How Roar Before the 24 has profoundly evolved in recent years

The Roar Before the 24 is designed as a mandatory official test for teams competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Held on the Daytona International Speedway road course, it allows teams to validate their cars, conduct night runs, and prepare the specific setups required for the most demanding endurance race in the championship. IMSA.

Until the end of the 2010s, the Roar was usually held at the very beginning of January, sometimes several weeks before the Rolex 24. Its format was then simple: several free practice sessions spread over the weekend, without direct sporting stakes, but with a crucial importance for reliability and performance.

A tighter schedule and a redesigned format

A first major change occurred at the beginning of the 2020s. From 2021, in a context marked by the reorganization of calendars and post-Covid logistical constraints, IMSA decided to bring the Roar closer to race week, positioning it now just before the Rolex 24.

This closer connection profoundly changes the nature of the event: the Roar no longer becomes a distant test, but an immediate dress rehearsal, fully integrated into the build-up to the race.

The qualifying race era (2021-2022)

The most radical transformation came in 2021 with the introduction of a 100-minute qualifying race, held during the Roar. This event – ​​often called the Motul Pole Award 100 – then determines the starting grid for the 24 Hours of Daytona.

For two seasons (2021 and 2022), the Roar was no longer limited to testing: it became a hybrid event, blending track time, strategy, and real competition. While the initiative provided excitement and immediate sporting stakes, it was also criticized for the added pressure placed on teams, who were forced to manage a full race even before the start of the Florida classic.

Return to a more traditional format from 2023

From 2023, IMSA is taking a deliberate step back. The qualifying race is eliminated, and the Roar returns to a format closer to its original DNA: official test sessions for all categories (GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro, GTD), day and night runs and classic qualifying sessions, similar to those of the rest of the season, to establish the starting grid of the Rolex 24.

This choice aims to simplify team preparation and refocus the Roar on its primary function: maximizing driving time and the quality of data collected.

A renewed focus on pure testing

The most significant change since 2025 is that official qualifying for the 24 Hours of Daytona is no longer held during the Roar, but during race week, usually on the Thursday before the event. The Roar thus becomes a weekend dedicated exclusively to practice, with no direct impact on grid positions.

This refocusing allows teams to work without the immediate pressure of the clock, while leaving the race week to manage the key moments: qualifying, final night sessions and rising media tension.

An event enhanced by the support races

Alongside these developments, the Roar has structured itself as a true weekend event, with the integration of support races. The VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (successor to the IMSA Prototype Challenge) now contests two sprint races there, offering exciting on-track action while complementing the IMSA WeatherTech program.

An identity now clarified

After several years of experimentation, the Roar Before the 24 seems to have found a more coherent balance. Less spectacular than during the qualifying race era, it remains essential: it is now the key moment where technical hierarchies are established, where GTP packages are validated, and where the foundations of a successful Rolex 24 are built.

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