A Field of 33 Cars in Three Classes Set to Race at Daytona International Speedway
By Tony DiZinno
Entry List (Click Here)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – On the eve of its third season, the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge has three classes and 33 cars set to compete in the 2025 season-opening weekend at Daytona International Speedway. This is a potential series record number provided all 33 start the pair of 45-minute races at the 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course.
The additional numbers are primarily thanks to two things: the introduction of the new Grand Touring Daytona X (GTDX) class featuring GT3-specification cars, and a doubling of Grand Sport X (GSX) entries since the 2024 season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Six of IMSA’s auto manufacturers have entered VP Racing Challenge: BMW and Porsche in both GTDX and GSX, Ferrari in GTDX and Aston Martin, Ford and Toyota in GSX.
In total, eight Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3), nine GTDX and 16 GSX cars will comprise this field of 33.
What is also apparent is the increase in teams in other IMSA-sanctioned championships joining the VP Racing Challenge, creating either extra track time and/or an internal ladder system for customers as part of their programs.
There are five IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams fielding VP Racing Challenge entries and Rolex 24 At Daytona entries. Those include Forte Racing (two P3 Ligier JS P320 cars), Turner Motorsport (two BMW M4 GT3 cars in GTDX, one BMW M4 GT4 in GSX), Wright Motorsports (one Porsche 911 GT3 R 992 in GTDX), Conquest Racing and AF Corse (two Ferrari 296 GT3s apiece in GTDX).
The pace-setting P3 cars have a mostly new grid. Brian Thienes (No. 77 Forte Ligier), the top Bronze-rated driver last season, finished third overall in last year’s championship. Teammate Jon Hirshberg (No. 86 Forte Ligier) and Mirco Schultis (No. 70 Mishumotors Ligier) are the two other confirmed returning drivers from 2024. Matthew Dicken (No. 36 RAFA Racing Ligier) also has past IMSA experience in Michelin Pilot Challenge. GEBHARDT Intralogistics Motorsports fields two German, Silver-rated drivers in its two Duqueine D08 cars, Valentino Catalano (No. 30) and Markus Pommer (No. 31).
MLT Motorsports, last year’s P3 driver champions with Steven Aghakhani, today named Canadian driver Jonathan Woolridge to drive the team’s No. 54 Ligier. Woolridge already has a VP Racing SportsCar Challenge race victory on his résumé, scoring the LMP3 win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2023. Brady Golan completes the class entry in his No. 80 Toney Driver Development Ligier. He was part of the Michelin Pilot Challenge-winning Grand Sport (GS) class entry at Daytona in 2024.
Turner, Wright, Conquest and AF Corse field seven of the nine GTDX cars and they feature some familiar names.
Turner’s Michelin Endurance Cup WeatherTech driver Jake Walker will drive the No. 6 BMW while longtime Michelin Pilot Challenge driver Vin Barletta steps up from GT4 machinery into GT3 in the team’s No. 95 BMW. Wright has a Rolex 24 double-duty driver as well in the form of Adam Adelson in its No. 24 Porsche. Conquest features the father-son duo of Dave Musial (No. 99) and Dave Musial Jr. (No. 20) in its two Ferraris. Matias Perez Companc (No. 50) and AJ Muss, an Olympic snowboarder-turned race driver, (No. 66) are aboard AF Corse’s two Ferraris.
ST Racing will undoubtedly be a team to watch as it dives into the IMSA waters. Samantha Tan (No. 28 BMW M4 GT3) has accumulated a wealth of global GT3 and GT4 experience and wins and has amassed an excellent following beyond the racing community. GMG Racing completes the nine-car class with longtime team driver Kyle Washington (No. 32 Porsche 911 GT3 R 992) adding to his experience level.
The 16 GSX entries feature several up-and-coming Silver-rated drivers and a healthy volume of Bronze-rated drivers. Two Silver-rated ones to watch include Jackson Lee (No. 2 CSM Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport) and Kiko Porto (No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO1), a pair of open-wheel ladder veterans carving out a place for sports car racing in their career path. Gregory Liefooghe (No. 43 Stephen Cameron Racing Ford Mustang GT4) frequently contends for wins.
Angus Rogers (No. 5 KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport) is the top returning GSX driver, having finished seventh last year and fifth in 2023. Among other Bronze-rated drivers, keep an eye on RAFA Racing’s Ian Porter (No. 68 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2), a gaming champion (better known as Crimsix)-turned-driver.
The VP Racing schedule calls for a pair of 40-minute practices on Friday, with qualifying at 8:40 a.m. ET Saturday. The first 45-minute race starts at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, with the second at 1:20 p.m. Sunday. Both races stream live on Peacock.
Fast Facts
IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge
Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
January 17-19, 2025
- Race Days/Times: Saturday, Jan. 18, 2:00 p.m. ET; Sunday, Jan. 19, 1:20 p.m.
- Peacock Streaming Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at 2:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:20 p.m. Sunday (available outside the U.S. on IMSA.tv and YouTube.com/IMSAOfficial)
- Circuit Type: 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course
- Classes Competing: Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3), Grand Touring Daytona X (GTDX), Grand Sport X (GSX)
- Race Lengths: 45 minutes
VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Track Records
- P3: Bijoy Garg, Ligier JS P320, 1:43.091 / 124.317 mph, January 2023 (Qualifying)
- GSX: Luca Mars, Ford Mustang GT4, 1:53.740 / 112.678 mph, January 2024 (Race 1)
2024 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 1 Winners:
- P3: Steven Aghakhani, No. 6 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320
- GSX: Luca Mars, No. 59 KOHR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4
2024 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 2 Winners:
- P3: Steven Aghakhani, No. 6 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320
- GSX: Luca Mars, No. 59 KOHR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4