In the wake of receiving over 70 applications from teams who wanted to participate for the title of the 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29, IMSA officials confirmed a 60-car field with a capacity for the opening round of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“More than 70 total entries and a 60-car field as we kick off a new era for WeatherTech Championship competition speak volumes for the interest in international endurance sports cars. “Arriving at this list of 60 cars of the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona required an immense effort from the staff at IMSA. We are incredibly proud to be able to present one of the most powerful as well as competitive teams we’ve witnessed and can’t wait to present a thrilling spectacle for a worldwide audience of race fans in the coming months.”
Of the 60 entries approved, 56 are signed up for the 4-race IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup season 45 cars are planned for full-season racing. The number of cars that started was 61. year’s 24 seasons, the new LMDh cars that are part of Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) have pit boxes that are slightly bigger than their predecessors, thus reducing capacity. The entry that wasn’t chosen is now on a reserve list and could be replaced by entries that have withdrawn before the event date.
The nine entries are GTP machines, two made by Acura, BMW, Cadillac, and Porsche, and a fourth Cadillac that’s a one-off at Daytona. The field will expand to nine or more in the year when customers 963s from Porsche will be delivered. GTD will be the most crowded category, with 24 entries. Nine brands are represented, including various new GT3 vehicles, such as the 911 911 GT3 R, the Ferrari 296 GT3, and the Evo2 version of the Lamborghini Huracan. These cars will be featured within the GTD PRO class as well. GTD PRO class, too, with eight entries from seven different manufacturers.
The two Pro-Am prototype classes will be able to use full fields of the Rolex 24. The LMP2 class features 10 cars of ORECA 07 vehicles. The LMP3 class has an entry of nine cars that includes 4 Duqueine race vehicles and five teams utilizing the Ligier JSP320.
Several teams that are new to, or not participating in, IMSA competitors are listed on the entry list that does not mention drivers. This includes IronLynx/IronDames, which have Lamborghini GTD PRO and GTD, Lamborghini GTD PRO as well as GTD, Penske Motorsports fielding cars for Porsche in GTP, Triarsi Competizione with a brand-new Ferrari in GTD and GTD, as well as three Porsche newcomers to GTD -which include AO Racing, MDK Motorsports, and Kellymoss along with Riley.
