
The Rolex 24 at Daytona kicks off the 2025 racing season, but it also marks one of the most prestigious racing and sporting events in the world. This year, 61 teams and more than 100 drivers—spread out over four unique classes—will race for 24 hours, vying to win not only the race, but to win a Rolex Daytona watch.
If you’ve never watched an IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship race, there is truly no better time to start than now, with the series on an impressive rise globally.
Contrary to your typical racing, the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship features four exciting classes that compete on the same track at the same time. The result? Non-stop action with the faster classes of GTP and LMP2 constantly passing not only each other but the slower GT classes of GTD PRO and GTD.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect heading into the 63rd running of the Rolex 24.
GTP or Grand Touring Prototype, is the fastest class featuring all pro drivers and bespoke cars. These cars feature cutting-edge technology from brands like Porsche, Lamborghini, Cadillac, BMW, and Acura. To make it more exciting, the class has had a bit of a shakeup.
Meyer Shank Racing returns after a yearlong hiatus with its Acura ARX-06s, hoping to add another Rolex to the organization’s trophy case after winning the 2023 race. Multi-time winner Wayne Taylor Racing will look to regain its form after making the switch from Acura back to Cadillac and GM where it found much of its prior success.
But the powerhouse that is Porsche Penske Motorsport will look to go back-to-back after winning the race and the championship last year. The drivers and teams that make up GTP are the best of the best, highlighted by the fact that the drivers for this race include three-time INDYCAR champion Álex Palou, six-time INDYCAR champion Scott Dixon, and former F1 drivers such as Kamui Kobayashi and Romain Grosjean.
LMP2 is the second of the prototype classes and is a pro-am category. This means the cars are driven not only by professionals but amateurs who race as a hobby. That’s not to say these amateurs are slow. They represent the best of the best non-professional drivers in the world.
LMP2 cars are also considered “spec” cars, meaning all the cars are identical. The ORECA chassis powered by a Gibson V8 engine, is the same across the class, meaning the only differentiator is the drivers, crew and strategy.
Some notable entries in LMP2 include United Autosport’s two-car effort, Pratt & Miller Motorsport’s (of Corvette racing fame) return to prototype racing, and the crowd favorite purple dragon design car “Spike” run by AO Racing.
For the two GT classes of GTD PRO and GTD, it will be another fierce battle between the likes of Ferrari, Ford, Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Aston Martin, BMW, and Lexus. These cars will look very similar to the cars you see on the street, but with the addition of race-specific components such as rear wings, and more advanced aerodynamic bodywork.
What sets these two classes apart is who is driving them. From the outside, the cars will look the same, apart from their paint job and colored numberplate. But inside, the cars will be driven by either a group of professionals in GTD PRO, or a mix of pro and amateur drivers in GTD.
Keep an eye out on the #91 GTD PRO car from Trackhouse by TF Sport featuring a stellar lineup of multi-time Australian V8 Supercar winners Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin, now of NASCAR and INDYCAR fame. They’ll be joined by Ben Keating, who is regarded as one of the best “Gentlemen Drivers” in the world, and 18-year-old Connor Zilisch, who won the race in LMP2 last year on his first attempt.
The Rolex 24 weekend starts Jan. 23 with practice, qualifying and other races such as Mazda MX-5 Cup and Michelin Pilot Challenge. The Rolex 24 will begin at 1:40 p.m. on Jan. 25, and you can watch live on NBC. For more information on cars, drivers and teams, visit www.IMSA.com or the IMSA’s YouTube page.
Editor’s note: Cedric Burkhardt has worked in motorsports since 2018 across INDYCAR, IMSA and NASCAR, and was the inaugural Rod Campbell Award winner, given to the most promising talents in the racing business.