Roar Before the Rolex 2026 Sets the Stage for a Thrilling Daytona 24
Daytona Beach, Fla. (January 16–18, 2026) — The traditional curtain-raiser to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season delivered three action-packed days of testing, racing and storylines as the Roar Before the Rolex 24 transformed Daytona International Speedway into a full-scale rehearsal for the 64th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Held from January 16–18, the Roar once again served as the mandatory pre-season test for all teams entered in the Rolex 24, featuring multiple on-track sessions for the four WeatherTech Championship classes: Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) and GT Daytona (GTD).
Porsche Leads Early, Sets the Benchmark
Porsche emerged as the early headline-maker, setting the pace across multiple sessions and establishing itself as the team to beat heading into race week. On Day 1, Felipe Nasr topped the opening practice session in the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, signaling the manufacturer’s intent to chase a third consecutive Rolex 24 overall victory. Cool, crisp Florida conditions provided ideal running, allowing teams to push hard and gather critical performance data.
By the end of the weekend, Porsche’s dominance remained a central theme. IMSA’s official recap described the test as a “dominant weekend” for the German marque, with multiple strong showings across sessions that reinforced their status as favorites entering race week.
Cadillac and BMW Close the Gap
While Porsche grabbed early headlines, rival manufacturers were not far behind. Cadillac showed increasing strength as the weekend progressed, with the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing entry topping an afternoon session and demonstrating improved pace and consistency. The performance suggested the GTP battle for Rolex 24 honors will be far from a one-manufacturer show.
BMW experienced a mixed but productive weekend, using the Roar to work through setup changes and race simulations. Teams focused on reliability runs, night practice preparation and long-stint data collection, underscoring the Roar’s importance beyond outright lap times.
Major Debuts and New Partnerships
The Roar also showcased significant changes for the 2026 season. Multiple manufacturers rolled out evolution upgrades in the GTP class, while Aston Martin prepared for the highly anticipated Rolex 24 debut of its Valkyrie prototype. New driver lineups, fresh manufacturer alliances and updated technical packages made the weekend one of the most important pre-season tests in recent years.
In GT competition, Corvette expanded its presence with DragonSpeed joining the GTD class, marking the competitive debut of new Corvette driver lineups ahead of the Rolex 24.
Support Series Add to the Spectacle
Beyond WeatherTech Championship testing, the Roar weekend also featured competitive racing action. The IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge kicked off its 2026 season at Daytona, delivering two 45-minute multi-class sprint races and giving fans their first green-flag action of the year. The Michelin Pilot Challenge teams also took part in extensive testing, with Morgan Burkhard setting the fastest overall Grand Sport (GS) time of the weekend in the No. 2 CSM Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS.
Final Dress Rehearsal Complete
With three full days of testing, competitive runs and organizational preparation complete, the Roar Before the Rolex 2026 successfully delivered its mission as the final dress rehearsal for America’s most prestigious endurance race. Teams now shift focus from experimentation to execution as they prepare for the Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 24–25, where championships begin, legends are made, and the 2026 IMSA season officially roars to life.