The 2024 IMSA VP Challenge Round at Daytona International Speedway was a sports car racing event held between 19 and 21 January 2024 at the Daytona International Speedway. It was the first race of the 2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season and was held during the Roar Before the 24 for the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
The event consisted of two practice sessions, one qualifying session, and two 45 minute races. Both races were won by Steven Aghakhani in the LMP3 class and Luca Mars in the GSX class.
Entry list LMP3 ManufacturerCarTeamNo.DriverLigierLigier JS P320MLT Motorsports6 Steven AghakhaniPerformance Tech Motorsports7 Alex Kirby38 Scott LockeEscuderia ABRO23 Miguel VillagomezSean Creech Motorsport33 Lance WillseyRick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports51 Cody WareAve Motorsports61 George StaikosMISHUMOTORS70 Mirco SchultisForte Racing77 Brian ThienesDuqueineDuqueine D-08Fast MD Racing with Remstar87 Marco Kacic
GSX +ManufacturerCarTeamNo.DriverAston MartinAston Martin Vantage GT4Archangel Motorsports22 Robbie McWilliamsRuckus Racing45 Scott BlindAston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EvoRebel Rock Racing72 Frank DePewAston Martin Vantage GT4van der Steur Racing82 Brady BehrmanBMWBMW M4 GT4 G82Team ACP by Random Vandals9 Nathan MartinSwish Motorsports12 Michael DaytonStephen Cameron Racing19 Sean Quinlan43 Gregory LiefoogheAuto Technic Racing25 Mark Brummond26 Christopher TascaSplit Decision Motorsports88 Patrick WilmotTurner Motorsports96 Joe Dalton FordFord Mustang GT4KOHR MOTORSPORTS59 Luca MarsMcLarenMcLaren Artura GT4Motorsports in Action21 Jesse LazareMercedes-AMGMercedes-AMG GT GT4Thaze Competition37 Marc Miller78 Jonathan WoolridgePorschePorsche 718 GT4 RS CSKMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering5 Angus RogersBGB MOTORSPORTS17 Will Wachs808 Jim JonsinBaby Bull Racing44 Moisey Uretsky55 Michael CooperCzabok-Simpson Motorsport66 Jackson LeeToyotaToyota GR Supra GT4 EVOBSI Racing67 Eric ThompsonOfficial Entry List
Race 1 The grid for race 1 was set by the fastest time in a single qualifying session. Car 9 driven by Nathan Martin and Car 72 driven by Frank DePew withdrew prior to qualifying, and Car 78 driven by Jonathan Woolridge withdrew prior to Race 1.
Race 1 Starting Grid Class pole position is indicated in bold +Pos.ClassNo.DriverTeamTime1LMP36 Steven AghakhaniMLT Motorsports1:43.3612LMP387 Marco KacicFastMD Racing with Remstar1:43.4173LMP37 Alex KirbyPerformance Tech Motorsports1:43.7304LMP377 Brian ThienesForte Racing1:43.9825LMP351 Cody WareRick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports1:44.0426LMP323 Miguel VillagomezEscuderia ABRO1:44.1187LMP333 Lance WillseySean Creech Motorsport1:44.8888LMP370 Mirco SchultisMISHUMOTORS1:45.6459LMP361 George StaikosAve Motorsports1:48.05610LMP338 Scott LockePerformance Tech Motorsports1:50.30511GSX55 Michael CooperBaby Bull Racing1:53.81412GSX37 Marc MillerThaze Competition1:53.89513GSX43 Gregory LiefoogheStephen Cameron Racing1:54.23814GSX66 Jackson LeeCzabok-Simpson Motorsport1:54.58315GSX67 Eric ThompsonBSI Racing1:54.68816GSX88 Patrick WilmotSplit Decision Motorsports1:54.77617GSX82 Brady Behrmanvan der Steur Racing1:54.80418GSX45 Scott BlindRuckus Racing1:55.01019GSX19 Sean QuinlanStephen Cameron Racing1:55.27020GSX21 Jesse LazareMotorsports in Action1:55.31321GSX25 Mark BrummondAuto Technic Racing1:56.22422GSX5 Angus RogersKMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering1:56.98323GSX17 Will WachsBGB MOTORSPORTS1:56.99224GSX808 Jim JonsinBGB MOTORSPORTS1:57.01025GSX12 Michael DaytonSwish Motorsports1:57.22726GSX96 Joe DaltonTurner Motorsport1:57.26027GSX22 Robbie McWilliamsArchangel Motorsports1:57.53828GSX26 Christopher TascaAuto Technic Racing1:58.26529GSX44 Moisey UretskyBaby Bull RacingNo Time Set30GSX59 Luca MarsKOHR MOTORSPORTSTime DisallowedCar #59 had all times disallowed due to being found underweight in technical inspection.Race 1 Official Starting Grid
Report On the first lap of the race, Cody Ware spun heading into turn 1, forcing Miguel Villagomez off the track to avoid him. Ware would recover from the spin to later finish 3rd.
