IMSA news ticker January 2023: Porsche with tough LMDh debut in Daytona
Here is all the important IMSA news from January 2023 in our ticker format – Latest entry: Porsche explains the technical issues the cars had in Daytona
January 31, 2022: Porsche explains technical issues at 24h Daytona
Porsche struggled in its LMDh debut in the GTP class of the IMSA series. Both cars fell off the lead lap at the 24 Hours of Daytona with technical problems. A gearbox damage to the No. 6 car and a battery replacement as well as faulty water line to the No. 7 car, set both cars back. According to Porsche LMDh boss Urs Kuratle, the brand “learned its lessons” to strike back at Sebring. Many problems occurred for the first time, he said.
January 31, 2022: BMW explains tough 24h Daytona race
BMW motorsport boss Andreas Roos explains why BMW still had problems at the 24 Hours of Daytona. For one thing, he says, preparation for the endurance race did not go as planned, which is why the additional miles from Florida can now flow into the development process. On the other hand, there was a problem with the hybrid power unit, or more precisely the MGU (Motor Generation Unit), on the No. 25 BMW. As a precaution, BMW replaced the entire battery.
January 30, 2022: Here are the 2023 Daytona 24h winners
Meyer Shank Racing dominated large parts of the Daytona 24h race in the Acura and took the first victory of the new GTP LMDh era. In the LMP2 category, Proton secured victory by just 0.016 seconds from CrowdStrike. The LMP3 victory went to AWA. Both GT3 categories were fiercely contested, with the winners being the Weathertech Mercedes in GTD-Pro and the Heart of Racing Aston Martin in GTD.
January 27, 2022: Lucas Auer suffered a back injury
According to Mercedes, Lucas Auer suffered a fractured vertebrae during free practice for the 24 Hours of Daytona in Florida. The Austrian, after previously clocking the fastest GTD lap, crashed violently into the wall off turn 1. The session was interrupted for 20 minutes as it took time to extricate the driver from the Winward Mercedes. Auer has not yet published any statement.
January 22, 2022: MSR Acura on top of the 24h Daytona Qualifying
The starting grid for the 24h of Daytona on January 28-29, 2023 has been determined. Pole position in the new GTP category for LMDh cars went to Meyer Shank Racing (Acura) ahead of Penske (Porsche) and Wayne Taylor Racing (Acura). Ganassi (Cadillac) finished fourth, with the two BMWs running eighth and ninth. Nick Tandy put his Porsche 963 into the wall at the Bus-Stop Chicane in the closing stages, bringing out a red flag. PR1-Mathiasen secured first place in the LMP2 category, Sean Creech was fastest in the LMP3 classification. In GTD Pro, Weathertech (Mercedes) took pole position, while Winward (Mercedes)will lead the GTD field into the Daytona 24h race.
January 20, 2022: Acura set the fastest time at the first day in Daytona
Acura set the fastest time in the new GTP category for LMDh cars on the first day of the “Roar Before the 24”. Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun clocked a 1:35.210-lap. WTR’s sister car finished second ahead of the No. 01 factory Cadillac and the Porsche of Matt Campbell and Felipe Nasr. The best BMW finished fifth. TDS Racing topped the LMP2 standings, Andretti the LMP3 category. Best GTD was the Magnus-Aston-Martin, which was even faster than the GTD-Pro Lexus. Kevin Magnussen will miss the 24 Hours of Daytona due to hand surgery.
January 13, 2022: 61 cars on the 24h Daytona entry list
The IMSA Series has published the official entry list for the 2023 Daytona 24 hours race. A total of 61 cars have been entered by the teams for the endurance classic in Florida. In the new GTP category with the LMDh cars, fans can expect nine cars from four manufactures: Cadillac, Acura, BMW and Porsche. In addition, there are ten LMP2 and nine LMP3 cars. Eight cars have been entered in GTD Pro, and an impressive 25 driver squads will be competing in GTD.
