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The ultra-competitive Daytona 24 Hours is the first of the massive endurances races of 2026. Here are the main things to look out for
The 64th running of the Daytona 24 Hours launches the 2026 IMSA SportsCar Championship season this weekend. It promises to be a thrilling race with major technical developments, top drivers, and a new tire for the top class. Although the green flag waves on Saturday at 1:40pm local time, teams have been working hard since the ‘Roar Before the 24’ test last Friday.
The Roar serves as a collective test to prepare teams with seven on-track sessions over three days. While past Roar results could impact pitlane allocation, today it consists only of free practice sessions. Qualifying is set for Thursday.
Porsche led the Roar times, closely followed by BMW and Cadillac, leaving room for exciting competition. American driver Logan Sargeant, making his Daytona debut, will be closely watched as part of Ford’s Hypercar program. Connor Zilisch, another American talent, steps up to the GTP class, generating anticipation for his performance at the race.
