FBC Downshift #78- Ian James on the Rolex 24 and Lexus program

Join Paul and me as we discuss the Rolex 24 at Daytona with Team 3GT driver Ian James. Ian and his teammates, including Scott Pruett, are at the helm of the new Lexus GT racing program and face some of the stiffest competition in Rolex 24 history.

The IMSA Rolex 24 will consist of 55 competitors for the race’s 55th running on Saturday, Jan. 28. With a raft of new manufacturers, cars and racing programs, the Balance of Power has been a real challenge this year and a host of new regulations changes to match.

Twelve cars will make up the Prototype class, with Daytona Prototype international (DPi) entrants from Cadillac, Mazda and Nissan joined by a host of global LM P2 spec cars. This year’s race has, arguably, one of the strongest collection of driver lineups in recent history and highlighted by names such as NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon and Indycar’s James Hinchcliffe.

Eleven factory programs will compete in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class, with Corvette Racing, four Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs, Porsche’s all-new 911 RSRs and a single entry from Ferrari. BMW is entering a pair of cars, one of which being the first BMW Art Car to ever race in the Rolex 24.