Roar Before The 24 test to decide Daytona pit allocation for race

The annual preseason open test at Daytona International Speedway for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will feature a 15-minute qualifying session for all three classes, to be held on Sunday, Jan. 7.

The fastest-qualifying Prototype will receive the first pit box on pit lane starting at pit-in and also will be assigned to the first garage in the P section of the garage. The fastest GT Daytona car will receive the second pit box on pit lane and the first garage in the GTD section, with the fastest GT Le Mans car receiving the third pit box and the first garage in the GTLM section.

Considering the new-for-2018 regulation regarding Prototypes and GTLM cars pitting together under a full course yellow, IMSA elected to ensure teams from those two classes are separated on pitlane by a GTD team.

Once the fastest cars in each class have been accounted for, the process will repeat with the second-fastest Prototype, GTD and GTLM cars receiving their pit assignments and continuing until all cars have been accounted for.

Entrants fielding multiple cars in the same class will be assigned adjoining pit boxes based on the fastest qualifying car being placed toward pit-in, while entrants of multiple cars in different classes will have their pitboxes assigned at IMSA’s discretion. The same criteria will be applied to garages –entrants of multiple cars in the same class get adjoining garages.

The Roar Before the 24 will also feature a 1hr45min race for IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda, to be held on Jan. 6.

“The enhancements planned for the 2018 Roar Before The Rolex 24 At Daytona will bring more excitement to an already intriguing weekend for race fans,” said IMSA VP of competition, Simon Hodgson.

“As we’ve seen over the past several years, every second counts in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, placing a premium on the location of a team’s pit box and garage.

“Likewise, the addition of the first IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda with its new, endurance-racing format will be popular with our fans.”