IMSA’s new GTP prototype formula is making its debut at this year’s running of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, with practice sessions taking place this weekend.
The new regulations have brought an entirely new set of prototype cars to the track to race against each other, with varied car and engine designs testing each team’s skill to the limit.
Now that the first laps have been run in the all-new class of cars, the teams are confirming again what they already knew from testing: their new machinery is very complex.
Chip Ganassi Racing is fielding two Cadillac V-LMDh prototypes, and has pulled talented people over from its IndyCar operations to assist its already formidable sportscar team with getting a handle on the new cars.
Having the personnel available to bring on extra help for the car’s debut is invaluable, and will be key to any early performance advantages the team can gain on its rivals.
“We are lucky enough to carry several people over from our DPi program and some from our IndyCar program,” said CGR Team Manager Mike O’Gara. “Those are engineers and people who know how to use and operate the last car. Now we are looking at systems engineers and hybrid engineers and battery specialists and things like that.
“So for me, it is a big challenge, aside from learning the car, is making sure we have the right people in place because once the race season starts, it’s hard to find good people.
“We have a pretty wide range of experience and personalities to mesh and learn how to work together.”
The range of expertise available within the team is even more advantageous for Ganassi due to the complexities of the new GTP formula. The all-new high voltage hybrid system in particular brings many unknowns, especially when the first real test is a 24 hour marathon race.
There are nine different entries in the top class from four different manufacturers all competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona, and more are planning to make their debut in the near future.
The manufacturers have plenty of talented people to lend their skills to creating the new cars, but any skills that can be pulled from a team’s own personnel can give a squad an extra advantage.
Ganassi’s Managing Director Mike Hull talked about the complexities of figuring out the new car are the biggest concern heading into the first race of the new era.
“If we need to speak to the complexities, there’s too many to mention,” said Hull. “It’s terrific to be racing in this category, GTP.
“The open wheel racing in the United States and closed wheel racing, sports car racing in America went through this period of time where there were two factions. They’ve come back together. IndyCar is starting to come out of the dilemma it was in finally, and sports car racing certainly is doing the same thing in a very positive way globally.
“I think what we’re seeing here at Daytona is exactly what’s going to happen for the future. This is like the down payment, what we’re seeing this year. By 2025 or 2026, not only are you going to be fighting for 61 positions in the garage area and in pit lane, but the quality of the teams are going to be way, way higher than it is today.
“The complexity that we’re dealing with today will be standard fare by then. Anytime that you start with a new race car, you forget all the things that you have to do to make it run. And so that’s what we’re all going through in any category that that happens.”
Practice and qualifying continue through this weekend, with the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona taking place next week on January 28-29.
