2014 IMSA TUSC - Round 1 - Rolex 24 at Daytona

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CIRCUIT WEBSITE•TICKETS•WEEKEND SCHEDULE•ENTRY LIST•EXTENDED WEATHER FORECAST•HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATIONS•TRACK MAP•LAP OF DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY•ANDY BLACKMORE'S SPOTTER GUIDES•FRC PREDICTION COMPETITION

COUNTDOWN AND TIME CONVERSION PAGES
PRACTICE 1•PRACTICE 2•QUALIFYING•PRACTICE 3•PRACTICE 4•ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

Racing fans had to nostalgically bid farewell to the American Le Mans Series, which quit operations after Petit Le Mans, 2013, but the series successor, the Tudor United SportsCar Championship, is poised to impress the world with unprecedented competition and interest from expert teams and organizations from around the globe.

There have already been important historical milestones set this year, but January 25, when the green flag drops for the 52nd annual Rolex 24 at Daytona, will undoubtedly be the most pivotal we've seen in some time. Over 60 cars are expected to take to the grid, competing throughout four different, ultra-competitive classes.

PRO CLASSES
Prototype (P)
- A merger between ALMS LMP2 and Grand-AM DP.
- America's top-tier sportscar class.
- No categorical restrictions on drivers.
- 13 full-season entries, +4 NAEC/Daytona

GT Le Mans (GTLM)
- The American Le Mans 'GT' Class continued and renamed.
- America's fastest grand touring class; i.e. cars you'd see on the street, except with a lot more aero mods.
- No categorical restrictions on drivers.
- 10 full-season entries, +2 NAEC/Daytona

PRO-AM CLASSES
Prototype Challenge (PC)
- ALMS-spec Oreca FLM09 with Corvette power
- Cost-capped, slightly slower version of Prototype (P) Class... ideal for beginning drivers or gentleman drivers.
- Maximum of 1 Platinum OR Gold-ranked driver in 2-3 driver squads, max of 2 in 4-5 driver squads (endurance races only)
- 12 full-season entries

GT Daytona (GTD)
- Merge of ALMS GTC and Grand-Am GT, GX
- A less expensive version of GTLM; cars have less downforce and aero packages
- Maximum of 1 Platinum OR Gold-ranked driver in 2-3 driver squads, max of 2 in 4-5 driver squads (endurance races only)
- 24 full-season entries, +4 NAEC/Daytona

This year's Rolex 24 proves to be one of the strongest to date, with drivers from all walks of life coming together to compete at the hallowed Speedway. 68 cars, 4 classes, 1 winner. The question is... Are you ready?

The Prototype Class is set to be one of the most competitive ever as the inaugural Tudor United SportsCar Championship kicks off at Daytona. 2013 DTM Champion and sportscar ace Mike Rockenfeller will join Michael Valiante and Richard Westbrook in the Spirit of Daytona No. 90 Corvette DP, which will be racing on home soil as the team is based just down the road. ChampCar legend and IndyCar star Sebastien Bourdais, who has massive experience in high-downforce racing machines, will co-drive with Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi in the No. 5 AXR Corvette DP, which dominated the Roar Before the Rolex tests earlier this month. Additionally, team owner Wayne Taylor, who made his living racing in the Grand-Am Series, will return to high-class prototype competition at the Rolex 24, competing with sons Jordan and Ricky as well as long-time co-driver Max 'The Axe' Angelelli. Among the newcomers: Sage Karam, Alexander Rossi, Tristan Vautier, Tom Dyer, Kyle Larson, and James Hinchcliffe.

Despite the 'pro-am' element, Prototype Challenge is threatening to be one of the most competitive classes at the Rolex 24. Vincente 'Enzo' Potolicchio, who blasted into American endurance sportscar racing in 2011, will partner with Le Mans Prototype stalwart Tom Kimber-Smith, a 3-time winner at La Sarthe. IndyCar racer E.J. Viso joins the rapid young Sean Rayhall and Chapman Ducote at BAR1 Motorsports, another solid lineup. Starworks Motorsport has perhaps collected the most impressive crop of drivers in their two-car assault: open-wheel standout Renger van der Zande, World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff, and 2013 GP2 Series runner-up Sam Bird. Among the newcomers: Huff, Van der Zande, Bird, Viso, Rayhall, David Cheng, and Doug Bielefield.

The team to beat in GTLM comes in Velocity Yellow: Corvette Racing dominated the Roar Before the Rolex tests, with the sleek new C7.Rs sweeping 5 out the 8 practice sessions. SRT seemed to be their nearest competitor, with the Vipers taking a few top times of their own. IndyCar Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay will join Marc Goossens and Dominik Farnbacher in the No. 91, while GT expert Rob Bell will co-drive with Kuno Wittmer and Jonathan Bomarito in the No. 93. BMW and Porsche Team North America/CORE were down on speed during the tests, but consider them the dark horse of the field with some of the strongest lineups. Also, watch out for the single Aston Martin Racing V8 Vantage; the vastly-improved Paul Dalla Lana could easily take a slew of AMR factory drivers to class victory. Among the newcomers: Michael Christensen, Kuno Wittmer, and Rob Bell.

It will be a mad dash right to the bitter end in GTD, with 28 cars expected to compete at the Rolex 24. The field is jam-packed with talent and diversity: factory drivers will be competing beside long-time Grand-Am veterans in a class representing six different manufacturers and 21 nationalities. An introduction? I wouldn't know where to start! Let's just say this - GTD will have any fan hooked from start till finish.

Talk about it all below... but keep it civil.
We don't want this to turn into another 'leave your axe outside' thread.



Bring on TUSC 2014!!!!