Toyota GR010 On Display
Vendor Row at Daytona always has an impressive array of road and race machinery on display but one car that was drawing more attention than most was a car that many fans would like to see on the other side of the fence someday at the Rolex 24 Hours.
The Toyota display includes a Yaris WRC, a Toyota GR86 Cup racer and a Toyota GR010 HYBRID Hypercar!
And the car on display is not a show. car either, rather a car in full factory spec, potentially bound for pre-season testing!
With windscreen tear-offs and not a little ‘road rash’ visible, though well disguised, this a car that has seen some action!
Further down the display line is the area reserved for merchandise vendors which, as DSC popped by, again showed that the continuing efforts of AO Racing with their ‘Rexy’, ‘Roxy’ and ‘Spike’ brands are drawing a significant following, the team stand seeing long queues eager to obtain the latest stickers, posters, plushies and more!
AO Racing Announces Partnership with Austin Hatcher Foundation
AO Racing has announced a partnership with the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer for the 2025 racing season.
AO Racing team members and drivers will meet with children and families in treatment, as well as the launch of new fundraising initiatives, such as exclusive merchandise designed to raise awareness and funds for AHF’s mission. A special focus on Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month will be notably impactful, highlighting the foundation’s dedication to improving the quality of life of those affected by childhood cancer.
The new partnership builds on a successful collaboration in 2024, which included fan-activated fundraising events where fans had the chance to donate and win prizes, and saw tremendous success. Fan support helped raise critical funds for the Austin Hatcher Foundation, directly benefiting children and families affected by pediatric cancer.
“Partnering with the Austin Hatcher Foundation for the 2025 season is an incredible opportunity,” said Gunnar Jeannette, Team Principal of AO Racing. “We’ve seen the direct impact the Foundation has on children and families facing cancer, and we are honored to continue supporting this vital cause. This year, we are committed to going even further, with a deeper involvement in their programs and initiatives, and we can’t wait to see the positive change we can make together.”
“Through our partnership, we aim to make a lasting impact both on and off the track,” Jeannette added.
IMSA Launches ‘Endurance Hour’ Podcast
The first edition of IMSA’s video podcast hosted by Matt Yocum is now online featuring Colin Braun, Austin Cindric, PJ Hyett and Marshall Pruett.
Changes At IMSA Radio
There’s a different sound to the IMSA radio broadcast at the Rolex 24 with confirmation that Jeremy Shaw will no longer be a part of the team.
Ryan Mehren steps in for the season and has served time today both in the booth and on pit lane after pulling iron man stints on trackside comms throughout the Roar weekend.
Shea Adam breaks down the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Cup Series week at Daytona!
She’s breaking down all the action for the season-opening event with her signature energy and insights.Who’s ready for the green flag !? pic.twitter.com/RLnhZ4ILUV
— Mazda MX-5 Cup (@MazdaMX5Cup) January 23, 2025
Long-time lead pit reporter Shea Adam has decided to step away from the core broadcast too, though a new contract with Mazda Motorsports sees her still very active in the paddock as a content creator and with booth commentary duties too for the Mazda MX5 Cup alongside the returning John Hindhaugh.
The remainder of the team for Daytona is Jonny Palmer, Peter Mackay, Joe Bradley, Nick Daman and Jamie Howe.
The Official International Broadcast is available free to view outside the USA via IMSA’s YouTube channel, the first time that the Rolex 24 has been available on that platform.
IMSA adopted YouTube from the 12 Hours of Sebring last year alongside its exiting streaming options.
NBC meanwhile will see the talents of Townsend Bell, Parker Kligerman and James Hinchcliffe doubling up between on-air and on-track duties with Oliver Gavin (pictured below when significantly younger) looking set to add his insights into the on-air team for the first time.
Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish, Dave Burns and Brian Till lead the extensive on-air team
Shank Receives 2024 Phil Hill Award
Mike Shank was honoured by the Road Racing Drivers Club with the 2024 Phil Hill Award. The 2019 award recipient, RRDC President Bobby Rahal, made the presentation at the annual RRDC members’ dinner on January 22 prior to the 63rd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The Phil Hill Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the person who the RRDC feels has rendered outstanding service to road racing. The recipient may be a driver, entrant or outstanding member of a sanctioning body.
Mike Shank first started racing professionally in 1989, competing in SCCA, Toyota Atlantic C2 Championship and the Indy Racing League. He eventually retired as a driver to become a team owner. He fielded cars in the Champ Car Toyota Atlantic Championship and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, earning Toyota Atlantic’s “Team Owner of the Year” Award twice in four years.
In 2017 Meyer Shank Racing (then Michael Shank Racing) debuted at the Indianapolis 500, with rookie driver Jack Harvey. The team impressed by overcoming several setbacks, earning the Clint Brawner Award for crew chief Adam Rovazzini.
The same year Shank managed the debut of the factory Acura Motorsports team in IMSA WeatherTech competition, giving the Acura NSX GT3 its first victory and pole position. Shank was also awarded the 2017 Rolex Bob Snodgrass Award of Excellence, presented by The Gorsline Company
Shank’s IMSA team has amassed over 350 sports car starts, three championship victories, three Rolex 24 wins and two Petit Le Mans victories since starting in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2004. He has built his team to simultaneously run in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The team ran partial INDYCAR seasons until 2019, then grew to a two-car full-season effort in 2020. The team earned an Indy 500 victory in 2021 as Helio Castroneves clinched his fourth Indy 500 win, accomplished by only three other drivers in INDYCAR history.
“This is an awesome award and it represents something so special in racing,” said Rahal. “To me, Phil Hill was not only a great driver, he was a true gentleman and a great proponent of the sport. He represented motor racing to the world, especially in this country, in such a manner, such a fashion, that is something you had to admire.
“We’ve had a lot of great recipients of the Phil Hill Award over the years, and this year’s honoree is no different. When you think about who should get this award, you think of somebody who does it all and did it on his terms,” added Rahal. “Frankly, it was pretty easy to decide this year. We have a lot of respect for Mike Shank and all he’s done over the years. And some days probably didn’t look so bright [for Shank] but here he is representing Acura in IMSA and Honda in INDYCAR. Michael, congratulations, man. I think you are a worthy recipient of this great award.”
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Shank. “I think it is an unbelievable honor and it just makes me feel pretty small. Everything I did in racing I did just to survive and try to advance to where I wanted to be, but to get recognized by the RRDC with the Phill Hill Award is beyond words.”
Past RRDC Phil Hill Award Winners include:
- 1993 John Bishop
- 1994 Juan Manuel Fangio II
- 1995 Leo Mehl
- 1996 Charlie Slater
- 1997 Danny Sullivan
- 1998 Rob Dyson
- 1999 Bob Fergus
- 2000 Elliott Forbes Robinson
- 2001 Bill France
- 2002 Jim Downing
- 2003 Derek Bell
- 2004 Brian Redman
- 2005 Jim France
- 2006 Roger Werner
- 2007 Skip Barber
- 2008 Roger Penske
- 2009 Bob Bondurant
- 2010 Nick Craw
- 2011 Rick Mears
- 2012 George Follmer
- 2013 Peter Brock
- 2014 Hurley Haywood
- 2015 Vic Elford
- 2016 Scott Pruett
- 2017 Chip Ganassi
- 2018 David Hobbs
- 2019 Bobby Rahal
- 2020 Jack Roush
- 2021 Scott Atherton
- 2022 Mark Raffauf
- 2023 Bob Riley
