Several changes for the 2019 edition of the 24 Hours race at Daytona.

The biggest change for 2019 is the splitting of the DPi and LP2 classes. Both classes have similar chassis but the IMSA DPi class allow multi engines and car company base4d bodies. While the ACO based LMP2 class had a single engine and spec bodies based on chassis. The IMSA DPi class is no longer hindered by balance of performance rules that allowed the LMP2 cars to be competitive. Thus making the DPi cars on average 3 seconds a lap faster than the LMP2 cars.

Series has moved away from their longtime tire manufacturers Continental and moved to Michelin in all classes except GT Lemans which still has an open tire rule. Although most use Michelin.

New TV deal moves the series from Fox where it has been since the days of SPEED TV to NBC. With the majority of the races on NBCSN. Including in week shows, practice sessions, and qualifying.

Besides the DPI and LMP2 classes, the series also has two classes of GT cars. The ACO based GT Lemans which is mostly factory teams and the GTD (GT3) class made up of privateers. With GT3 being one of the biggest classes of sports car racing in the world.

Entries for this year's event includes 11 DPi cars, 4 LMP2 cars, 9 GT Lemans cars, and 23 GTD (GT3) cars.

Rolex 24 at Daytona: TV schedule

(All times ET)

Thursday, Jan. 24
Time Network Event
2 p.m. NBCSN Rolex 24 preview show
3 p.m. NBCSN Rolex 24 qualifying

Saturday, Jan. 26
Time Network Event
1 p.m. NBCSN Rolex 24 preview show
2-5 p.m. NBCSN Rolex 24 at Daytona
9 p.m. - midnight NBCSN Rolex 24 at Daytona

Sunday, Jan. 27
Time Network Event
Midnight - 3 a.m. NBCSN Rolex 24 at Daytona
6 a.m. - 3 p.m. NBCSN Rolex 24 at Daytona

Sessions not aired on NBCSN can be viewed on the NBC Sports App or IMSA.com streaming.



Daytona Prototype International (DPi)

Car No. Team Car type
5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi
6 Acura Team Penske Acura DPi
7 Acura Team Penske Acura DPi
10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi
31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac DPi
50 Juncos Racing Cadillac DPi
54 CORE Autosport Nissan DPi
55 Mazda Team Joest Mazda DPi
77 Mazda Team Joest Mazda DPi
84 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi
85 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi


Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2)

Car No. Team Car type
18 DragonSpeed Oreca LMP2
38 Performance Tech Motorsports Oreca LMP2
52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca LMP2
81 DragonSpeed Oreca LMP2



GT Le Mans (GTLM)

Car No. Team Car type
3 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R
4 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R
24 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE
25 BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE
62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE
66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT
67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT
911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR
912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR



GT Daytona (GTD)

Car No. Team Car type
8 Starworks Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3
9 PFAFF Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
11 Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3
12 AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3
13 Via Italia Racing Ferrari 488 GT3
14 AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3
19 Moorespeed Audi R8 LMS GT3
29 Montaplast by Land Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3
33 Team Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3
44 Magnus Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3
46 EBIMOTORS Lamborghini Huracan GT3
47 Precision Performance Motorsports Lamborghini GT3
48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3
51 Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GT3
57 Heinricher Racing Acura NSX GT3
63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3
71 P1 Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3
73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3
86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3
88 WRT Speedstar Audi Sport Audi R8 LMS GT3
96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3
99 NGT Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R
540 Black Swan Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R

Went to the 24 hour once and raced at Daytona once. The banking is intimidating the first time you are on it but I found the road course layout was kind of meh.

Not saying I will never go back, but I will take Barber, COTA, or Mid-Ohio any day over Daytona.

(01-26-2019 10:13 PM)Capn Munford Wrote:  Went to the 24 hour once and raced at Daytona once. The banking is intimidating the first time you are on it but I found the road course layout was kind of meh.

Not saying I will never go back, but I will take Barber, COTA, or Mid-Ohio any day over Daytona.

Love Barber, wish it was still on the IMSA schedule. Do miss the Lady though.

Going to be interesting to see Indy Car at COTA for the first time this year.

That is if half the field does not crash in turn one.

Still not sure of COTA's long term viability, the debt load is too massive. Although they were able to raise $81 million in financing a few years back.

The state has cut the amount of their tourism payment the track uses to pay for F1 sanctioning fee.