With 28 minutes to go, Christopher Tasca suffered a right-rear puncture and had to retire from the race.
With 19 minutes to go, Robbie McWilliams crashed into the tire wall on the outside of the Le Mans Chicane, causing a full course yellow to be thrown on lap 16.
Under full course yellow, Miguel Villagomez suffered a technical issue that caused his car to stop and become stranded coming out of the pit lane. The recovery of his car prolonged the full course yellow.
The race restarted with six minutes remaining with Alex Kirby leading in LMP3 and Gregory Liefooghe leading in GSX.
With two laps left, Steven Aghakhani took the lead into turn two after Alex Kirby went wide exiting turn one. Aghakhani would hold this lead until the end of the race.
On the last lap, Luca Mars drafted off of and passed Gregory Liefooghe in Speedway Turn 4, taking the GSX class win by 0.051 seconds.
Race results Class winners are indicated in bold. +Pos.ClassNo.DriverTeamLapsGap1LMP36 Steven AghakhaniMLT Motorsports23 -2LMP37 Alex KirbyPerformance Tech Motorsports23 +1.2383LMP351 Cody WareRick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports23 +5.7464LMP387 Marco KacicFastMD Racing with Remstar23 +6.0355LMP377 Brian ThienesForte Racing23 +6.9936LMP370 Mirco SchultisMISHUMOTORS23 +10.7547LMP333 Lance WillseySean Creech Motorsport23 +11.2488LMP361 George StaikosAve Motorsports23 +24.4329LMP338 Scott LockePerformance Tech Motorsports23 +41.90010GSX59 Luca MarsKOHR MOTORSPORTS221 Lap11GSX43 Gregory LiefoogheStephen Cameron Racing221 Lap12GSX37 Marc MillerThaze Competition221 Lap13GSX55 Michael CooperBaby Bull Racing221 Lap14GSX88 Patrick WilmotSplit Decision Motorsports221 Lap15GSX67 Eric ThompsonBSI Racing221 Lap16GSX66 Jackson LeeCzabok-Simpson Motorsport221 Lap17GSX25 Mark BrummondAuto Technic Racing221 Lap18GSX19 Sean QuinlanStephen Cameron Racing221 Lap19GSX12 Michael DaytonSwish Motorsports221 Lap20GSX808 Jim JonsinBGB MOTORSPORTS221 Lap21GSX45 Scott BlindRuckus Racing221 Lap22GSX21 Jesse LazareMotorsports in Action221 Lap23GSX82 Brady Behrmanvan der Steur Racing221 Lap24GSX5 Angus RogersKMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering221 Lap25GSX96 Joe DaltonTurner Motorsport221 Lap26GSX17 Will WachsBGB MOTORSPORTS221 Lap27GSX44 Moisey UretskyBaby Bull Racing221 Lap28LMP323 Miguel VillagomezEscuderia ABRO15Not Running29GSX22 Robbie McWilliamsArchangel Motorsports12Not Running30GSX26 Christopher TascaAuto Technic Racing8Not RunningRace 1 Unofficial Results
Race 2 The grid for race 2 was set by either the driver's second fastest lap in qualifying, or the driver's fastest lap in race 1. The fastest of the two is used.
