12 Hours of Sebring on March 15th

Just as yours truly was getting his hopes up for a good chunk of coverage of the 12 Hours of Sebring, it is announced that a mere three hours will be shown on TV.  The rest will be online at IMSA.com, but, that will make it kind of difficult to put out a whole series of blog entries about the race.  Let's hope that something will work.  Want to file a full race summary on this one for my readers.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/fox-sports-1-air-first-three-hours-sebring

Sebring: The Longest Day In Racing

  
Neat video preview of the 12 Hours of Sebring, cataloging the history, and circumstances drivers face in this great once-around-the-clock endurance race, narrated by former driver, race broadcaster, and wordsmith extraordinaire, Sam Posey.

Laurens Vanthoor joins Sebastien Loeb Racing for Le Mans 24 Hours

Laurens Vanthoor, a standout for Audi Sport Customer Racing in their GT3 spec Audi R8 LMS cars, will face a new challenge, as, along with fellow Audi Sport customer driver, Rene Rast, he'll join Sebastien Loeb Racing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/24/laurens-vanthoor-joins-sebastien-loeb-racing-for-le-mans-24-hours/

Park Place Motorsports on Top at Sebring Test

Park Place Motorsports tops the GT Daytona field at the Sebring test session, in preparation for the 12 Hours in a few weeks.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/24/park-place-motorsports-on-top-at-sebring-test/

incredible finish

With the 12 Hours of Sebring merely weeks away, watch this.  How close do you like it?  This is the GT class finish (called GT2 back then), between the Flying Lizard Porsche 911 RSR of Jorg Bergmeister and the Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 Scuderia of Jaime Melo.  SPEED's commentators Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish, and Dorsey Schroeder, called the action that night after the Audi factory with their R10 TDI diesel spyder race car, won.  This is a wild one!  Hold on to your seats, folks. 

ELMS Grid Expands In 2014

The 2014 European Le Mans Series, will see a larger grid than last year, when the season (including a preseason test at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Le Castellet, France), gets underway, in April.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/13/elms-grid-expands-in-2014/

Prospeed Competition takes on worldwide challenge

Prospeed Competition, is coming back to the FIA World Endurance Championship, in 2014.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/13/prospeed-competition-takes-on-worldwide-challenge/

Gulf Racing confirms twin entry in European Le Mans Series

Gulf Racing will enter two of their Aston Martin V8 Vantage coupes in the European Le Mans Series.  Here are the details.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/13/gulf-racing-confirms-twin-entry-in-european-le-mans-series/

two more stories from the Sebring test

Stories on Viper and Audi's efforts in GT Daytona in testing for the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Ben Keating and the Bleekemolen Brothers on Top-Five Pace in No. 33 ViperExchange.com Viper GT3-R at Sebring Winter Test

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/23/ben-keating-and-the-bleekemolen-brothers-on-top-five-pace-in-no-33-viperexchange-com-viper-gt3-r-at-sebring-winter-test/

...and

GMG Concludes Sebring Test as One of Audi's Top Contenders

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/23/gmg-concludes-sebring-test-as-one-of-audis-top-contenders/

more Sebring testing news

Many articles have been published over the course of the last few days about the recent testing that concluded on Saturday at Sebring International Raceway for Tudor United Sports Car Racing, preparing for the 12 Hours of Sebring, round two of the championship.  Here are the stories being followed at Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.

Krohn Racing and Risi Competizione Complete Two-Day Sebring Test Together

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/22/krohn-racing-and-risi-competizione-complete-two-day-sebring-test-together/

TRG-AMR Makes Big Strides Toward Sebring at Two-Day Test

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/22/trg-amr-makes-big-strides-toward-sebring-at-two-day-test/

Corvette DP Closes Out Sebring Test on Top

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/22/corvette-dp-closes-out-sebring-test-on-top/

 

Porsche Sweeps GT LM, GTD Testing At Sebring

Porsche is on top in both of the GT classes (GT LM and GT Daytona) at Sebring, after the test session.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/porsche-sweeps-gtlm-gtd-testing-sebring

