Photo Credit; IMSA
With the Roar Before the Rolex 24 open test set to begin this weekend at the Daytona International Speedway, the last few seats on the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship grid are being taken up. This includes some drivers who were left out of the mix last season and others who had hoped to be elsewhere this season, but have instead opted for the plan b or plan c option.
The most notable of the drivers last year who were out of luck in terms of claiming a seat was Georgia-native Sean Rayhall, who after winning two of the final four events in the Prototype Challenge division with 8Star Motorsports in 2014, was unable to secure a seat for 2015. This was due in part to the fact that as reported a few months ago at OnPitRoad.com, his FIA driver rating was changed from a Silver to a Gold, closing the door of opportunity in both the PC and the GT Daytona divisions, classes meant mainly for Silver and Bronze level pilots. Well that concern for the 21-year old in 2016 has been put to rest as Dr. Don Panoz confirmed that Rayhall, along with Katherine Legge will pair up to drive DeltaWing Racing Cars’ unique DWC13 coupe full time in IMSA’s Prototype division. 2016 is the final year in which the Elan-powered vehicle will be eligible to compete as IMSA adopts the new for 2017 regulations for LMP-2 machines, bringing the North American sports car circuit somewhat in line with the rules for both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series, with the exception being that IMSA, unlike the European circuits will not require the use of a spec-engine type.
Not expected to continue in Prototype in 2017, rumors suggest that the Panoz-backed squad will look to enter the GT Daytona division, with a DeltaWing-based GT machine that is currently in the planning stages. A solid season for Rayhall could secure his services as the longtime entrant and American Le Mans Series founder returns to the grand touring ranks where his team first made its mark in the late 1990s. As for the Rolex 24 at Daytona entry, DeltaWing will pair Rayhall and Legge, with Andy Meyrick, who drove full time for the team in 2014. There is an outside chance of a fourth driver for Daytona as Andreas Wirth will test the DWC13 at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.
Also making headlines this week has been Memo Rojas, who ironically drove for DeltaWing last season. Initially, the Mexican veteran best known for his success with Chip Ganassi Racing in the 2000s decade had hoped to join Michael Shank Racing in a second Honda-powered Ligier coupe, but was unsuccessful when the necessary funding never came about. Option two for Rojas is a move to the GT Le Mans class for what could an effort in the North American Endurance Cup with Scuderia Corsa in a Ferrari 488 GTE. Rojas was added to the participant list for the team on the entry list for the Roar test provided by IMSA on Wednesday. If confirmed for the Rolex 24 at Daytona itself, Rojas would join a solid lineup that currently features Alessandro Pier Guidi, Alexandre Premat, and Daniel Serra. It would also be Rojas’ first effort in the grand touring divisions at Daytona, as he has strictly competed in the Prototype class. taking the overall win three times.
While Rayhall and Rojas appear set to contest the Rolex 24, one veteran from last year in the Prototype Challenge division will not be track side. 2013 American Le Mans Series’ PC Drivers’ Champion Mike Guasch will instead participate in the European Le Mans Series for United Autosports in 2016, competing in the second-year LMP-3 class. Guasch returned to full time participation in IMSA last season with Bobby Oergel’s PR1-Mathiasen Motorsports operation, winning four races and finishing second in the final PC standings. Guasch had hoped to move up to the Prototype class in 2016, but looked for other opportunities after Oergel elected to stay in the PC division for another year.
Stay tuned to OnPitRoad.com for further updates on the Roar tests this weekend, plus other news from the world of sports car racing.
