In what’s a veritable Two-by-Two Congo line of four
Manufacturers…
This year’s Rolex
24 sees the unveiling of IMSA’s brand
new Le Mans Daytona Hybrid (LMDH) Prototypes Class called GTP making it’s debut.
Where nine Shiny new GTP entries will vie for Overall victory. Since Cadillac’s
bringing three cars to the party!
While I’ve tried previewing
the four major Manufacturers in a previous No Fenders tome below.
http://www.nofenders.net/2022/09/imsa-gtp-can-yuhs-taste-it.html
With two supporting
Prototype classes, i.e.; LMP2 and LMP3 comprising of a further 19 entries, for
a total of 28 Prototypes in this year’s 61st running of the 24 Hours of
Daytona.
Whilst another Mega’
Saloons’ grid of 33 GT3 Spec machinery is split between the GTD Pro Class and
Thar “Kissing Cousin’s” GTD (Daytona) entrants, giving us a total Grid of 61
racecars! Magically matching this year’s 61st Rolex 24 running.
But as Always, I
prefer listening to the race via IMSA Radio with it’s lead announcer John Hindhaugh
& Company. Arse-sumedly Y'all can catch the start of the race, along with multiple
hour's television coverage once again on
Big NBC and USA Network,. Along with the
majority on that Dreaded, Nasty Paywall service called Peacock, Cock Ah Do-little
doo! And Yes, it really is a Paywall!
As I’ll leave it
up to Y’all to Check Your local listings for TV/Streaming Broadcast times.
(GTP) Grand Touring Prototype Class
ACURA (2)
Acura
ARX-06
Engine: 2.4-litre V-6 Twin Turbo
TEAMS:
#10) Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport
#60) Meyer Shank Racing
Seventy-two Hours after Christmas, Wayne Taylor
and Mikey A’ announced that Andretti Autosport had bought an Ownership Stake in
Wayne Taylor Racing. (WTR) Hence the rebranding to Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti
Autosport. With plans to presumably move the WTR Operation in House to Andretti
Global’s new Fisher’s Mega Complex by 2025. Although WTR will run it’s Acura
Sports Car programme virtually unchanged this year.
Thus Honda continues with it’s split strategy for
it’s two Acura’s between the Defending Race winner, IndyCar’s Meyer shank Racing
and Wayne Taylor Racing, the 2021 Rolex 24 winner.
Beginning with the Defending Champs Meyer Shank
Racing, (MSR) the Ohio based Squad sports another new Driver line-up for 2023. With former DTM racer
Tom “the bomb” Blomqvist being partnered by longtime Sorts Car Ace Colin Brown as
the No. 10’s regular season HotSchues’.
With the Duo being joined by MSR IndyCar Drivers Helio Castroneves and Simon
Pagenaud during the Endurance rounds.
Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport will
once again field Ricky Taylor with Filipe Albuquerque as its regular season
drivers. While WTR-Andretti comes loaded for Bear once again this January! As
Kiwi’ Bad Arse Sports Car Driver Brendon Hartley and Louis Deletraz fill out it’s
Daytona lineup. As Deletraz will serve as it’s Endurance Specialist. While
Hartley will “Moonlight” at Daytona, since His “Day Job” is being a Toyota Werks’
FIA World endurance Championship (WEC) Pilote.
Meanwhile, the Acura ARX-06 chassis features
the Sewing Machine-like 2.4-litre Twin Turbo v-6 powering it’s rear wheels,
being the smallest displacement engine on the GTP Grid. Although I think it’s the
Highest Revving lump’ competing? Revving to 10,000RPM. Which I’m guessing is
the IMSA GTP Class’s maximum RPM limit?
Although Racer’s
Marshall Pruett notes that the Acura is the highest revving lump’ on the grid,
screaming to 9,500 RPM’s in His GTP 101 Tech videos…
As Honda Performance Development (HPD) had
originally produced the AR24E engine to serve as both Honda’s future 2.4-liter
IndyCar engine and current Acura Sports Car engine, before IndyCar was forced
to Pull the Plug upon it’s upcoming new 2.4-litre engine formulae.
As here’s the first
of Marshall Pruett’s GTP 101 Tech videos, which gives a great look and
description of the ARX-06’s key elements…
https://racer.com/2023/01/10/video-gtp-101-acura-arx-06-tech-tour/
CADILLAC (3)
Cadillac
V-LMDH
Engine: 5.5-litre normally aspirated V-8
TEAMS:
Nos. 01-02) Cadillac Racing
#31) Whelen Engineering Racing
IndyCar diehards should also already know that
Chip Ganassi Racing, (CGR) a la their longtime IndyCar rival Team Penske. Will
campaign two LMDH Prototypes this year, as the Werks’ Cadillac Racing
organization. With one apiece in IMSA GTP and the WEC’s Hypercar Classes.
As Cheeps’ #01 IMSA GTP entry’s season regulars
will consist of Renger van
der Zande and the former Sealmeister B’, aka le Hamburgular’, nee SeaBass’ or
simply Sebastien Bourdais. Whilst Scotty Thee Iceman 2.0' Dixon will
once again Continue his Enduro' Specialist role he's enjoyed for years in the
#01 Cadd-Oh-lacc’. With Dixon aiming to claim His fourth Rolex wristwatch
Overall. To Potentially join the rarefied company of Peter Gregg, Rolf Stommelen
and Bob Wollek.
The Seester’ #02 FIA World Endurance
Championship’s (WEC) Fulltime Chauffeurs will be Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn.
With “Westie,” aka Richard Westbrook sliding over from JDC Miller Motorsports
to be it’s Endurance Specialist.
Perennial IMSA Prototype Champions Action Express
Racing (AXR) will only run one brand new Cadillac V-LMDH Prototype this year,
having “Parked” it’s second No. 48 Endurance Rounds Only entry for now.
And I have to say I’m most intrigued by the No.
31 Whelen Engineering Racing Caddy’s Drivers lineup for Daytona and beyond. With
the team making it’s 24 Huers du Mans Debut this June
As the No. 31 sports it’s third new Full season
Drivers lineup in the past year, with Pipo Derani being
the only constant. With the Brazilian Speedster now being joined by Alexander
Sims. But it’s their new Endurance Specialist Jack “Achey Breaky”
Aitken whom I’m most interested in.
As Aitken currently served as the Williams F1
Reserve Driver and is a former FIA Formula 2 race winner, with a best Overall
finish of fith. Aitken also races in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and the
ACAC GT Masters.
Alexander Sims has previously driven for
Corvette Racing and BMW Team RLL in GT Le Mans. Along with a four year stint in
Formula E.
As Cadillac is the only competitor running a
normally aspirated engine. Sporting a brand
new version of It’s tried and true past 5.5-litre Small Block V-8 motors. As I’m
guessing that the GM designed 32 valve DOHC lump’ utilizes the current Flat
plane Crank technology, mated to the new spec Energy Recovery System. (ERS)
With the Caddy’s lump’ revving to 8,800 RPM’,
the second highest revving engine according to Marshall Pruett, who boldly
claims it’s the Bruiser of the GTP category which pays Homage to Eddie Van
Halen with it’s “Flying V” rear wing appendages. Which Marshall points out in
the following video…
https://racer.com/2023/01/18/video-gtp-101-cadillac-v-lmdh-tech-tour/