Mardenborough for Sebring 12 Hour

Jann Mardenborough (who won the Nissan Playstation Driving Academy), will race in GP3 which is the feeder series to Formula One, but will also race with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/21/mardenborough-for-sebring-12-hour/

OAK Racing confirms four drivers for the Tudor USCC

Gustavo Yacaman, Alex Brundle, Olivier Pla, and Ho Pin Tung, will share driving duties with Alex Brundle in the OAK Racing Morgan Nissan LMP2.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/18/oak-racing-confirms-four-drivers-for-the-tudor-uscc/

TUDOR Championship Sebring testing

A couple of stories about the current test session for the Tudor United Sports Car Championship at Sebring International Raceway ahead of the 12 Hours of Sebring set to take place there in a few weeks.

Action Express Saves Best For Last on Day 1 At Sebring + Kimber-Smith Fastest In PC For 8Star Motorsports

http://www.imsa.com/articles/action-express-saves-best-last-day-1-sebring

Plus...

Porsche North America (GT LM), 8Star Motorsports (PC), and TRG AMR (GTD) Also Fastest
http://www.imsa.com/articles/oak-racing-tops-charts-morning-session-sebring

...and more

OAK Racing Tops Charts In Morning Session at Sebring
http://www.imsa.com/articles/oak-racing-tops-charts-morning-session-sebring

Rast Excited for LM24 Debut with Sebastien Loeb Racing

Audi and Porsche GT racing superstar, Rene Rast, will try his hand at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, for the first time, this June, running with Sebastien Loeb Racing, owned by nine-time FIA World Rally champion, turned sports car racer, Sebastien Loeb, driving a Oreca 03 Nissan LMP2 car.  It is a debut, for the team, and also, for Rast, at Le Mans.

http://sportscar365.com/elms/rast-excited-for-lm24-debut-with-sebastien-loeb-racing/

Audi welcomes LMP1 efficiency regulations

New efficiency regulations for the FIA World Endurance Championship.  Here are the details.

http://www.endurance-info.com/en/audi-welcomes-lmp1-efficiency-regulations/

Driver swap for Toyota Racing

There is some shuffling of the driver lineup at Toyota Racing in their new TS040 hybrid prototype racer for 2014.  Same drivers.  But, they are switching seats between the team's #7 and #8 entries, respectively.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/13/driver-swap-for-toyota-racing/

Porsche starts in Le Mans with four factory cars

Four factory cars for Porsche AG at Le Mans in 2014.  Two Porsche 919 LMP cars and a factory LM GTE Pro squad, with two cars, to battle their rivals from SRT Viper, Corvette, Aston Martin, and Ferrari.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/13/porsche-starts-in-le-mans-with-four-factory-cars/

31 Cars for Season 3 of the FIA WEC

31 cars will enter the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.  Here are all the details.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/13/31-cars-for-season-3-of-the-fia-wec/

Sebring 12-Hour entry list released with 68 cars

68 cars will likely start the 12 Hours of Sebring.  No official entry list per se could be accessed.  But, here's a link to the news report, including changes to the list from what we saw at Daytona last time out.

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/18/sebring-12-hour-entry-list-released-with-68-cars/

TUSC, CTSC Teams Set for Sebring Winter Test

This weekend, marks the winter test session for the Tudor United Sports Car Racing championship, at Sebring International Raceway, in preparation for the 12 Hours of Sebring, there, next month.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/imsa-teams-set-for-sebring-test-next-week/

Post-Daytona BoP Adjustments Announced

News of Balance of Performance adjustments for the Tudor United Sports Car Championship.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/post-daytona-bop-adjustments-announced/

Caterham Withdraws ELMS, LM24 Entries

Caterham will not race in the European Le Mans Series or the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, and some of their drivers, will likely be shifted over to another team, that will be taking part in both.

