IMSA unveils maximum grid for 2026 Daytona 24 entry list

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship revealed its entry list for next month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, with a full field of 61 entries set for battle.

This marks the fifth consecutive year IMSA reached the maximum number of entries. All cars will take to Daytona International Speedway for the Roar Before the 24 Jan. 16-18, with the endurance classic race weekend set for Jan. 22-25.

Making up the numbers are 11 machines in GTP (Grand Touring Prototype), 14 LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2), 15 GTD Pro (Grand Touring Daytona Pro) and 21 GTD (Grand Touring Daytona). Twelve manufacturers (Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche) are featured in the event.

In addition to a number of manufacturers, there are, per usual, a wide net of drivers from all across motorsports for the Twice-Around-The-Clock classic.

Other racing stars

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

The IndyCar Series is well represented with a number of talents, led by four-time series champion and defending Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou, who will share the No. 93 Acura ARX-06 in the GTP class alongside Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly. Six-time IndyCar titlist and 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon, Palou’s teammate in IndyCar, will drive the Acura’s No. 60 sister car, sharing the seat with NASCAR star AJ Allmendinger.

Two-time IndyCar Series champion and 2018 Indy 500 Will Power is also taking part in his first-ever Daytona 24, driving the No. 75 Mercedes AMG GT3 for 75 Express in GTD Pro. Former Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson is also among those entered from North America’s premier open-wheel championship. Five-time IndyCar race winner Kyle Kirkwood is also back with Vasser Sullivan’s Lexus squad in GTD Pro.

Formula 1 is also represented with reserves Frederik Vesti (Mercedes-AMG) and Colton Herta (Cadillac) in the No. 31 Whelen and No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.Rs, respectively. Former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen is also participating in the event, grabbing the wheel of the No. 25 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8.

Allmendinger, Dixon and Herta have all scored overall or class wins in the Daytona 24.

The overall victory for the past decade has seen relative consistency, with Cadillac taking four straight from 2017-20, while Acura topped the next three from 2021-23, and Porsche snagging the last two years.

The GTD Pro class has been the place of parity, with Porsche claiming a win in 2022, Mercedes-AMG in 2023, Ferrari in 2024 and Ford taking it in 2025. Each of those four aforementioned manufacturers has at least one entry competing in 2026.

One of the more unique things to watch in the category is AO Racing’s “Rexy,” which now has Nicky Tandy, the defending Daytona 24 overall winner with Porsche Penske Motorsport. He shares the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Harry King and Alessio Picariello.

In all, five other manufacturers are still looking for their first GTD Pro Rolex win.

With 20-plus cars in GTD in the mix, the deep class has also seen its share of rotating winners.

The last four years have seen a change from Porsche (2022), Aston Martin (2023), Mercedes-AMG (2024) and Chevrolet (2025).

AWA, the defending class winners, have rebranded to 13 Autosport, but continue the theme of a lethal lineup with three of the four drivers to win it a year ago in Orey Fidani, Matt Bell and Lars Kern. Newcomer Ben Green also comes on board in the No. 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R.

Additionally, Ford’s new-look No. 16 Myers Riley Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3 includes ex-F1 and IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean among its drivers.

Among the 21 entries, no one manufacturer has more than four cars (Ferrari and Porsche have four apiece), so no one manufacturer’s deck is too stacked.

CLICK HERE for the full entry list of drivers and teams.