2019 Rolex 24 Roar Test Sessions 1 & 2

Video of day one of the Roar Before the Rolex 24, from YouTube user, Lanky Turtle.

Mazda Team Joest Tops Day 1 at the Roar

Bleekemolen tops both practices in GTD.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/01/04/mazda-team-joest-tops-day-1-at-the-roar.html?fbclid=IwAR06VuG6aOJ8RyAnr85Vuakz0B4CzdQvAtA2E3fx-s_e0MKhurSeSoVVUGY

Friday IMSA news

All of the IMSA news for Friday, from the Roar Before the Rolex 24.

Roar a “Glorified Shakedown” for CORE Nissan DPi
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/roar-a-glorified-shakedown-for-core-nissan-dpi/

Diffey, Fish, Allmendinger to Lead NBC Sports TV Team
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/diffey-fish-allmendinger-to-lead-nbc-sports-tv-team/

Pruett Named Rolex 24 Grand Marshal
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/pruett-named-rolex-24-grand-marshal/

Let the on track action for the Roar Before the 24, begin.

Mazda Team Joest Fastest in Roar Session 1
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mazda-team-joest-quickest-in-roar-session-1/

Till, Howe Added to IMSA Radio Lineup
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/till-howe-added-to-imsa-radio-lineup/

Buhk Set for Full-Time Drive In P1 Mercedes
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/buhk-set-for-full-season-in-p1-mercedes/

Kobayashi, WTR Tops Friday Afternoon at Roar
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/kabayashi-wtr-tops-friday-afternoon-at-roar/

Daytona Friday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/daytona-friday-notebook-8/

Plenty more to come on Saturday.  Stay tuned.

IMSA headlines (continued)

More news appearing before the Roar Before the Rolex 24 this weekend.  Here's the latest via Sportscar365.

Pla, Bernhard Confirmed at Mazda for Endurance Cup
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mazda-announces-2019-dpi-driver-lineup/

Cassidy, Cindric Among AIM Vasser Sullivan Rolex 24 Lineup
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/cassidy-cindric-among-aim-vasser-sullivan-rolex-24-lineup/

Unchanged Lineup at Corvette Racing for 2019
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/unchanged-lineup-at-corvette-racing-for-2019/

Updated Roar Before 24 Entry List Released
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/updated-roar-before-24-entry-list-released/

Mayer's Notebook: Roar Before 24
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/mayers-notebook-roar-before-24/

Teams Unload for Roar Before 24
https://sportscar365.com/features/photography/teams-unload-for-roar-before-24/

Riley Reveals Wynn's Throwback Livery
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/riley-reveals-wynns-throwback-livery/

Alonso Open to Full-Season IMSA Program
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/alonso-open-to-full-season-imsa-program/

Risi Confirms Rolex 24 Lineup
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/risi-confirms-rolex-24-lineup/

Daytona Thursday Notebook
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/daytona-thursday-notebook-7/

More Than 150 Drivers Begin Official Rolex 24 at Daytona Preparations at This Weekend's Roar

Following last month’s announcement of the 47-car entry list for this weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona, more than 150 drivers were unveiled in an updated entry list today to participate in this weekend’s annual three-day test session for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

https://www.imsa.com/news/012019/more-150-drivers-begin-official-rolex-24-daytona-preparations-weekends-roar

more IMSA stories as we head into this weekend's Roar Before the Rolex 24

It has been a while since a major IMSA news update, and now that Christmas, and the new year have come and gone, it is time, to delve more into IMSA headlines, possible entries for that race, and for the season, and lots more, via motorsport.com.  Note, the participation in the Rolex 24 is dictated as well by attending the Roar Before the 24 as the test is compulsory for all teams.  But, here's what has been going on.

This is a confirmed story, that Fernando Alonso will drive in the Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac.

Alonso closing in on Rolex 24 return with WTR Cadillac
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/alonso-closing-rolex-24-return/4304629/

This is also confirmed, as Alex Zanardi will race for BMW RLLR at Daytona.

Zanardi could race RLLR BMW at Rolex 24
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/zanardi-rllr-bmw-rolex-24/4305242/?nrt=207

Owen to race Juncos' new Cadillac DPi
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/will-owen-juncos-cadillac-2019/4305306/?nrt=207

Confirmed.  Wayne Taylor Racing will have both Fernando Alonso and Kamui Kobayashi in the #10 Cadillac.