http://sportscar365.com/elms/caterham-withdraws-elms-lm24-entries/

Dempsey Racing Porsche accepted for 91st 24 Hours of Le Mans

Patrick Dempsey, will race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans again this year.  Here are the details.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/dempsey-racing-porsche-accepted-for-91st-24-hours-of-le-mans/

check out this website

Sports car racing fans, for anything you ever wanted to know (well, almost anything, as there are races that still will be archived in the future), check out a website called Racing Sports Cars.  Yours truly, loves it.  This is a history book of the sport, on a webpage.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/

The Porsche LMP1 - Driving Simulator

Have a go at this one, blokes.  It's the official Porsche LMP1 driving simulator.

http://www.motorsport.com/wec/video/main-gallery/the-porsche-lmp1-driving-simulator/

Pescarolo Team closes it's doors

Sad news about one of yours truly's favorite racing teams, and an icon in Le Mans legend and sports car racing.  Henri "Le Grand Pesca" Pescarolo, has closed down his racing shop.

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/pescarolo-team-closes-its-doors/

24 Heures du Mans 2014 - A new era dawns!

Big, big, big news about the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Read all about it, here.  There are some very exciting developments.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/13/24-heures-du-mans-2014-a-new-era-dawns/

Entries filing in for Sebring testing

The entries are coming in for the next phase of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship.  Next weekend, there will be a test at Sebring International Raceway (February 20th and 21st).  Here are the details.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/entries-filing-sebring-testing

Entry List for the 82nd 24 Hours of Le Mans (in video form)

Check out this video presentation of the 24 Hours of Le Mans entry list.  This is pretty cool.  Any non-Facebook fans out there, I assure you there will be a link to the entry list that is furnished as a webpage.  Just haven't found that yet.  Stay tuned.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152034345407912

Justin Wilson joins Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian at Sebring

Justin Wilson will race for Michael Shank Racing at Sebring.  Here's the story.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/justin-wilson-joins-michael-shank-racing-curbagajanian-sebring

No Le Mans for Pickett Racing in 2014

Despite high hopes for this to happen, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will not race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/12/no-le-mans-for-pickett-racing-in-2014/

more sports car racing news

Rebellion Racing renew the contracts of Nick Heidfeld and Mathias Beche for another year

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/11/rebellion-racing-renew-the-contracts-of-nick-heidfeld-and-mathias-beche/

Asian team KCMG wants to meet the FIA-WEC's challenge with the ORECA 03 LMP2!"

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/11/asian-team-kcmg-wants-to-meet-the-fia-wecs-challenge-with-the-oreca-03-lm-p2/

Pegasus Racing shakes down its Morgan-Nissan LMP2 at Magny Cours

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/10/pegasus-racing-shakes-down-its-morgan-nissan-lm-p2-at-magny-cours/

Alex Brundle back with OAK Racing again in the USCC

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/10/alex-brundle-back-with-oak-racing-again-in-the-uscc/

Race Performance continues it's adventure in ELMS/24h of Le Mans

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/09/race-performance-continues-its-adventure-in-elms-24h-of-le-mans/

Memo Gidley shows signs of improvement upon starting rehabilitation

Good news about Memo Gidley after his huge crash at the Rolex 24 a few weekends ago.

http://www.motorsport.com/tusc/news/memo-gidley-shows-signs-of-improvement-upon-starting-rehabilitation/

Daytona 24 done, what is next for TUSC?

What is next for Tudor United Sports Car Racing?  After the Rolex 24, fans seem to be polarized by the rules.  They either agree with them, or strongly disagree with them.  Here's the story.

http://www.motorsport.com/tusc/news/daytona-24-done-what-is-next-for-tusc/

Ferrari Challenge: Daytona

This is round one of the Ferrari Challenge.  There will be races in the United States and worldwide, this year.  A bunch of them.  Check out the schedule.

http://corseclienti.ferrari.com/2014en/race/

Here's a look at the cars, and the drivers.

http://corseclienti.ferrari.com/2014en/championship-type/ferrari-challenge/

Let's re-live the opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

Ferrari is synonymous with style and performance, and two dozen owners of the Ferrari 458 Italia, will race.  This is the 21st season of Ferrari Challenge, that started in 1993.  This is the Trofeo Pirelli.  Fox Sports commentator and former racing driver, Justin Bell, was introduced by his father, Derek Bell, to Enzo Ferrari.  Enzo Ferrari funded his own racing, and that's what these guys are doing.

