How do the four Rolex 24 car classes stack up? A tale of the tape.
From the futuristic prototypes running in the GTP and LMP2 classes to the near-street-car, GT3 entries in the GTD Pro and GTD classes, the differences between the vehicles competing in this week's 62nd running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona can be both stark and subtle.
In terms of speed, the 10 hybrid-powered entries that make up the GTP class will be at the top of the charts with each class separated by some horsepower, a few miles per hour and a few seconds in lap time.
Distinguishing a near-street-ready GT3 from an LMDh, a cutting-edge hybrid making its second appearance in the event, is rather easy. Trying to determine if a car is a LMDh or an LMP2? That becomes a bit more difficult.
Below is a look at all four classes, what separates them and a bit of a tale of the tape with some specs to boot.
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STARTING GRID: Unofficial qualifying results and lineup for the 62nd Rolex 24 at Daytona
GTP
Top speed: 202 mph
Horsepower: 680
Weight: 2272-2363 lbs
Length: Maximum 200 inches
Width: Maximum 79 inches
Wheelbase: 124 inches
Engine: Varies by manufacturer
Cars: Cadillac V-Series.R, Porsche 963, Acura ARX-06, BMW M Hybrid V8
Tires: Michelin
Fuel: VP R80
Cost: Around $2.9 million
How do manufacturers, teams and drivers fare in the second year of car the GTP Class? That's certainly on the shortlist of questions to be answered this week.
The year-old GTP cars are the result of years of research and development spawned from a 2020 announcement that the new class would satisfy both IMSA and World Endurance Championship (WEC) regulations, thus allowing the same entries to compete in both the Rolex 24 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time.
Boasting a hybrid V-8 engine, many believe the prototypes point to the future of auto racing. A total of 10 cars will compete in the GTP Class this weekend. Acura went to Victory Lane last year in the car's maiden voyage.
LMP2
Top speed: 186 mph
Horsepower: 510
Weight: 2,094 pounds
Length: Maximum 187 inches
Width: 71-75 inches
Engine: Gibson 4.2 liter V8
Cars: ORECA LMP2 07, Ligier LMP2
Tires: Michelin
Fuel: E-20C
Cost: $506,000
Designated by blue trim on mirrors, rear-wing endplates and class plates, a total of 13 entries will compete in this weekend’s LMP2 Class, with the majority of the field ORECA 07s save for one Ligier LMP2 entry.
Last year, the LMP2s were been slowed by rule changes in the last few weeks with a weight increase of 22 pounds and a reduction in RPMs from 8,700 to 8,000 because of an air restrictor.
GTD/GTD Pro
Top speed: 175 mph
Horsepower: 540
Weight: 2,878-3,064 pounds
Cars: Acura NSX GT3, Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, BMW M4 GT3, Corvette Z06.GT3.R, Ferrari 296, Ford Mustang GT3, Lamborghini Huracan EVO2, Lexus RC F GT3, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Mercedes-AMG GT3
Tires: Michelin
Fuel: E-10
It’s the man or woman behind the wheel, not the GT3-spec machines that makes the difference in these two classifications.
GTD Pro entries consist of all professional drivers while amateurs are in the mix in the GTD Class. More technically speaking, GTD Pro outfits typically use only drivers with Platinum or Gold ratings according to the FIA. Some such drivers also compete in the GTD Class but silver- and bronze-level drivers are required to compete as well.
The cars piloted by the drivers are the same and much more similar to the manufacturers’ street cars than the prototypes that make up the event’s highest two classes. GTD Pro entries are trimmed in red with GTD cars edged with green.
When is the Rolex 24?
Start time: 1:40 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 27
End time: 1:40 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 28
How to watch: All 24 hours on Peacock. 1:30-2:30 p.m. (NBC). 2:30-8 p.m. (USA). 10 p.m.-midnight (USA). 6 a.m.-noon (USA). Noon-2 p.m. (NBC)
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Rolex 24 car class breakdown for GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD cars