For the 2023 racing season, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) introduced new classes of racecars: Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3), GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro), and GT Daytona (GTD). On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, IMSA gave us an up-close look at a sampling of the new cars at ONE DAYTONA, an entertainment area just across the street from the Daytona International Speedway.
Porsche was introducing their new Porsche 963 cars to compete in the GTP class. Porsche’s entry for the GTD Pro and GTD class was the new Porsche 911 GT3 R (992).
I left my office at 5:00 pm and drove less than a mile to ONE DAYTONA. I met my friend Olga there. We quickly found a place along the main entrance road to watch the parade of cars.
The new Porsche 963 was the main car I came to see. The #7 car was towed by a Porsche Penske Motorsport cart.
The flashiest car was probably the #83 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 from the Iron Dames team of all-female drivers.
The other new Porsche car I wanted to see was the new Porsche 911 GT3 R. The Pfaff Motorsports #9 car will compete in the GTP Pro class.
Olga previously owned a Porsche Macan and is also a Porsche fan, like me. So we had to get a photo with the Pfaff #9.
The Porsche 963 was covered for its official unveiling, so this was the only parked photo I took.
We did get to stand for photos with the IMSA Official Safety Car, a Porsche 911 Turbo S (992).
Finally, we headed upstairs to the Blue Flame Lounge for some dinner and drinks. It was a beautiful evening and a lot of fun getting up close to the cars and drivers competing in the 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona a few days later.