27 cars will start, with driver's from five countries.  On pole, it's Harry Cheung.  Look out for last year's race winner John Farano, too, in car #85.  Very successful drivers get to race in a Ferrari.  But, it's real racing, on a legendary track.  Watch out for the infield road course.  it's slick down there.  This is a short race, too, unlike the 24 Hours, which this is was a support race for.  It's chilly at the start of this race.  Two classes based on driver experience.  Trofeo Pirelli, for experienced driver.  Copa Shell, for new drivers.

Bring the Pirelli tires to temperature.  The track is really dirty.  Some drivers in Copa Shell, are racing their first ever race, today.  Didier Theys is one of the driver coaches, a former race winner and champion in sports cars.  Drivers clean their Pirelli tires.  The drivers own the cars, but the cars can only be prepared by authorized Ferrari dealers.  We have a field of 27 cars.  This is the North American version of a world championship.

At the end of the year, these guys, and gals, get to go to Europe and race against the best Ferrari Challenge drivers in the world.  Now, here we go.  At the start, Harry Cheung leads over Ricardo Perez in second.  Cheung spins!  There's contact, too!  Even when the tires are hot enough, the tires are slick, as Damon Ockey spins, too.  He got clipped.  Harry Cheung's car is torn apart.  We're still under green.  Our leader, Ricardo Perez almost spins, too.

Carlos Gomez is also running well, in second, as Gregory Romanelli also goes off the road.  Headed to the chicane, Perez defends.  The slipstream is a factor on the banking.  These cars are low downforce, and the race is on at the front.  There's a battle for the race lead right now.  The lead battle continues as Scott Tucker has come from third to challenge Ricardo Perez, and Carlos Gomez.  Fans of sports car racing know Scott Tucker's name.  Tucker almost went into the lead.

Tucker approaches Gomez and does a good job braking into turn one.  Perez is losing time in the braking zone.  These drivers are driving as hard as they know how.  Virtually every one of the drivers have a coach, who ride with them in practice, explaining what they need to do.  Jon Becker leads the Copa Shell class right now.  Because of the banking at Daytona, when the car is tipped sideways, you cannot see as well, on the banking as someone runs wide.

People are defending the low line.  There's a point where you exceed the grip limits with these cars as Al Delotre pits.  He was sidways through the Bus Stop.  Rip off a piece of bodywork.  This is the fifth iteration of the Ferrari Challenge car.  Hit the curbs... boom, boom, and spin it.  He's back on track now.  John Farano, meanwhile, battles with Carlos Gomez.  Farano won this race last year, but he's not comfortable with his new team just yet.  Farano needs to get around Gomez.  Scott Tucker is also pushing.

Scott Tucker has taken the race lead.  Now, we have a full course yellow flag.  This is for the incident in turn five as Victor Gomez is stuck.  It's not stuffed into the tire barriers, but it might be game over.  Gomez's car is prepped by Ferrari of San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Looking at these cars, it came out as a road car in 2010, and first raced in 2011.  These are the same as the road cars.  They are built on the same production line.  They are delivered with all the safety equipment.

They have a 570 horsepower V8 motor.  Correction... Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale prepped Gomez's car.  President and CEO of Ferrari North America, Marco Mattiacci, explains it's the 60th anniversary of Ferrari in North America.  American drivers like Phil Hill and Mario Andretti, won in Ferrari's.  Everyone wants to own a Ferrari, and every driver, wants to race a Ferrari.  Victor Gomez's car has been removed from the tire wall.  We are still under yellow.  But, we'll be back to green soon.

