Five Must-See Winter Racing Events
By Alex Herbst
Rolex 24 at Daytona
In what many believe is the event that kicks off the motorsports year, the Rolex 24 at Daytona is a who’s who of racing royalty, competing in one of the longest races in the world. And to add to the intrigue of multiple classes of cars sharing the track at once, one of those divisions will debut an all-new look in 2017.
Beginning in 1959 as a 1000 kilometer race, it expanded to its current 24-hour format in 1966. The only adjustment came in 1972 as part of gas rationing. The event is a sort of pilgrimage for sports car competitors and fans, and is part of the unofficial “triple crown” of endurance racing with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Luring in the top marques and teams of endurance racing, it’s an event that is worth staying up a whole day for.
In 2017, the prototype class will undergo a new look, following the new Daytona Prototype international concept. Mazda will continue to compete at the top level of IMSA competition, joined by Cadillac, Nissan, and Gibson Technology. It will see both LMP2-spec and DPi-spec machines, hoping for a better balance of performance and more crossover with the World Endurance Championship.
Next: Remembering the IROC Series
Of course, there are many other races that will be coming in January and early February before the motorsports season kicks off with NASCAR’s Daytona 500. And no matter what, many race fans will be looking forward to the true racing season returning in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned to Beyond the Flag for all the news, rumors, and analysis this offseason, leading into the kickoff of the racing season.