The 2023 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship started superbly at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, at Daytona International Speedway; our fans attended in record numbers, we witnessed thrilling racing, and GTPs cars featuring the most advanced technology performed admirably on their debut. Over 1.2 million peak viewers tuned in on NBC.
Discussions about endurance sportscar racing often start with the obvious, the notion of competitiveness – who will win? – yet, to me, the notion is broader and more profound; it’s about the ‘why and how?
- If we control costs, we’ll attract premium automotive brands and enjoy full grids.
- If we provide equitable opportunity, we’ll deliver the best entertainment for our fans.
- If we invest in and encourage innovation, we’ll always be relevant for our OEMs & marketing partners.
What we witnessed at Daytona is the realization of significant commitments made by many people over many years to drive IMSA forward to be the most progressive platform for auto racing in North America, with 61 cars across top prototype and GT cars from around the world taking to the grid; it made for an impressive line-up. And what a race with the top-4 finishers within 11 seconds of each other after 24 hours of racing!
During a Daytona media session, our seven GTP team owners, Bobby Rahal, Bob Johnson, Micheal Shank, Chip Ganassi, Roger Penske, Wayne Taylor, and Michael Andretti took to the stage in front of the mass ranks of global media. An inspiring moment for me personally: collectively, they epitomize ‘competitiveness’ in terms of how they embrace their role as the catalyst for growth, progress, and discovery for endurance sportscar racing. In partnership with their manufacturers – Acura, BMW, Cadillac, and Porsche – they invest in their teams, facilities, and capabilities to be the best versions of themselves. The level of commitment bodes well – I eagerly await the action resuming at the Mobil1 12 hours of Sebring, March 18th; many lessons and learnings from Daytona will undoubtedly be implemented.
A case in point, last week I attended Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s 5th annual Partner Summit. My first visit to their new state-of-the-art 100,000-square foot, HQ facility at Zionsville, Indiana. RLL now manages all their racing teams under one roof, a giant step forward in planning, building, and managing all their programs. A significant commitment and investment for their long-term success. A truly dynamic environment for research and development.
Our 2023 season is off to a strong start; nevertheless, our long-term success – competitiveness – hinges on our steadfast commitment to delivering the most cost-effective, technologically advanced racing that entertains our fans. It’s working; we are getting noticed. I mentioned record attendances earlier, TV/Streaming viewership is also exceeding all our expectations, our Win the Weekend docuseries is building a large following and gaining critical acclaim, and we’ve recently welcomed new marketing partners to the IMSA platform.
Thank you again; I am forever grateful; see you at the track and keep those questions coming.
John