46 Entries for Four-Hour Season Opener at Daytona

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

A total of 46 cars are entered for next week’s BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona, which will open the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season.

The entry list comprises of 32 GS cars and 14 TCR class entires for the four-hour enduro that’s set to take place on Jan. 27.

The majority of the teams are already present at Daytona International Speedway for this weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 pre-season test.

Among the notable additions to the field include Ford NASCAR drivers Ben Rhodes, Hailie Deegan (No. 41), Harrison Burton and Zane Smith (No. 42) in a pair of PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4s.

Crucial Motorsports will run Aurora Straus, Henry O’Hara and Michael de Quesada in its McLaren Artura GT4, which is set for its competition debut.

Motorsports in Action will also run a new McLaren for the previously announced lineup of Jesse Lazare and Alex Filsinger.

Other new cars in the field include a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO run by Ave Motorsports, which replaces Riley Motorsports in the operation of the No. 14 entry for Toyota Gazoo Racing Latin America and the G82-type BMW M4 GT4 that’s being fielded by Turner Motorsports, Stephen Cameron Racing, Auto Technic Racing and Fast Track Racing.

Of note, newly named BMW factory driver Neil Verhagen is part of the Fast Track lineup alongside Toby Grahovec and Garrett Adams.

Jeroen Bleekmolen is listed in the No. 83 BGB Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport alongside Spencer Pumpelly and Thomas Collingwood, while Michael Cooper has been added as a third driver in Accelerating Performance’s Aston Martin Vantage GT4.

The TCR class will see the return of Tom O’Gorman to the class, as part of Rockwell Autosport Development’s two-car Audi RS 3 LMS TCR effort.

Other recent additions include Tyler Maxson in the No. 70 Deily Motorsports Hyundai Elantra N TCR and confirmation of Karl Wittmer returning to VGRT alongside team owner Victor Gonzalez in the No. 99 Honda Civic Type R TCR.

Pilot Challenge competitors will have a total of five on-track sessions this weekend, prior to the start of official track activity next week in the build up to the season-opening race.

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