Two Weeks in Daytona Set to Launch 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The field is set to launch the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, first with today’s release of the entry list for next week’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. As this test is mandatory for all teams participating in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the entry list for the Roar should look substantially the same as the entry list for the race when it is released next week.
As ever, the Roar and the Rolex 24 combines a range of IMSA champions, past and potentially future Formula 1 drivers, IndyCar race winners and NASCAR stars. Most of the driver lineups are confirmed with only a handful of updates and additions from the mid-December Rolex 24 entry list release. With the withdrawal of Team Tonis’ entry, a field of 60 cars is now set to compete – split 11 Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), 13 Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), 15 Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) and 21 Grand Touring Daytona (GTD).
The Roar test features seven total sessions over three days. All four classes are active over two sessions Friday, January 16, three sessions Saturday, January 17 and a morning session Sunday, January 18. The seventh and final session of the weekend on Sunday afternoon is reserved for Bronze-rated drivers only.
That leads into the Rolex 24 race week itself, with two practice sessions Thursday, January 22 sandwiching qualifying, a final practice on Friday, January 23 and the race start on Saturday, January 24 at 1:40 p.m. ET with live coverage starting on network NBC at 1:30 p.m. ET and streaming flag-to-flag on Peacock.
Fast Facts
64th Rolex 24 At Daytona
Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Florida
January 22-25, 2026
Race Day/Time: Saturday, January 24 – 1:40 p.m. ET (WeatherTech Championship | IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Round 1)
NBC Network Coverage: LIVE, Saturday, January 24 – 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET; Sunday, January 25, 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Peacock Streaming Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET in the U.S.; International feed coverage available on IMSA.tv and IMSA Official YouTube Channel (outside the U.S.)
Live Qualifying Stream: Thursday, January 22 – 2:05 p.m. ET on Peacock and IMSA.tv (in the U.S.) and IMSA Official YouTube Channel (outside the U.S.)
Circuit Type: 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course
Classes Competing: Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), Grand Touring Daytona (GTD)
Race Length: 24 hours