Some of the world’s greatest drivers will be in Florida this weekend to compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona, organised by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The famous race is the first round of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the 57th edition sports a 47-car line-up of 11 DPi prototypes, 4 LMP2, 9 GTLM and 23 GTD.

Last year’s winning team Mustang Sampling Racing is back to defend its title with the #5 Cadillac DPi. Joao Barbosa, Filipe Albuquerque, Christian Fittipaldi and Toyota Gazoo Racing’s FIA WEC driver Mike Conway share the wheel. With six cars in all, Cadillac is the most represented constructor in this year’s race and therefore has a good chance of winning. All the same, judging by the speed demonstrated at the Roar Before the 24, the prologue to the big race, competition will be stiff. The Mazda Team Joest crews topped the timesheets (#77 and #55 Mazda DPi), ahead of Acura Team Penske (#7 Acura DPi). With a mere 0.8 seconds between the top three, fans can look forward to a hard-fought race. Third in LMP2 last year, Core Autosport is fielding a Nissan DPi this season, which it is entrusting to two former Le Mans 24 Hours winners, Loïc Duval and Romain Dumas, joined by Jonathan Bennett and Colin Braun.

Another Le Mans winner, Fernando Alonso, will also be in the driver line-up. A Daytona rookie last year, the Spaniard will be sharing the wheel of the Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R.with Renger Van Der Zande, Jordan Taylor and his Toyota Gazoo Racing FIA WEC teammate Kamui Kobayashi. Watch out for another ex-Formula One driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, in the Acura Team Penske #6 Acura DPi with Dane Cameron and Simon Pagenaud. Rubens Barrichello will be back in his seat in the #85 Cadillac DPi, defending the interests of JDC-Miller Motorsports with Misha Goikhberg, Tristan Vautier and Devlin DeFrancesco.

In the GTLM class – the equivalent of LMGTE Pro at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – expect a splendid tussle between Porsche, Corvette, BMW and Ferrari. The #8 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R (Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and Mike Rockenfeller) banked the best time at the Roar Before the 24. The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs will be sporting a special livery for the occasion. Italian driver Alex Zanardi who lost both legs in a terrible accident at the Lausitzring in 2001 will be at the wheel of the BMW Team RLL #24 BMW M8 GTE.

GTD comprises high-class GT3s such as the Audi R8 LMS, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Lamborghini Huracan, Ferrari 488, Mercedes-AMG, Acura NSX and BMW M6 which will be vying for the top spot.

Qualifications are scheduled to begin at 15:35 (local time) on Thursday 24 January, starting with GTD, with the last session (DPi/LMP2) at 16:25. The start of the 57th annual 24 Hours of Daytona is at 14:00 (local time) on Saturday 26 June.

Photo courtesy of IMSA