5 Ferraris will be in the Roar Before Rolex 24. 1 in GTLM, the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE. 4 in GTD, the No. 82 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GT3, 2 488GT3 of Scuderia Corsa (No. 63 and 64) and the last of Spirit of Race (No. 51) http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/50-entries-for-roar-before-rolex-24-2/ http://johndagys.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Roar-IWSC-Pre-Event-Entry-List.pdf
Can't wait for Daytona I just saw that WTR will not be joining GTD as had originally been reported. Generally I am more interested in the GT classes, but this year prototype is going to be quite a battle. So many huge names.
Good to see the Ferrari's, but more in GTLM would be nice. The real interesting racing I hope will be in prototypes if they all hold together. Best it has been in many years.
I'll be there with the new AMG GT4 in GS. Winward/HTP Motorsports. Yea its the Conti series but it'll still be some great racing. Heading to ROAR Wed morning.
I mentioned this in another thread but there will be some changes in the infield for this event: NO independent vendors. All of the vendors who have been coming to this event bringing artwork, t-shirts, pins, stickers, and models - some of them for 30 years - have been told that they are no longer welcome at the Rolex 24. This notice was given only a couple of weeks ago so, of course, all of the usual vendors had placed merchandise orders and made travel arrangements but NASCAR only wants corporate merchandising now - including their very own Fanatics and the new (outsourced) IMSA merchandise store - which is intended to give the fans more of a "retail store experience". Probably not a bid deal to some of you - but some of the vendors are very well liked by the drivers and teams never mind the hardcore fans - and I think the event is losing something by not having them there.
Crazy! What is your source on this? Will the situation be the same at Sebring and all ISC controlled tracks? BHW
Vendors that I've known for 30 years. An email that was sent around. Oh and PS: no more infield parking for media. As for the other tracks I honestly don't know but I doubt it except that the IMSA merchandise store will presumably be at all the prototype races and maybe the GT races too. Hey it's all about the almighty dollar. If they can charge a car manufacturer $10K or $20K for a space that used to be occupied by 2-3 vendors paying $2K-3K each they are ahead and they probably think it's a better experience for the fans. Not the fans who actually exist perhaps - but the fans they think will flock to this sort of thing.
Good luck to them then... I learned today that this will not be the case at Sebring. Sebring, as it turns out, is controlled by NASCAR whereas Daytonner is an ISC track. How they divy this up is anyone guess. No infield media parking? Man, they're still doing all they can to be sure that the media's experience is as miserable as possible. One year, must have been back around 1996-97, the had the media parked in paddock sort of between the garages and track. The media parking lot was literally pot holed with huge fire ant mounds and any unsuspecting photographer or writer getting out of their cars could set foot directly in a huge mound, which could be fatal if the recipient has a fire ant allergy. BHW
Thanks. Will do. I'll be "working" so hopefully I get a minute or two to walk around and check out the new cars and actually chat with some drivers/crew. Its just testing so its not that hectic but there's lots to do.
According to the people I've spoken to the media parking had previously been split between infield and way out back a 15 minute shuttle ride away with crew being in the same boat. To hear the photographers talk they have about the worst job in the place because there aren't enough lockers to go around, the lockers are nowhere near big enough and without access to their vehicles they have nowhere to store any gear so have to haul everything, everywhere, all the time. That's a bunch of really expensive really heavy gear getting dragged around and what do you do with it when you need to visit the little photographer's room?
Per my crew email: Some more info https://competitors.imsa.com/sites/default/files/competition/downloads/2018_imsa_provisional_schedule_and_sr_daytona_24h_121517.pdf
None of this comes as a surprise. The stories I could tell about this could fill volumes. From the get-go, DIS makes life as completely difficult for credentialed media members as possible. Their credentials office is/was run by a woman named Donna Freismuth. Donna was a crusty ol' gal and on arriving at the credentials office to pick up passes, it was normally the case that the credentials wouldn't be there and they'd literally be insulting about it. This became known as "The Donna Gauntlet" and for some reason attending media was seen as the enemy. Despite going through the normal routine of having an editor sending in request for credentials which the DIS office should have conveniently on file, these files were never where they belonged. Not caring a whit about how far photographers or writers may have travelled to get there (some from halfway around the world), we'd get the usual, "It's just not here, sorry can't help you" and walk away routine. Only for ten minutes later after blood pressure and anxiety levels have peaked, the credentials suddenly appear as if by magic. No apologies, no mention of delaying people who are on assignments, etc. They actually seem to get a kick out of doing it. The media/photo room was always a joke. One of my colleagues, a noted author and historian attended one of the 24 Hours of Daytona during the GrandAm era stating "It's like a train wreck, you can't watch but you can't look away either". My colleague had recently undergone back surgery and was still not steady on his feet, required a cane to walk and was still dealing with some pain. On checking in, my colleague went to the media room, found his appointed spot, dropped off his items (including pain killers) and went for a walkabout around the paddock. It was a warm day, he started suffering with the heat and he needed a pain killer. So, he went back to the press room where a security guard looked at his credential and denied him access. He pointed out to the guard that he had just let him in minutes before, and that his stuff right there just a few feet away. Nope, access denied. The situation escalated and by now my colleague needed a cool place to sit down, get some water and take a pill. The guard called in reinforcements and the next thing he knew he was being surrounded and threatened with expulsion if he continued to pursue entering the press room. He spotted a tub with cold bottles of water and he grabbed one. The bottle was snatched from his hand and he was told that the water was for media only. On flashing his credentials once again, he was denied water and now the guards were ready to escort him off the grounds. This is the kind of crap DIS routinely does and sounds as though things haven't changed one bit. BHW
I have to correct myself, it is actually correct that the 2017 WEC GTAM Champion will race with Ferrari
Good luck and see you there. I leave for Daytona tomorrow. Are you driving or part of the team? Lyons/Wilson? I'll be driving the VOLT Racing #7 Mustang GT4 in Conti.
Image Unavailable, Please Login Lando, Nando, Hanso Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login RISI COMPETIZIONE TO ENTER 2018 IMSA ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA RACE WITH TWO CAR TEAM Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM No. 62: Toni Vilander (FIN) James Calado (GBR) Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA) Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTD No. 82: Santiago Creel (MEX) Martin Fuentes (MEX) Miguel Molina (ESP) Ricardo Perez de Lara (MEX) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I am sad to see the ST class going away in CTSCC...only 5 entries for Daytona. The GS class is huge, which is great. But I love the diversity of the old ST class.
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