Rolex 24 cars coming to DIS for weekend testing

The Grand-Am Road Racing Rolex Series and Continental Tire Series will test at Daytona International Speedway over the 3.56-mile road course. The event is billed as the Roar Before The Rolex 24. This will be the first full-field test over Daytona's new pavement.

What is happening?

Grand-Am will hold testing Friday through Sunday in preparation for the Jan. 29-30 Rolex 24 At Daytona. The Continental Tire Series will run in a separate support race and in different test sessions. Testing begins at 9 a.m. each day.

Where to watch?

Spectators can watch for free from the Oldfield Grandstand near Turn 4. For $15, race fans can go into the Fanzone and garage areas for an up-close Grand-Am experience.

Sports, not stock, cars

The Grand-Am races feature sports cars, divided into two classes. They are the purpose-built Daytona Prototypes and GT sedans, which resemble street cars, such as the Porsche 911 and Mazda RX-8. In the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the GTs race for the class victory.

Unique time to watch

The Rolex Series cars will have 90 minutes of night testing on Saturday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The cars are equipped with headlights.