While the FIA World Endurance Championship<\/strong> While still in winter break, sports car fans are already turning their gaze to Florida. On January 24 and 25, 2026<\/strong> starts the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship<\/strong> with the 24 Hours of Daytona<\/strong> into the new season. Overall Elf vehicles<\/strong> compete in the top-class GTP for the prestigious overall victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GTP class will once again form the sporting centerpiece of the Daytona classic in 2026. Porsche is represented by three 963s, two of which are from Porsche Penske Motorsport<\/strong>. Among those sitting in the cockpits are Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre, Matt Campbell, Felipe Nasr, Julien Andlauer, and Laurin Heinrich<\/strong>. The roster is rounded out by a private deployment of JDC-Miller MotorSports<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the strongest contenders is Cadillac<\/strong>, which with several V-Series.R<\/strong> start. Wayne Taylor Racing<\/strong> brings two vehicles to the start, while Action Express Racing<\/strong> is also represented under the well-known Cadillac-Whelen banner. Cadillac relies on the proven naturally aspirated V8 engine and extensive IMSA experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By BMW<\/strong> takes over for the first time With respect to<\/strong> the responsibility for the IMSA deployment of BMW M Hybrid V8<\/strong>. Drivers like Philipp Eng, Dries Vanthoor, and Sheldon van der Linde<\/strong> ensure international top cast. Acura<\/strong> stays with the ARX-06<\/strong> exclusively loyal to IMSA and will again be by Meyer Shank Racing w\/Curb Agajanian<\/strong> used. A special role is taken by the Aston Martin Valkyrie<\/strong> one, who as sole LMH<\/strong> in the field compete and from Ross Gunn, Roman De Angelis, Alex Riberas, and Marco S\u00f8rensen<\/strong> is piloted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Daytona International Speedway<\/strong> combines high-speed ovals and technical infield sections into one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar. Long full-throttle passages, dense traffic, and significant temperature differences between day and night put cars, tires, and drivers to a severe test over 24 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the GTP Hypercars, 13 LMP2 class vehicles<\/strong> reported. Only vehicles adhering to a uniform technical regulation are used, which traditionally ensures a high performance density. The LMP2 is considered tactically demanding, as mistakes in traffic or on the pit lane often carry more weight than pure speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GT3 Field<\/strong> comprises a total of 36 vehicles<\/strong>, distributed across GTD Pro<\/strong> and Getting Things Done<\/strong>. In the GTD Pro<\/strong>-Class is exclusively for professional crews. Represented are, among others, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Lexus, and Chevrolet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special attention is given to the performance of Manthey<\/strong>, which will debut in 2026 with the distinctive \u201eGrello\u201c<\/strong> starting in Daytona. The team brings extensive experience from international 24-hour races and faces strong competition in GTD Pro. BMW relies on established IMSA structures, Mercedes-AMG is represented by several powerful customer teams, while Ferrari and Lamborghini are counting on proven driver lineups from international GT racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGTP Class: Factory Strength and Technical Diversity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Daytona as a special challenge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
LMP2: Consistent Technology, Close Battles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
GT3 Classes: Manufacturer Diversity and Prominent Drivers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n