Daytona Monday Notebook

Photo: John Dagys

***All nine LMDh cars that are set to take part in next month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona are on hand for the two-day IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway, which kicks off tomorrow.

***The GTP field is comprised of two Porsche 963s from Porsche Penske Motorsport, a pair of BMW M Hybrid V8s from BMW M Team RLL, Meyer Shank Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-06 entries and three Cadillac V-LMDh cars, two run by Chip Ganassi Racing and another from Action Express Racing.

***Nearly all of the 2023 GTP class drivers were spotted in the garage area on Monday afternoon. Of note, Porsche Penske, which is the only team yet to announce its WeatherTech Championship driver lineups, has Dane Cameron, Felipe Nasr, Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet, Michael Christensen and Nick Tandy taking part in the test.

***This week’s test is mandatory for all LMDh manufacturers, as well as for new or upgraded GT3-spec machinery. AF Corse is on-site with a brand-new Ferrari 296 GT3 while Pfaff Motorsports is testing the new Type-992 Porsche 911 GT3 R and Iron Lynx set to run a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

***Andrea Caldarelli will handle testing duties of the factory-owned Lamborghini chassis, while Toni Vilander’s name is listed on the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari, which is sporting GTD colors and number plates. Out of the three announced drivers for Pfaff’s 2023 program, only Klaus Bachler will turn laps in the plaid-liveried Porsche this week.

***IMSA has also invited three LMP2 teams (Tower Motorsport, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports and TDS Racing) for “prescribed testing plans” related to the GTP and LMP2 class stratification according to IMSA technical director Matt Kurdock.

***Sportscar365 understands that LMP2 teams have been provided with “performance guidelines” that will see each car run to slight variations that fit within the defined performance window. This is understood to include reduced power levels and aero modifications, although cars are still running on the same Michelin tires as the 2022 season.

***There has been talk of reduced tire allocations for next year within the LMP2 class, which could force teams to double or triple stint their tires in races, similar to what’s been seen in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series in recent years.

***While Josef Newgarden is set to get his first laps in Tower Motorsport’s Oreca 07 Gibson, Scott McLaughlin is not present, with the Kiwi currently in Australia through the holidays and will take part in the Roar Before the Rolex 24 next month.

***Kyffin Simpson and John Farano will also be on hand in the Tower Oreca this week, while PR1/Mathiasen is testing Paul-Loup Chatin alongside Ben Keating, Dylan Murry and British open-wheel youngster Alex Quinn.

***Team principal Bobby Oergel told Sportscar365 that it will campaign only one car in 2023, having made the decision to scale back from a two-car program mid-season this year. Keating is confirmed for the Michelin Endurance Cup races, with another “high caliber” Bronze-rated driver already finalized for the sprint races.

***PR1/Mathiasen recently tested a handful of up-and-coming drivers for future consideration.

***K-PAX Racing is providing operational support for Iron Lynx this week, with the Italian squad’s equipment still en route to Florida for its anticipated three-car program in the Rolex 24 at Daytona that will feature a GTD Pro Lamborghini and two GTD cars, including one for the Iron Dames.

***Multiple sources have indicated to Sportscar365 that there are more than 70 entry requests for the Rolex 24, with only a maximum of 60 or potentially 61 spaces on the grid for the race. IMSA is believed to be communicating entry confirmations to teams tomorrow.

***Both Acura LMDh cars are coming off a test at NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Ky., last weekend while Porsche Penske rolled out its second WeatherTech Championship-based chassis in a two-car test at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

***WTR team owner Wayne Taylor said: “Our plan is to go into this test as fully-homologated as possible. Everybody has done a good job getting us here and IMSA has done their part. We are certain that we will provide a car in a condition that will make everyone happy come qualifying and race day.”

***Unlike the MSR entry, WTR’s Acura is not in its final race livery, while the race liveries for the Cadillac Racing entries will be unveiled online at Cadillac.com and on the Cadillac V-Series Instagram account in mid-January.

***Cadillac has logged nearly 12,000 miles in on-track testing since its initial rollout in July, which included a 24-hour test at Sebring International Raceway in a CGR-entered car. This week marks the first test with all three cars in attendance.

***Ricky Taylor tied the knot with longtime girlfriend/fiancé Emily Nash last Friday. The couple were engaged in 2019.

***The two-day test will offer up to 19 hours of track time, with on-track activity beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday and running through noon. A second session is scheduled from 1-5 p.m., while three hours of night-time action is scheduled from 6-9 p.m.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John