We're back to green going through the tri oval.  Scott Tucker defends the bottom line from Perez.  Tucker runs wide.  They come to the fourth/fifth gear left hander.  Tucker misses the apex just a shade.  Perez is close and so is Gomez.  Uh oh.  Jean Claude Saeda spins.  Watch the bump at the exit of the Bus Stop.  Tucker won't let Carlos Gomez get by.  He's drafting up high and down low, but can't quite do it in the tri oval.  Oh!  That was a HUGE wreck for the #10 of Henrik Hedman.

Hedman spins on his own.  How did he slide between two cars?!  He slides the car through the tri oval, and bang!  He hits the tires.  Game over for the Swede.  This is the second full course yellow of the race.  In slow motion, Hedman was between the leaders of the Copa Shell class.  This race could end under yellow as there's under five minutes to go on the clock.  There might be an opportunity to gt a lap or two completed to end this one, folks.

Now, we're still under yellow.  But, it's been a fraught race for Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale.  The driving standard is hard and fast, but yet, respectful for the most part.  Now, there is no green flag as the marshals recover Hedman's car.  Well, the race is over.  There's too much damage and carnage to resume the race.  The checkers are out.  Scott Tucker wins it.  There's no green/white/checker in Ferrari Challenge.

#55 Scott Tucker

In Copa Shell, John Becker wins the amateur class.

#28 John Becker

This is the second race for Ferrari Challenge at Daytona.  Tucker explains how equal the cars are.  He says the biggest challenge was to get the tires up to temperature on restarts, and also, watching out for debris.  Tucker has now won at one of the world's greatest race tracks.  Tucker holds off Ricardo Perez and Carlos Gomez.  John Becker beets Christopher Ruud in the Copa Shell category.

These cars are reliable and they are fun to drive.  Everyone races and promots the brand.  But, Ferrari is one of the few who really does.  The cars reward precision, talent, and good decisions.  The cars are meant to be driven.  You can get involved in this racing if you have a license and are able to afford a Ferrari.  What a great race.  Scott Tucker is the winner.  So long for now, everyone.

HTP 'lucky' with setbacks

The HTP Mercedes Benz SLS AMG of Thomas Jaeger, Maximilian Buhk, and Harold Primat, was lucky just to finish the Bathurst 12 Hours.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/09/htp-lucky-second-setbacks/

Speed but no trophy for Quinn McLaren

The story of the team that almost made it to the win at Bathurst, but not quite.  Tony Quinn, Klark Quinn, Andrew Kirkaldy, and Shane van Gisbergen's race.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/09/speed-trophy-quinn-mclaren/

Winner of the Bathurst 12 Hours

Ferrari has won this year's edition of the Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hours at Mount Panorama.  The winning car is car #88, the il Bello Rosso Ferrari 458 Italia, driven by Peter Edwards, John Bowe (the 1994 winner of the Bathurst 1,000), multiple V8 Supercar champion Craig Lowndes, and, former Formula One, turned sports car ace, Finn, Mika Salo.

Yours truly watched bits and pieces of the race and enjoyed what was seen.  If video highlights surface soon, they will be posted here.  Stay tuned.  For now, follow the link to the full rundown of results, including the winners in all classes.

http://bathurst12hour.com.au/2014-results

...And

http://www.motorsport.com/endurance/news/maranello-motorsport-claims-bathurst-12-hour-win/

Here are images from the race.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/09/gallery-liqui-moly-bathurst-12-hour/

Congratulations to il Bello Rosso.  Good on ya', mates, as they say Down Under.  We'll see what happens in another thrilling edition of the Bathurst 12 Hours, next year.