WTR confirms Alonso and Kobayashi for Rolex 24 at Daytona

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/fernando-alonso-kobayashi-daytona-rolex-24/4305323/?nrt=207

WRT poised to enter Audi in Rolex 24
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/wrt-audi-rolex-daytona-possible/4305795/?nrt=207

Starworks signs Dalziel for full 2019 IMSA season
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/starworks-dalziel-2019-audi-chase/4305828/?nrt=207

AIM Vasser Sullivan signs Bell, Montecalvo for 2019
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/AIM-Vasser-Sullivan-Lexus-drivers/4306486/?nrt=207

Kaiser to race Juncos Cadillac in Rolex 24 Hours
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/kaiser-juncos-cadillac-rolex-daytona/4306899/?nrt=207

IMSA champion Snow retires aged 22

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/imsa-champion-Snow-retires-Lamborghini/4306879/?nrt=207

CORE Autosport to run Nissan DPi in 2019
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/core-autosport-nissan-dpi-2019/4306965/?nrt=207

Binder to race Juncos Cadillac in IMSA Enduros
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/binder-juncos-cadillac-daytona-sebring/4308153/?nrt=207

McLaren to run in IMSA GT Daytona
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/mclaren-720S-GT3-imsa-gtd/4308208/?nrt=207

Maldonado to make Rolex 24 debut
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/maldonado-daytona-24-hours-debut/4308969/?nrt=207

Barrichello to race JDC-Miller Cadillac in Rolex 24
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/rubens-barrichello-jdc-miller-daytona/4309296/?nrt=207

Canapino completes Juncos Cadillac lineup for Rolex 24
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/canapino-juncos-cadillac-rolex-daytona/4309324/?nrt=207

Ganassi open to IndyCar, sports car ventures for Kurt Busch

https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/kurt-busch-Indianapolis-IMSA-Ganassi/4309319/?nrt=207

Rossi replaces Rahal in Acura Team Penske IMSA lineup
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/rossi-acura-team-penske-imsa/4310222/?nrt=207

IMSA deletes Long Beach, Detroit from LMP2 schedule
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/imsa-deletes-long-beach-detroit/4310356/?nrt=207

Blomqvist replaces Sims in BMW's IMSA lineup
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/blomqvist-replaces-sims-bmw-lineup/4310322/?nrt=207

Long joins Lindsey in Park Place IMSA squad
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/long-lindsey-park-place-porsche/4310642/?nrt=207

IMSA GTD champion team Paul Miller Racing signs Hardwick

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/paul-miller-Lamborghini-Hardwick-sellers/4311273/?nrt=207

Vilander to race Scuderia Corsa Ferrari in IMSA GTD

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/vilander-scuderia-corsa-Ferrari-weathertech/4311396/?nrt=207

Meyer Shank Racing reveals IMSA lineups
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/meyer-shank-allmendinger-acura-nsx/4311821/?nrt=207

Moorespeed to run Audi in full IMSA GTD campaign

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/moorespeed-audi-daytona-gtd-winkelhock/4311877/?nrt=207

Pfaff confirms full IMSA season with Hargrove, Robichon
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/pfaff-season-porsche-hargrove-robichon/4312666/?nrt=207

Turner Motorsport confirms lineup for IMSA GTD class BMW

https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/turner-motorsport-bmw-auberlen-daytona/4313187/?nrt=207

PR1/Mathiasen firms up 2019 IMSA LMP2 entry
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/pr1-mathiasen-2019-lmp2-entry/4315049/?nrt=207

Conway completes Action Express Rolex 24 lineup
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/conway-action-express-daytona-lineup/4315184/?nrt=207

WRT reveals driver lineup for Rolex 24 assault
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/wrt-audi-daytona-driver-lineup/4316094/?nrt=207

Derani's expectations "really high" for Nasr partnership
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/derani-action-express-cadillac-nasr/4316247/?nrt=207

Haase, Companc to race Starworks Audi in IMSA
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/companc-haase-starworks-audi-daytona/4317253/?nrt=207

Nielsen added to all-female MSR Rolex 24 lineup
https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/nielsen-daytona-all-female-msr/4317683/?nrt=207

last summer's GT race at VIR

I know.  Yours truly, missed a race, last year, in the overlap between FIA WEC and IMSA, at Silverstone and Virginia International Raceway, respectively, for the all GT event for IMSA at VIR.  My hope is, after the Roar Before the Rolex 24, to cover that event, and I am also hopefully of providing again this year, full coverage of the Rolex 24 itself, in it's 57th renewal.  So, stay tuned for more coverage, as there is lots and lots to come.