making his Daytona debut. It is going to be too much for Priaulx and Tincknell to handle.
What to expect for the full season: Hyett and Jeannette will run full-time, but they will also be full-time in WEC's GTE Am class. There are two weekend conflicts, Portimão and Long Beach and Monza and Mosport. Something will have to give on those weekends. I expect mostly tough results, but 2023 being a building season for 2024.
#83 Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
Drivers: Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting, Doriane Pin
Why this car could win: These four drivers have jelled in ELMS and WEC competition. Iron Dames was third in the ELMS GT championship last year and won the season finale at Portimão. They won the Gold Cup classs in the Spa 24 Hours last year. Pin is one of the brightest prospects on the grid.
Why this car will not win: Only Frey has Daytona experience. This is the first time for the other three drivers in this race. This is a deep field, deeper than the ELMS fields.
What to expect for the full season: Bovy, Frey and Gatting will run in WEC's GTE Am class while Pin will run in LMP2 for Prema Racing.
#91 Kelly-Moss with Riley Porsche 911 GT3 R
Drivers: Julien Andlauer, Kay van Berlo, Jaxon Evans, Alan Metni
Why this car could win: Andlauer has been one of Porsche's more impressive young drivers, already having a 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Am class victory to his name while winning races in Asian Le Mans Series and Le Mans Cup. Van Berlo won in Daytona last year in LMP3 while Evans is coming off a good first season in WEC competition.
Why this car will not win: It is a Porsche. This will be Evans and Metni's first times running Daytona. If Porsche does get some pace back, I think this could be a sleeper in the race.
What to expect for the full season: Van Berlo and Metni will be full-time. Both drivers competed in Porsche Carrera Cup North America last year. They could be challenge for a few top five finishes and possibly sneak on the podium. A victory feels like a stretch.
#92 Kelly-Moss with Riley Porsche 911 GT3 R
Drivers: Jeroen Bleekemolen, David Brule, Andrew Davis, Alex Udell
Why this car could win: Bleekemolen has won many times in IMSA competition and was a frequent championship challenger not long ago. Davis has won multiple times in IMSA competition and Udell has plenty experience from GT World Challenge American competition.
Why this car will not win: What else can I say, but it is a Porsche. It is a good group of drivers, but not a great one. Davis last competed at Petit Le Mans in 2021. This is Udell's Daytona debut. Brule's only previous Daytona start was in 2004! His co-drivers were Butch Leitzinger, Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Jimmie Johnson in a Daytona Prototype!
What to expect for the full season: Udell and Brule will be full-time. This will be the second of the two Kelly-Moss Porsches, and this car will finish in the bottom half of the GTD championship.
#93 Racers Edge Motorsports with WTR Acura NSX GT3
Drivers: Ryan Briscoe, Kyle Marcelli, Ashley Harrison, Daniel Formal
Why this car could win: Briscoe is a past overall winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona and he has a decorated career across multiple forms of motorsports. Marcelli has plenty of endurance race experience while Harrison did well in her first taste of IMSA last year. This car wound up fourth on the grid.
Why this car will not win: While having Briscoe and Marcelli as drivers, it is still an inexperienced group with a team that is relatively new to IMSA.
What to expect for the full season: This will be an endurance only program. Briscoe is only on board for Daytona.
#96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3
Drivers: Patrick Gallagher, Jens Klingmann, Robby Foley, Michael Dinan
Why this car could win: Klingmann is coming off an overall victory in the Dubai 24 Hour. Foley has regularly won races over the last four IMSA seasons. Gallagher is experienced in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition. Turner Motorsport is a strong team.
Why this car will not win: It is a good group, but there are a few other lineups that just seem to have more. This will be Gallagher's second Daytona start. It will need to find some speed after qualifying 12th.
What to expect for the full season: Gallagher and Foley is the full-time duo in this car. They should be challenging for a few victories, but it will be tough to be the best Turner car all season let alone the best in GTD.
Practice resumes for a 90-minute session on Thursday at 11:05 a.m. ET. There will be two more practice sessions Thursday, an hour and 45-minute session at 3:20 p.m. and another hour and 45-minute session at 7:15 p.m.
There will be a one-hour session at 11:20 a.m. on Friday with a 20-minute GTP-only shake down held at 6:25 p.m.
The start for the 61st 24 Hour of Daytona will be at 1:40 p.m. and run for 24 hours ending at 1:40 p.m. on Sunday.
