Day 2 of the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona

All four classes, including Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) and GTD PRO, did test during the second day of the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona comparing to Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) and Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) only on Wednesday.

GTP

The second day of the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona saw the #01 Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac V-Series.R unofficially topping the time charts in 1:35.317. Scott Dixon, Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais demonstrated regularity in top pace-setting as the trio was fastest of day 1 morning session in 1:36.042.

📷 © Courtesy of IMSA at Daytona. #01: Cadillac Racing, Cadillac VSeries.R, GTP: Renger van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon.

As a point of comparison, Caldarelli with #63 Lamborghini SC63 did set a best time of 1:35.027 during day 1 second session which is one second short of Tom Blomqvist fastest lap (1:34.031) during qualifying of ROAR Before the 24 with #60 Acura ARX-06 by Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian in January.

📷 © Courtesy of IMSA.

WTRAndretti’s Two-Car Acura GTP Team made Its Official Debut during the two days IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona. Louis Deletraz was driving both entries. Both Acura ARX-06 lineups for the test days were as follow:

• #10: Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti, Acura ARX-06, GTP: Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Louis Deletraz, Marcus Ericsson,

• #40: Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti, Acura ARX-06, GTP: Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz, Colton Herta, Jenson Button

“It’s like a new team,” said Filipe Albuquerque, who returns for his fourth season with the team. “There are so many more people with two (GTP) cars. I don’t recognize most of them. It’s kind of crazy. Now we have like eight drivers on the team. It’s interesting because we have such a good bonding already on the first day.” Source: IMSA

📷 © Courtesy of IMSA. #24: BMW M Team RLL, BMW M Hybrid V8, GTP: Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn; #7 Porsche 963 with Felipe Nasr, Dane Cameron, Matt Campbell and Josef Newgarden.

Both Porsche Penske Motorsport and BMW Team RLL were also present with two LMDh each:

• #6 Porsche 963 driven by Mathieu Jaminet, Nick Tandy, Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor who was fastest of day 2 first session in 1'35''483;

• #7 Porsche 963 with Felipe Nasr, Dane Cameron, Matt Campbell and Josef Newgarden;

• #24: BMW M Team RLL, BMW M Hybrid V8, GTP: Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn;

• #25: BMW M Team RLL, BMW M Hybrid V8, GTP: Connor De Phillippi, Maxime Martin.

New GTD PRO

📷 © Courtesy of IMSA. #65: Ford Multimatic Motorsports, Ford Mustang GT3, GTD PRO: Joey Hand, Dirk Mueller and #4: Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports, Corvette Z06 GT3.R, GTD PRO: Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg

The second day of the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona saw the debut of the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R and Ford Mustang GT3 with a pair each.

The trio, who were previously part of the factory Ford GT program that ran from 2016-19, Joey Hand, Dirk Mueller and Harry Tincknell, were joined by Mike Rockenfeller with the goal of driving as many miles as possible. The #65 Ford Mustang GT3 fastest lap was of 1:46.618, comparing to Paul Miller Racing’s BMW M4 GT3 which was quickest of the GT cars (1:46.111) and the #3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R (1:46.353).

GTD

📷 © Courtesy of IMSA. #12: VasserSullivan, Lexus RC F GT3, GTD: Frankie Montecalvo, Parker Thompson, Aaron Telitz, Ritomo Miyata and #83: Iron Dames, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, GTD: Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting, Doriane Pin, Sarah Bovy.

Toyota WEC Ritomo Miyata drove two stints at the wheel of the #12 in Vasser Sullivan’s Lexus RC F GT3 during the morning session. The four Iron Dames were also present with a new livery of their #83 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2

Previous F1 Drivers

📷 © Courtesy of IMSA. Two previous F1 drivers were also present: Jenson Button who drove #40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06 and Felipe Massa on board of #74 Riley ORECA LMP2 07.

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📷 © Courtesy of IMSA. Lamborghini topped day 1 of the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Daytona and Sebring 2023. Campbell and Cameron switch Porsche 963 cockpits

TOP: Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 #5 in WEC 2023. BOTTOM: Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 #7 in IMSA 2023.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Daytona 2023. Cadillac Racing returns to Daytona Dec. 6-7

TOP: #01 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R BOTTOM: #31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R