The road to the 64th running of the Daytona 24 Hours, or the 'Rolex 24' as some may call it, is almost upon us. A 60-car grid across four very different classes will compete in what promises to be one of the deepest and most competitive editions in recent memory.
A global grid returns to Daytona
Daytona’s annual January classic once again brings together an extraordinary mix of talent. IMSA champions share the paddock with past and present Formula 1 drivers, IndyCar race and championship winners, NASCAR standouts, bonafide sportscar stars, and rising international talents, all united by the singular challenge of surviving 24 hours on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course.
The 2026 field features 11 GTP entries battling for overall honours, joined by 13 LMP2 cars, 15 GTD PRO machines, and a race-high 21 entries in the GTD class. From factory-backed prototypes to strongly contested customer GT efforts, every corner of the paddock is stacked with experience and ambition.
Among the many headline names returning to Daytona are Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Kevin Magnussen, AJ Allmendinger, Colton Herta, and Connor Zilisch in the GTP ranks. Logan Sargeant adds intrigue in LMP2, while GT competition welcomes stars such as James Hinchcliffe, Will Power, Chaz Mostert, Romain Grosjean, Scott McLaughlin, and Marcus Ericsson across GTD PRO and GTD.
In total, drivers from at least 30 countries will take the start, underscoring the truly international nature of IMSA’s season opener.
History, records, and returning champions
Daytona’s record books loom large over the field. Pipo Derani’s blistering GTP lap of 1:32.656, set in January 2024, remains the benchmark for the top class, while Paul-Loup Chatin, Seb Priaulx, and Parker Thompson hold class records in LMP2, GTD PRO, and GTD respectively.
Several defending winners return looking to add another Rolex watch to their collections. Porsche Penske Motorsport enters 2026 aiming for a remarkable third consecutive overall Daytona victory and a third straight IMSA GTP championship. In GTD, Winward Racing begins its pursuit of a third straight class title and a third Rolex 24 win to complement its 2021 and 2024 wins.
The field includes more than 60 previous Daytona winners, over 50 IMSA champions, and more than 50 24 Hours of Le Mans winners. Experience will not be in short supply when darkness falls on Saturday night.
Manufacturers, milestones, and new beginnings
Twelve manufacturers will be represented at Daytona, led by Porsche with a race-high nine entries. Ferrari, Chevrolet, Mercedes-AMG, BMW, Aston Martin, Ford, Acura, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Lexus, and McLaren complete a diverse and competitive lineup. All LMP2 entries will once again utilise ORECA chassis powered by Gibson engines.
11 cars to race in GTP
Several storylines add extra intrigue to this year’s race. The Aston Martin Valkyrie makes its long-anticipated Daytona debut, while BMW M Team WRT assumes control of BMW’s GTP program and take a first Daytona win in WRT's first ever IMSA event.
Porsche race at Daytona with IMSA now the only Porsche Penske team competiting globally, after the German manufacturer withdrew from the FIA World Endurance Championship last year.
They will be hoping to take victory and show that they are still a force to be reckoned with, even with question marks still hanging over Weissach's corporate finances and long-term longevity of the 963 programme.
Acura and Meyer Shank Racing return for another IMSA season hoping to win their first GTP title and first since 2022. They last won at Daytona in 2023, but much has changed since then, including a year out for Meyer Shank Racing before returning last year with two cars.
Cadillac haven't won at Daytona since 2020, the last of four consecutive victories in the DPi era. Despite the clear and obvious strengths of the V-Series.R, the American manufacturer hasn't been able to best Porsche here, which has won Daytona for the last two years. Cadillac, and the other GTP manufacturers, will be desperate to change that.
A major aero overhaul for Cadillac will be the American manufacturer's hope to take its first Daytona win in six years, but the other manufacturers haven''t been standing still. Only Aston Martin arrives having not spent an evo joker for this season, with updates on all the factory cars from Cadillac, Porsche, Acura and BMW.
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McLaren arrive in GTD Pro
Meanwhile, in GTD Pro, Team RLL has switched to running a McLaren GT3 programme, bringing the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo back to IMSA competition after a one-year absence, with a single-car entry for the former operators of the BMW GTP effort.
New Michelin tires in GTP and GTD, along with multiple evolution kits across the grid, add another layer of unpredictability.
There is also a sense of farewell in parts of the paddock. With Toyota’s GR GT3 on the horizon, the 2026 race could mark the final Rolex 24 appearance for the Lexus RC F GT3 as Vasser Sullivan Racing continues its quest for a first Daytona victory.
Likewise, the venerable Lamborghini Huracán GT3, now in Evo2 configuration after originally being introduced in 2016, is making its final stand. It'll be replaced by the brand new Lamborghini Temerario GT3, which will make its global debut at Sebring next month.
Phil Oakley
Family rivalries and endurance legacy
Adding a personal dimension to the competition are several family connections throughout the field. In GTP, brothers Jordan and Ricky Taylor will face off alongside brothers Dries and Laurens Vanthoor. LMP2 features Enzo and Pietro Fittipaldi sharing the same car, while GTD includes a father-son pairing with Dave Musial Sr. and Dave Musial II.
These stories, layered atop the sheer scale and prestige of the event, serve as a reminder of what makes Daytona's 24 hour race unique. It is not just a race against the clock, but a test of teamwork, resilience, and legacy. Buckle up: it's looking like it'll be a fun 24 hours.
Feature image: Porsche Penske Motorsport
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