The C8.Rs will have their hands full at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona if the size of the new GTD-Pro class that’s entered for the Roar Before the Rolex 24 is any indication. No more racing ourselves as the new GTD-Pro class will feature eight manufacturers and 13 entries at the Roar!

IMSA released the entry list for the practice event that’s held ahead of the 60th running of the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway on January 29-30th. A total of 61 cars have been entered for the Roar Before the 24 test session on Jan. 21-23.

The Roar Before the 24 features two full days of on-track testing at Daytona’s 3.56-mile road course, followed by the 100-minute qualifying race on Sunday, Jan. 23 that sets the starting grid for the Rolex 24. The qualifying race will livestream at 2p.m. ET on Peacock.

The Corvettes will be racing under the new GT3 specifications with the C8.Rs are now equipped with ABS Brakes and other changes to meet those new regulations.

The No.3 Corvette C8.R with drivers Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor will be the full-time entrant for the IMSA season and they will be joined at the Rolex 24 for a one-off race by the No.4 C8.R that will be campaigned by Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy in the World Endurance Championship.

The Roar entry list breaks down with the following manufacturers:

3 – Porsche 911 GT3R
2 – BMW M4 GT3
2 – Corvette C8.R GTD
2 – Mercedes AMG GT3
1 – Aston Martin Vantage GT3
1 – Ferrari 488 GT3
1 – Lamborghini Huracan GT3
1 – Lexus RC F GT3

GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO):

The new class that replaces GT Le Mans (GTLM) is loaded with 13 entries and eight manufacturers. Corvette Racing bears watching as always, but in particular as it shifts from the GTLM platform to the GT3 specification the GTD PRO falls under.

The No. 3 Corvette won last year’s Rolex 24 and the driver trio returns with Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg. The No. 4 Corvette won the 2021 qualifying race and is back on a one-off for the Rolex 24 before taking on a full season in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

BMW Team RLL was the 2019 and 2020 GTLM winner at the Rolex 24 and brings back two entries with the new BMW M4 GT3. WeatherTech Racing has three entries using two manufacturers (Porsche and Mercedes-AMG).
Pfaff Motorsports moves to GTD PRO with the plaid No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3R after claiming last year’s GT Daytona (GTD) championship.

Other manufacturers for the debut of this highly anticipated class include Aston Martin, Ferrari Lamborghini and Lexus.

Entry list attached :

IMSA has revealed the Daytona-specific Balance of Performance table that will be utilized for the kickoff of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, confirming identical BoPs for the new GTD Pro class and GTD category

Released on Wednesday, the table has also set the starting technical configuration for the nationally homologized Chevy Corvette C8.R GTD.

The former GTE-spec car, adapted to the GT3-based platform, will run the Roar Before the Rolex 24 with a reduced 41.3 mm air restricted and at an increased minimum weight of 1320 kg.

It compares to a 44.5 mm air restrictor and 1270 kg weight, the C8.Rs ran in GTLM trim at Daytona last year.

In addition, the Corvette will also be configured with ABS and modified aero, including the addition of a 15 mm rear wicker.

IMSA has also made a number of BoP changes to cars compared to last year’s Roar and Rolex 24 configurations.
The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has been given a 30 kg increase in minimum weight, with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo getting a 10 kg addition and the Porsche 911 GT3 R a considerable 45 kg more weight, although offset with a 3 mm increase in its air restrictor that will equate to increased power.

Both the Acura’s NSX GT3 Evo22 and Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020, meanwhile, have received turbo boost reductions compared to 2021 levels.
The sanctioning body has also established the BoP for the McLaren 720S GT3 and new BMW M4 GT3, both of which did not take part in last year’s race.

Per the regulations, IMSA reserves the right to make class-specific BoP adjustments to GTD Pro and GTD if deemed necessary but is understood to be in favor of retaining the same performance levels across both GT3 categories.

The DPi class, which has been reduced to a two-manufacturer battle between Acura and Cadillac for this year,
sees no major performance-related changes compared to last year’s BoP for the Roar and Rolex 24.