IMSA President John Doonan hosted a brief press conference today with ACO President Pierre Fillon and Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher where it was announced that the first Chicane on the Mulsanne Straight will be renamed as the Daytona Chicane.
Daytona’s ‘Bus Stop’ meanwhile is renamed the Le Mans Chicane with immediate effect.
Both complexes will feature curbing in blue and yellow.
The idea for the reciprocal names resulted from discussions between NASCAR and IMSA Chairman Jim France and ACO President Pierre Fillon during the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans last August. The LE MANS Chicane at Daytona already has been painted blue and yellow and will be on full display throughout this weekend’s 60th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“The spirit of partnership between the IMSA and Daytona International Speedway team in Daytona Beach and the ACO in Le Mans has never been stronger,” said John Doonan, IMSA President. “Between the historic convergence for the top category of prototype racing, the recent 10-year extension of the IMSA-ACO partnership, and today’s introduction of the LE MANS and DAYTONA chicanes, together we are embarking on an amazing new era of sports car endurance racing, unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”
“Daytona International Speedway and Le Mans are two of the most iconic, historical venues in all of motorsports and have been hosts to the greatest sports car racing in the world, 24-hour style,” said Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “On behalf of the France family, we are proud to introduce this incredible unification where IMSA, Daytona International Speedway, the ACO and Le Mans will showcase the most competitive endurance racing into the future.”