'Team Russia By Barwell' enters ELMS GTC Class Championship

Barwell Motorsports comes back to the European Le Mans Series for a second season, with it's BMW Z4 in the GT Challenge class.  Three drivers will pilot the new car.  Jonny Cocker, Leo Machitski, and Timur Sardarov.  Mark Lemmer is the team principal, and a former driver in the British Touring Car Championship, which he competed in, in 1998, as well as in 2000 and 2001.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Lemmer

Here is the full story via Planet Le Mans.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/04/team-russia-by-barwell-enters-elms-gtc-class-championship/

Rigon Promoted to AF Corse Ferrari Drive in GTE-Pro

A standout for Ferrari last year in the Blancpain Endurance Series... Davide Rigon confirms his move to the European Le Mans Series' GTE Pro division with AF Corse, for the 2014 season.

http://sportscar365.com/wec/rigon-renews-contract-with-ferrari-promoted-to-af-corse-drive-in-gte-pro/

Inside CORE Autosport's Amazing Double Rolex 24 Win

CORE Autosport achieved something at the Rolex 24 that very few teams have in that race's storied history, taking winning honors in two different classes, in the same race.

http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/sports-cars/inside-core-autosports-amazing-double-rolex-24-win/

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: Daytona (BMW Performance 200)

Watch the telecast of the support race for the Rolex 24, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge BMW Performance 200, which was run the Friday before the 24 hours.  More CTSCC action will come your way on this blog as the races unfold.  Stay tuned.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/bmw-performance-200-broadcast

van Gisbergen confirmed in VIP McLaren

Shane van Gisbergen will team up with Tony Quinn, Klark Quinn, and Andrew Kirkaldy, in the VIP Petfoods McLaren MP-4/12C.  van Gisbergen just ran the 24 Hours of Daytona.  So, he prepares himself for yet another endurance sports car contest.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/05/van-gisbergen-confirmed-vip-mclaren/

BoP Changes Expected For Sebring

New BoP (Balance of Performance) regulations, will be set, and defined in time for the second round of the Tudor United Sports Car Championship, the 12 Hours of Sebring.  Series technical director, Scott Elkins, has made that announcement.  Here's the story.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/bop-changes-expected-for-sebring/

WRT Enters Four Audi's in Blancpain GT

Drivers are yet to be named.  But, Belgian Audi Club Team WRT is well underway with it's preparations for the upcoming season.

http://sportscar365.com/blancpain/wrt-enters-4-audis-in-blancpain-gt/

Audi with powerful squad at Le Mans and FIA WEC

Audi will have a stellar, and powerful driver lineup for the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans... that includes five World Champions and Le Mans winners, and, a former Formula One driver.  Here are the details.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/02/04/audi-with-powerful-squad-at-le-mans-and-fia-wec/

HPD Proposes LMP2 Coupe for 2015, LMP1 Project Unlikely

Honda Performance Development's future, looks to rest in the P2 division, as no teams have signed up to campaign it's proposed P1 machine in worldwide sports car racing.  That may be due to the fact that as a class, P1 is being phased out.  Sports Car 365 has the story.

http://sportscar365.com/wec/hpd-confirm-lmp2-coupe-plans-lmp1-project-unlikely/

Ecurie Ecosse gunning for British GT and Blancpain Endurance Series crowns in 2014

Ecurie Ecosse announces plans for the 2014 season, to run in both the Blancpain Endurance Series, and the Avon Tyres British GT Championship, this season.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2014/01/30/ecurie-ecosse-gunning-for-british-gt-and-blancpain-endurance-series-crowns-in-2014/

Rolex 24 race broadcast

Hey, fans.  Check out the race broadcast from the Rolex 24 last weekend.  Go to this link, and all four parts of the race, are there.  Just click on each one to see them individually.

http://www.imsa.com/imsa-tv/episode/rolex-24-daytona-race-broadcast-part-1

HTP Eyeing Expansion to TUSC with Mercedes SLS GT3

Mercedes could join the GT Daytona field with HTP Motorsports, who has had a lot of success in Europe... particularly in the Blancpain Endurance Series... before the end of the 2014 season.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/htp-eyeing-expansion-to-tusc-with-mercedes-sls-amg-gt3/