Forty-seven cars, 24 hours, on a 3.5-mile course. IMSA’s Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway is the Golden Corral buffet of racing. You want it, they’ve got it. A world-class lineup of drivers from multiple disciplines, four different racing classes, night racing, pit stops, fan zones, camping, concerts, throwback liveries, and mouth-watering Daytona Dogs.
The field of purpose-built sports cars took the green flag at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and didn’t stop racing until the checkered flag waved at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Teams are comprised of 3–4 drivers that swap out every couple hours. During their off-time, drivers can do anything from cat-nap in their infield motorhome to participate in interviews with lowly journalists. After their breaks, it’s back in the car for another high-speed stint.
In addition to usual offerings, the 57th running of this endurance race had rain. Biblical downpours. Pools of standing water often caused cars to hydroplane. Between accidents initiated by a wet course, only about 14 hours of the 24-hour race were run under the green flag. Conditions got so bad that eventually the race was halted and subsequently stopped 10 minutes short of the 24-hour mark.
Wayne Taylor Racing captured the overall victory in its Cadillac DPi. The team boasted an impressive roster of drivers including Fernando Alonso, an F1 champ who lived up to the hype and made the final pass for the lead.
I stayed at the track for the entire, sopping-wet affair. Lucky for me, the rain truly let loose during the second half of the race, long after I put my camera away. Check out 24 moments of this spectacular 24-hour race.
Oliver Jones broke the Daytona road course track record during qualifying in this Mazda DPi. The previous record was set by P.J. Jones way back in 1993. Both Mazda teams were plagued with mechanical issues about halfway through. Cameron Neveu
One of the two Team Penske Acura DPis streaks by the infield Ferris wheel. Cameron Neveu
TV crews also took shifts chasing cars throughout the night. One lucky crew member chases down an Acura DPi on pit lane. Cameron Neveu
A spare rear-end assembly is prepped for the long haul in the Acura DPi stall. Cameron Neveu
An Audi R8 receives service from its crew in pit lane at 1:15 a.m. Cameron Neveu
Out of the night and back into day. One of the two Ford GTs with throwback liveries. Cameron Neveu
The all-female team of drivers piloting this Acura NSX GT3 were a force to be reckoned with in the GT Daytona class. Cameron Neveu
A Ferrari 488 and Audi R8 race side by side at 8:30 p.m. Cameron Neveu
In stark contrast to the 2.0-liter in the Mazda DPi, this Cadillac competing in the same class has a 6.2-liter engine. Cameron Neveu
This Lexus RC F GT3 had a killer bee neon wrap that lit up the night. Cameron Neveu
Second-generation racer Colton Herta raced to a class victory with three teammates. Cameron Neveu
The sun was out for the final practice session on Friday prior to the 24-hour race. One of two Corvette C7Rs hits the high banks of the oval-road course. Cameron Neveu
A quick shutter speed freezes the cars in place. I got on the ground and pointed my camera up at this BMW M6 as it streaked by. Cameron Neveu
This year NBC Sports covered the race. A cameraman focuses on the trophy—a shiny cup and a Rolex watch for each winning driver. Cameron Neveu
This Porsche 911 GT3 R is involved in an off-road excursion, which knocked off the driver-side mirror. Just one of the numerous incidents throughout the 24-hour competition. Cameron Neveu
One of the Porsche 911 RSRs pits for service. I can’t say that I’ve done this when washing my windshield. Cameron Neveu
This red Ferrari 488 GTE, pictured in the opening laps, was in the scrum for the lead throughout the entire race and finished second in its class. Cameron Neveu
This pit crew member knows it’s crucial to find time to rest during the marathon of racing. Cameron Neveu
The eventual race-winner, Wayne Taylor Racing, sits idle on the grid. Alonso (far left) walks around the front fender of the car that he eventually piloted to victory. Cameron Neveu
The morning before the big race, Daytona organized a vintage exhibition replete with multiple Porsche 962s. Cameron Neveu
Scuderia Corsa’s WeatherTech Ferrari was quick in certain stages of the race. Cameron Neveu
A Cadillac DPi soaks in the last bit of sun on the Friday before a stormy weekend. Cameron Neveu
JDC-Miller Motorsports fielded two Cadillac DPi models. The bright-yellow cars sat adjacent to each other on the staging grid. Cameron Neveu
