At the end of January, all eyes in motorsports turn to Daytona. The Rolex 24 at Daytona signifies the official start of the motorsports season. Drivers from across the globe and every discipline come together to race, etching their names into the history books and earning the coveted Rolex on their wrist.
While most of the attention lands on the green flag dropping Saturday afternoon, the days leading up to the main event are just as special. Before the main event takes over the turns and bankings, IMSA gives fans a rare opportunity to step back in time.
Each year, the lead-up to the Rolex 24 becomes a rolling museum of some of the most iconic race cars from the last 30 years. It’s not just a warm-up, but a reminder of how far the sport has come and the machines that helped shape it.
This year’s lineup delivered more than ever. The paddock featured a handful of Porsche 993 RSRs, 996 GT3 RSRs, and 997 GT3 Cup cars. Alongside them were classic prototypes that still feel modern by today’s standards, a testament to how advanced endurance racing already was.
One of the standout highlights was the appearance of the championship-winning Dodge Viper GTS-R, a true testament to American engineering that still commands attention both on and off the track.
The icing on the cake was Mazda.
They brought out two absolute legends: the FC RX-7 GTO and the 767B. Seeing these cars in person is special. Hearing them is something else entirely. The rotary-powered 767B was a menace in the ’80s, running against Group C giants like the Porsche 962, Nissan R88, and Jaguar XJR-10, which also turned laps on track this weekend.
What made the moment even more meaningful was the presence of two well-known figures from the automotive world. Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, took the wheel of the 2002 Riley Mk IIIC, while Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, piloted the 1990 Jaguar XJR-10.
Their presence underscored the significance of the event; not just as another race weekend, but as a cultural mecca for the industry. It’s rare to see the past, present, and future of motorsports come together in one place.
The Rolex 24 as a whole is a reminder of why we love what we love. There’s nothing quite like racing. People from all walks of life and from all over the world—everyday car enthusiasts, doctors, CEOs, and world-famous drivers are all there, sharing the same passion.
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