As can Y’all hear the Sounds ‘O Racing from
Daytona?
What does Yuhs do in the dead ‘O winter when
All that’s on Ye Boob-tube is round the clock Pigskin games, Barf! You begin
diving deep into the yearly upcoming 24 Hours of Daytona entry list.
Stealing ‘n Tweaking a well worn tag-line of
Bob Varsha’s. Before you can go racing, first You must complete the Roar Before
the Rolex 24! For which we’re currently in the middle of. Meaning the remaining
TBA Drivers names should be announced by now…
GT
Daytona (GTD)
Thus continuing in random splatter fashion,
here’s a brief look at thee remaining five of nine manufacturers contesting the
GT Daytona category.
Ford
Teams: 1
Model: Ford Mustang GT3
Gradient Racing, No. 66
Being a Died-in-the-Wool FoMoCo’ devotee,
naturally I’d pick this “Darkhorse” first. As the longtime Acura NSX entrant
has switched to the Blue Oval brand this year. With former Multimatic Werks’
Mustang Hotschue’ Joey Hand becoming Gradient’s lead driver. With the additions
of ex-IndyCar driver Tatiana Calderon and Till Bechtolsheimer being announced
on January 9th. Whilst waiting upon the final TBA to be divulged prior to the
Roar. Although might it be Sports Car Ace Harry Tincknell?
As I’d spotted Tincknell’s name before reading
the press release confirming this. As Hand and Lola Cars owner Bechtolsheimer
will contest the entire Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, with Calderon and
Tincknell joining them at Daytona. As Tincknell’s new “Day Job” is being an
Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercar driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
(WEC)
Chevrolet
Teams: 2
Model: Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
AWA, No. 13, DXDT Racing, No. 36
Don’t know anything about the AWA Corvette
team. While the DXDT squad is new to IMSA GTD competition this year, and will
feature Robert Wickens in the upcoming Sprint races, which I previously
scribbled about.
http://www.nofenders.net/2024/12/santa-brings-wickens-shiny-new-corvette.html
Aston
Martin
Teams: 3
Model: Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo
Heart of Racing Team, No. 27; Magnus Racing,
No. 44 and Van der Steur Racing, No. 19
The Heart of Racing team will always be a
sentimental favourite of mine, even if being based in Phoenix, AZ. With Zacharie
Robichon, Tom Gamble, Mattia Drudi and Casper Stevenson at its controls.
While it
would be a Cinderella ending for Andy “The Enforcer” Lally to retire
from driving as winner of this year’s Rolex 24. As the No. 44 sports its
traditional stout lineup of Lally, John Potter, spencer Pumpelly and a “Draft pick” to be named later…
BMW
Teams: 1
Model: BMW M4 GT3 Evo
Turner Motorsport, No. 96
The longtime BMW runner with familiar Robby
Foley and co-driver Patrick Gallagher at its keyboard, joined by Jens Klingman
and Jake Walker is steadily marching towards an amazing 600 starts, and Turner
should never be counted out.
Lexus
Teams: 1
Model: Lexus RF C GT3
Vasser Sullivan Racing, No. 12
The familiar No. 12 will be the lone Japanese
entry in this year’s GTD Grid. Whilst Top Jimmy’ (Vasser) and partner James
Sully’ Sullivan have been holding their cards close to Thar Chests. As both of
their Lexus’s driving quartets were listed as TBA ten days prior to the Roar,
making it hard for Mwah to speculate upon the No. 12 entry…
Before learning on January 8th that the team has restructured its drivers lineups. With Jack Hawksworth joining Parker Thompson in the No. 12 for the full season. Being joined at Daytona with Frankie Montecalvo, who’ll just run the Endurance Cup rounds this year. Along with Kyle Kirkwood.
