VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Daytona Preview
The inaugural round of IMSA’s new-for-2023 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge has attracted a 24 car grid with nine LMP3 and 15 GT4-spec GSX cars set to do battle in a Series that replaces the previous IMSA Prototype Challenge with a new dual class format.
LMP3 will see six Ligiers and three Duqueines in action with a double header of single driver 45 minute sprint races set to take place over the weekend of the Roar test to open the season.
The LMP3 grid sees some familiar names and familiar teams with Lance Willsey set to do double duty in the new Series and in the Rolex 24 too for Sean Creech Motorsport in their #30 Ligier, one of five cars acquired from the now defunct Core autosports team.
Amongst the teams that have seen Rolex 24 action are the Jr III squad whose #3 Duqueine will be in the hands of young prospect Bijoy Garg. The 20 year old has a limited program at present with the team who will return to the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship after Daytona.
Another young gun to watch will be the newly announced winner of the 2023 IMSA Diversity Programme Scholarship, Courtney Crone pilots the Red Dragon/ Bob Stallings-liveried #99 Duqueine for the season.
Long-time IMSA contender Mirco Schultis will pilot the #18 Muehlner Motorsports America Duqueine D08 whilst the teams doing double duty with the Rolex 24 include JDC Motorsport (The #73 Ligier for Dan Goldburg), US RaceTronics/ Thienes Engineering (#77 Ligier for Brian Thienes) and a pair of Ligiers for Kellymoss with Riley (#28 for Keith McGovern and #86 for Scott Neal).
Adrian Kunzle rounds out the class entry with the #54 MLT Motorsports Ligier.
The GT4-spec GRAND SPORT X (GSX) entry numbers 15 cars with 4 Porsche, 2 Ford Mustang, 5 BMW M4, 2 Aston Martin 1 x Camaro, 1 x Mercedes AMG
The teams are a mix on new additions and expanding squads from other IMSA series
Turner Motorsports have committed a pair of previous generation BMW M4 GT4s for Francis Selldorff (#95) and Vincent Barletta (96) with a further first generation M4 for Patrick Wilmot, the #88 Split Decision Motorsports car.
Two brand new Gen II M4 GT4s are fielded with a car apiece for Rob Walker in Auto Technic Racing’s #25 and with Stephen Cameron racing set to field their #19 BMW with a driver yet to be announced.
Two Ford Mustangs are on the Daytona roster, Billy Griffin in Kohr Motorsport’s #14 car and Ford CEO Jim Farley, whilst reported elsewhere as giving the new gen Mustang its global debut, will in fact be driving the current car, the date for the reveal of the new car still to be determined.
The solo Camaro comes from Rebel Rock Racing in the hands of team regular Grand DePew who has scored Pilot Challenge wins in each of the past 4 seasons and should be a factor here!
Another team with Pilot Challenge form is Murillo Racing and they field the only Mercedes AMG GT4 in the field for Tim Probert, he’ll race as #65.
A pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT4s come with a car apiece from Accelerating Performance Baby Bull Racing, the #44 for Moisey Uretsky and Archangel Motorsports, the #69 for Todd Coleman.
Finally the four Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 RS CS come form four single-car teams, with one current IMSA Weathertech team, Kellymoss with Riley with the #27 for Sebastian Carazo.
KMW Motorsports field the #5 for Angus Rogers, BGB Motorsports the #17 for a driver to be determined.
Finally, CarBahn with Peregrine Racing step away from the Weathertech Championship and focus instead on the support categories in 2023, their #93 fields Mark Siegel (pictured top).
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