2016 Rolex 24 Preview

Well, the official start of the 2016 racing season is just a little over 2 days from now, and that is the annual running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.  The twice-around-the-clock event at Daytona International Speedway marks the beginning of what will be another exciting season in the world of autosports.  As always, the event brings out the stars of not only Sportscar racing, but also IndyCar drivers, NASCAR superstars and even celebrities.  Here's my preview of the event.

We'll start off with the Prototype Class.  The overall winner will come from this category and there are alot of contenders.  Scott Pruett, who has won the event 5 times, leaves Chip Ganassi Racing this year to drive for a Lexus GT team later on in 2016, presumably starting at Long Beach, but for Daytona & Sebring, he will race for Action Express Racing.  This team is no stranger to a championship, having won previously at the 24 hour event with Joao Barbosa & Sebastien Bourdais.  Pruett joins the duo as well as Filipe Albuquerque to conquer another title.  Chip Ganassi Racing is moving onto the GT-Le Mans Category for the 2016 season, but will field campaigns for the Daytona event.  Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jamie McMurray & Kyle Larson, who all drive for IndyCars & NASCAR, will reunite again in the 02 car to defend the title.  In the 01 Ganassi entry, it will be World Endurance Championship drivers Brendon Hartley, Alex Wurz, rookie Lance Stroll and veteran Andy Priaulx.  We'll talk more Ganassi later.  Wayne Taylor Racing will definitely contend for a title w/ Max Angelelli, Ricky Taylor & Jordan Taylor.  The Spirit of Daytona Racing team, car 90, features an all-new lineup for 2016 with Ryan Dalziel & Marc Goossens driving full-time, sharing the ride with IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.  The other contender I can think of that can win is the Michael Shank Racing car 60 entry, featuring Oswaldo Negri, Jr., John Pew, NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger and Olivier Pla.

The Prototype Challenge Class is smaller, but has lesser horsepower than the brother Prototype entries.  The 54 Car CORE Autosport entry is definitely the favorite, as the main drivers Colin Braun & Jon Bennett has won titles and races in the last few years.  The entry is back, with Mark Wilkins & Martin Plowman helping to try to win.  However, Starworks Motorsports have 2 cars, the 8 and 88, which will do battle throughout the event.  Drivers competing for Starworks include IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth, who is looking to have a career year in racing.

Moving onto the GT-Le Mans Class now.  With the 2017 rules and regulations going into effect next year regarding the cars and how they are manufactured, teams like Ganassi made the switch into GT.  With Scott Pruett moving onto Lexus, Ganassi brought in drivers who wanted to drive Fords and for the team itself.  The 66 entry features defending race winner Joey Hand, who will share duties this weekend with Dirk Muller and current IndyCar driver Sebastien Bourdais.  The sister 67 car features Richard Westbrook & former IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe, who will both race full-time with Ganassi Racing.  However, they will have challenges, most notable from Corvette Racing, who has dominated in years past, especially in American Le Mans Series Racing, as well as Porsche North America and BMW Team Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan.  In this class, there are alot of known drivers like Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, Oliver Gavin, Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet and Bill Auberlen, just to name a few.  Definitely a fun category to watch.

Meanwhile, on the GT-Daytona class, there will be alot of competition.  22 cars will take the track and the battle will be non-stop.  A lot of cars to focus and look on, so right now, any manufacturer/team has a chance to win.  I'm not going to go into detail, but the racing in this class will be intense.

Long story short, this year's Rolex 24 will definitely be like, in past years, very exciting and intense to watch.  Definitely seeing lead changes all race and probably 3 or 4 cars will have a chance to win when the clock hits 0.  Question is who will take the overall title.  I'm going w/ the 5 car (Action Express Racing) to win, but I do think the 10, 90 and 02 also have a chance at the watch.