Daytona race week is upon us! This is always an exciting kickoff to the racing season, not just for the IMSA calendar but for the motorsport calendar as a whole.
I’m excited to be down in Florida all week, though hopefully the forecast won’t prove to be accurate! It’s slated to be a bit damp and quite cold, so that might make things very interesting as the week develops.
Not only will I be working with the Mazda MX-5 Cup series for another season, but I’m also going to be participating in the inaugural HSR event during the Rolex 24 Weekend. I’ll be doing that with Mazda’s Heritage Collection, driving the 1991 GTO RX-7.
I’ve been fortunate to run this car around Daytona in the past, and it is an absolute thrill, from its incredibly huge tires that create so much grip to the fire-breathing four-rotor engine making over 600 horsepower. Fans will be able to watch these cars at the traditional time on Saturday morning before the Rolex 24, as well as at various times throughout the week, including a night race on Friday evening.
There’s also a lot of excitement for the Mazda MX-5 Cup season opener, which has a record-breaking 35-car field! With several new teams in the series this year, including six female drivers, the double-header weekend at Daytona is sure to be a crowd favorite, as usual, and fans can expect another year of incredibly close finishes.
This year is also the 35th anniversary of the MX-5. There will be a special display in the Daytona midway and an unveiling of an anniversary-edition MX-5 on Friday afternoon following the second MX-5 Cup race. In addition to seeing the MX-5 display, fans can also see the historic car lineup in the midway all week long. There’s a special paddock dedicated to all these fantastic cars from years gone by.
I hope to see you at Daytona! Be sure to stop by and say hello if you’re attending.