Roar Before 24 Pre-Event Notebook

Photo: John Dagys

***It’s understood the TBA GT Daytona entry, believed to have been the Nissan GT-R GT3 that tested in IMSA specification last month, has been withdrawn, making way for the third Scuderia Corsa Ferrari to take the Rolex 24 start.

***The No. 65 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari was originally the third on the GTD reserve list. Konrad Motorsport, the first reserve, has since joined forces with Dempsey Racing, while the second Level 5 Motorsports Ferrari is also believed to have been confirmed a conditional entry for the race.

***With Project Libra’s plans unclear and the 8Star Motorsports Corvette DP unlikely to race, it leaves Starworks Motorsport’s Riley DP as the only potentially race-ready effort on the reserve list. If it materializes, look for Peter Baron’s DP to be powered by an engine package not currently seen in DP.

***In addition to the Risi Competizione Ferrari and second BAR1 Motorsports Oreca FLM09 withdrawing from the test, both of the RSR Racing PC entries have also elected to skip the test. The Paul Gentilozzi-owned squad completed private testing at Daytona last month.

***Reigning Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge ST champions Terry Borcheller and Mike LaMarra will test Level 5 Motorsports’ No. 556 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 car, with an eye towards a likely NAEC campaign.

***While yet to confirm a driver lineup for its two confirmed PC entries, Level 5 has brought one of its brand-new Oreca FLM09s to Florida, complete with its P2 engineer Matt Greasley, with the hope that a deal materializes in the next few days.

***Corvette Racing’s two new C7.Rs feature camouflage liveries this weekend, with the formal unveil to come Jan. 13 at the North American Auto Show in Detroit.

***Look for SRT Motorsports’ pair of Viper GTS-Rs to continue with an unchanged full-season driver lineup, with its pilots for the Rolex 24 to be announced tomorrow.

***Chip Ganassi Racing is also expected to unveil its driver lineup for its two-car DP program on Friday. Judging by names already displayed on the No. 02 Riley-Ford, look for Marino Franchitti to join Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan and Kyle Larson.

***2013 IMSA Prototype Lites Champion Sean Rayhall, who appeared set for a full-season campaign with 8Star Motorsports, will instead test for BAR1 Motorsports this weekend. Rayhall will be joined by Doug Bielefeld, Chapman Ducote and possibly E.J. Viso for the test.

***CORE autosport’s PC car will see team owner Jon Bennett and Colin Braun, recently confirmed for the full season, handle testing duties with Mark Wilkins. The Canadian, however, has not yet been confirmed for the race.

***Starworks Motorsport’s two PC entries will see GP2 runner-up Sam Bird and Eric Lux join Mirco Schultis and Renger van der Zande in the No. 7 car, with Alex Popow, Isaac Tutumlu, Rob Huff, Bia Figueiredo and Martin Fuentes slated to test the No. 8 entry.

***Max Papis will be testing the No. 31 Marsh Racing Corvette DP with full-season drivers Boris Said and Eric Curran, while Australian FIA WEC LMP2 star John Martin has been added to the No. 9 Action Express Racing/Delta-ADR Corvette DP.

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