Daytona, Rolex 24, GTP: Five things to watch as IMSA cranks 2023 racing season to life

DAYTONA BEACH — There was the two-day test at Daytona last month for IMSA’s new prototype machines.

“Dawn of a new era,” headlines claimed.

Then a three-day test last weekend, including qualifying, again at Daytona.

“Dawn of a new era,” they repeated.

And now this, the first official day of the 2023 Rolex weekend at Daytona.

Skip the headlines, because the sun has risen and shines brightly on the splashy, high-tech and highly capable cars of the new GTP class, which will lead the way Saturday afternoon when the green flag flies above the 61st edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Some things to watch as the march to Sunday afternoon quickens its pace.

COLTON HERTAWhether his future lies in F1 or IndyCar, he's a threat in the present at Daytona

RACING CEOFord boss Jim Farley goes racing at Daytona, finishes 7th in Rolex 24 undercard

The ultimate test for new GTP machines

As the great Bill Elliott would say when asked what it takes to win, “You gotta be there at the end.”

The new prototypes have been put through the grinder this past year, with the biggest task involving the integration of hybrid technology throughout the car’s entire system.

“We have a new power unit, the new gas engine, the new hybrid system,” says team owner Michael Shank. “Integrating all that, getting them all to communicate, and to put a competitive lap together, is really difficult. It takes time.”

The offseason grind included a 24-hour test run at Sebring in November, along with plenty of simulated runs, more testing, more engineering, and now this, North America’s ultimate endurance test of automotive machinery. Kinda like piecing together a brand new rocket ship and saying, “Fly me to the moon.”

“I wish this race was in April,” Shank said.

Surviving a 24-hour test at Sebring is one thing. Twice around the clock on Daytona’s 3.56-mile course, with 61 cars providing unpredictable traffic patterns, and with a fair amount of glory dangling with the checkers … yep, that’s a different thing entirely.

Can Helio three-peat?

Throughout the first 60 years of the Rolex 24, 17 racers have won the overall title three or more times. No one has won three straight, however.

Helio Castroneves, better known for his great IndyCar career and four Indy 500 wins, has a solid shot at completing the Daytona hat-trick.

He’s co-piloting the No. 60 Acura with Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun and Simon Pagenaud. It’s a new car, yes, but the same team and nearly the same lineup (Braun replaces Oliver Jarvis) that won last year’s race.

Castroneves also won in 2021, in an Acura for Wayne Taylor Racing.

“We know exactly what we need to do,” says Castroneves.

A win would move him into a group of nine three-time Rolex winners that includes two other former Indy 500 winners — Scott Dixon and Juan Pablo Montoya. Dixon, of course, is in one of Chip Ganassi’s two Cadillac prototypes and could become the race’s fifth four-time winner.

GTD Pro vs. GTD

The GTD cars are the favorites of those who like their race cars to look reasonably similar to their showroom counterparts. From Corvette to Lamborghini to Ferrari to the rest, this class could practically be labeled “stock.”

The difference in the two classes is the driver lineups.

The Paris-based FIA, a motorsports governing body since 1904, rates drivers based on a variety of elements — experience, accomplishments, age, etc. The top rating is Platinum, and down from there to Gold, Silver and Bronze.

GTD Pro features only Platinum and Gold-rated drivers, while GTD, which has some Platinums and Golds mixed in, also features Silver and Bronze drivers — many of whom fit into the proverbial “Gentleman Racer” category.

The GTD class was separated last year and the Pro division led the way everywhere except Watkins Glen, where technicalities emerging from a storm delay led to three GTD cars finishing ahead of the highest-finishing GTD Pro.

In this past Sunday’s Rolex 24 qualifying session, three GTD cars were faster than the fastest GTD Pro car. Neat little rivalry to keep an eye on this weekend.

Eighteen! Yep, count ’em … 18!

The driving force behind IMSA’s acceleration over the past decade has been the involvement of an international roster of manufacturers.

In the car world, they’re called OEMs — as in Original Equipment Manufacturer. Many of them erect mini-showrooms in the Speedway’s infield midway to tout their newest wares. And we’re not just talking about the everyday rides you see in the Publix parking lot, but a Who’s Who of worldwide bluebloods.

Eighteen OEMs are participating in the 2023 IMSA season, spread across the marquee WeatherTech Championship as well as the Michelin Pilot Challenge.

A list? Why not …

Acura, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mazda, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, Toyota.

Eye on the sky

Sports cars come with headlights, tail lights and windshield wipers, and the pit stalls include a set of grooved tires.

You know, just in case.

As of now, the extended forecast shows practically no chance of rain until late Sunday afternoon, well after the 1:40 finish, with highs of mid-60s Saturday and mid-70s Sunday. Glorious, basically.

Oh, and no signs yet of the rare west wind, which blew and blew hard Sunday to create headaches during qualifying.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Rolex 24 at Daytona: Five things to watch as GTP era officially begins