Race 2 Starting Grid Class pole position is indicated in bold PosClassNo.DriversTeamTime1LMP36 Steven AghakhaniMLT Motorsports1:43.5362LMP387 Marco KacicFastMD Racing with Remstar1:43.7843LMP37 Alex KirbyPerformance Tech Motorsports1:43.9144LMP377 Brian ThienesForte Racing1:44.0185LMP351 Cody WareRick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports1:44.0776LMP323 Miguel VillagomezEscuderia ABRO1:44.2217LMP333 Lance WillseySean Creech Motorsport1:45.2188LMP370 Mirco SchultisMISHUMOTORS1:46.2599LMP361 George StaikosAve Motorsports1:48.02010LMP338 Scott LockePerformance Tech Motorsports1:50.31811GSX59 Luca MarsKOHR MOTORSPORTS1:53.74012GSX55 Michael CooperBaby Bull Racing1:53.90813GSX37 Marc MillerThaze Competition1:54.07314GSX43 Gregory LiefoogheStephen Cameron Racing1:54.33915GSX21 Jesse LazareMotorsports in Action1:54.67916GSX66 Jackson LeeCzabok-Simpson Motorsport1:54.82817GSX88 Patrick WilmotSplit Decision Motorsports1:54.83818GSX45 Scott BlindRuckus Racing1:55.50919GSX19 Sean QuinlanStephen Cameron Racing1:55.52420GSX67 Eric ThompsonBSI Racing1:55.55121GSX82 Brady Behrmanvan der Steur Racing1:55.95022GSX25 Mark BrummondAuto Technic Racing1:55.95023GSX12 Michael DaytonSwish Motorsports1:56.17824GSX808 Jim JonsinBGB MOTORSPORTS1:56.75625GSX44 Moisey UretskyBaby Bull Racing1:56.87426GSX26 Christopher TascaAuto Technic Racing1:56.91627GSX5 Angus RogersKMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering1:56.93228GSX96 Joe DaltonTurner Motorsport1:57.10329GSX17 Will WachsBGB MOTORSPORTS1:57.16130GSX22 Robbie McWilliamsArchangel Motorsports1:57.464Race 2 Official Starting Grid
Report On the first lap of the race, Cody Ware went down the inside of several cars at the west horseshoe and made contact with the 77 car of Brian Thienes, causing him to spin. Ware would receive a 10 second time penalty for incident responsibility and would go on to finish third before the penalty, and drop to eighth after it. Thienes would recover to finish fourth.
An incident in the GSX class occurred when Mark Brummond and Sean Quinlan made contact at the International Horseshoe, causing Brummond to go off the track and Quinlan to spin.
The only full course yellow of the race occurred on lap 21, after Alex Kirby spun heading into the Le Mans chicane, stranding his car in the grass.
The race restarted with one lap remaining with Aghakhani and Mars leading their respective classes, both of them holding onto their leads to win.
Race results Class winners are indicated in bold. PosNr.ClassDriverTeamLapsGap16LMP3 Steven AghakhaniMLT Motorsports24-287LMP3 Marco KacicFastMD Racing with Remstar24 +4.036323LMP3 Miguel VillagomezEscuderia ABRO24 +4.056477LMP3 Brian ThienesForte Racing24 +4.43570LMP3 Mirco SchultisMISHUMOTORSPORTS24 +4.436633LMP3 Lance WillseySean Creech Motorsport24 +4.874761LMP3 George StaikosAve Motorsports24 +7.818851LMP3 Cody WareRick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports24 +10.700Car #51 received a 10 second time penalty after the race for incident responsibility938LMP3 Scott LockePerformance Tech Motorsports231 Lap1059GSX Luca MarsKOHR MOTORSPORTS231 Lap1155GSX Michael CooperBaby Bull Racing231 Lap1243GSX Gregory LiefoogheStephen Cameron Racing231 Lap1321GSX Jesse LazareMotorsports in Action231 Lap1488GSX Patrick WilmotSplit Decision Motorsports231 Lap1566GSX Jackson LeeCzabok-Simpson Motorsport231 Lap1667GSX Eric ThompsonBSI Racing231 Lap1745GSX Scott BlindRuckus Racing231 Lap1812GSX Michael DaytonSwish Motorsports231 Lap1982GSX Brady Behrmanvan der Steur Racing231 Lap2044GSX Moisey UretskyBaby Bull Racing231 Lap2119GSX Sean QuinlanStephen Cameron Racing231 Lap225GSX Angus RogersKMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering231 Lap23808GSX Jim JonsinBGB MOTORSPORTS231 Lap2496GSX Joe DaltonTurner Motorsport231 Lap2526GSX Christopher TascaAuto Technic Racing231 Lap2617GSX Will WachsBGB MOTORSPORTS231 Lap277LMP3 Alex KirbyPerformance Tech Motorsports19Not Running2825GSX Mark BrummondAuto Technic Racing17Not Running2937GSX Marc MillerThaze Competition14Not Running3022GSX Robbie McWilliamsArchangel Motorsports816 LapsRace 2 Unofficial Results
References