With the legendary Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona just under a month away, it seems that Grand America has built what looks like a success story. As many as 75 cars will take the green at Daytona on January 29, with as many as 18 Daytona Prototypes leading the field. But what stands out is the fact that many of those DPs will have the opportunity to win a legendary race trophy – not to mention the coveted Rolex watches. The above quote is very appropriate for the coming Rolex championship, as it looks to be an all-out war for the title.

2003 champions The Racer’s Group will return to defend their crown, but they are back with their Porsche 911 GT cars, and this fact will put them at a disadvantage to the DPs. But one big entry is the entry by legendary Champ Car team owner Chip Ganassi, with a Riley and Scott Daytona Prototype powered by a Lexus V8 engine. Some people have said that they will run away with the Grand American championship, but the other teams will do their best to prevent this, and I don’t think that even Ganassi, with his legendary car preparation and drivers Scott Pruett and “Mad Max” Papis, will be able to win without a fight. They head a list of professional teams, including 2003 champions Bell Motorsports and driver minister-turned-racer Terry Borcheller, who is keen to repeat his title. Brumos Racing and their Porsche-powered Fabcars want to take the title back to Porsche, and give a fifth Rolex win to American racing legend Hurley Haywood. Outside of them, 2003 fighters Cegwa Sport want to make something of the 2004 Rolex, having had a dismal run at Daytona in 2003. Rumors of the services of Robby Gordon for the race are quite something, and he would be a great boost to the team, especially after his jaw-dropping run in the Cegwa car at Watkins Glen in 2003. Porsche veterans Gunnar Racing have one of the elder Fabcar-Porsches, but they look like a shot at the win is still in their future.

Chase Competition’s DP project has had several setbacks, but Odyssey Competition have hung in with the company, and look to have a team that will run a Chase in the Rolex 24. (Silverstone Racing Services is seeking a new car after a dispute with Chase. ed.) Crawford Composites was a latecomer to the party, but with teams Howard-Boss Motorsports and Spirit of Daytona likely to run the very fast Crawfords, and Howard-Boss having the services of sportscar veteran Andy Wallace and NASCAR young gun Jimmie Johnson, along with American racers Butch Leitzinger and Elliot Forbes-Robinson, look to be able to easily carry the fight to the other teams. Suntrust Racing also has one of the very promising Riley and Scott chassis, and hopes to find success with it.

In the GT ranks, Ferrari of Washington has put away their championship-winning Ferrari 360 GT in favour of a new Maserati Trofeo Light. The car looks incredible, and also looks to have the speed to win the fight against the other GT competitors. 2003 GT runner-ups Marcus Motorsports have also bought a new car, having earned much respect in the field for their attempts to come to every race in 2003, despite sponsors that didn’t pay. They have certainly earned my respect, as they made every sacrifice to make it to every round, and were rewarded with two class wins in 2003. I hope they win the class at the Rolex, as Steve Marcus and his team will have earned it.

So the Grand American association looks great theory and reality. So what about Grand American’s rival, IMSA and the American Le Mans Series? Most looks good here too, as even though the LMP numbers will likely be rather limited, the running LMPs look like stable and competitive. 2003 runners-up Champion Racing has returned, and their Audi R8 looks to continue the tradition of Audi championships that Team Joest started in 2000. Dyson Racing wants to keep Champion at bay, and Dyson’s victory at Infineon Racing in 2003 told the world that the Audis had better watch out behind them, as Dyson’s Lola EX257s weren’t too far off.

Intersport racing has its own one-two punch, with the Lola EX257 taking the one and their powerful Ford-powered Riley and Scott being punch two. Intersport may well win their first race in 2004.

Both Grand American and IMSA (International Motor Sport Association) look solid, and with the season just getting underway all the fans have a lot to look forward to. The 2004 season looks great, but there are clouds on the horizon.

Fans of American open wheel racing have a lot of difficulties to deal with right now, much of it starting with the possible disappearance of Champ Cars. While many sportscar fans look at it as a good thing for providing sportscar drivers, the reality is deeper. In my mind, it’s just more proof that the France family has taken near-total control of racing in America, and the fact that they don’t play very fair has been proven. Grand American is part of this, as Grand American is dependent on ISC (International Speedway Corporation) to help with tracks and promotion – hence the reason why many of Grand American’s races are run on combination road course-ovals, or “rovals” as their known for short. This is part of the reason some fans despise Grand American, as its connection to NASCAR is one part of things. Burton Smith and Don Panoz are major track owners in North America, with Panoz predominant in road courses. (Sebring, Mosport Park and Road Atlanta are owned by Panoz)

The rivalries in track ownership is why Grand American ran at Daytona no less that three times in a twelve-race season. That is one of the clouds – the ALMS doesn’t run at ISC tracks, and Grand American doesn’t run at Panoz tracks. It’s a sad story if you ask me, as the entire problem relates to the rivalry between the two series.

Thankfully, Grand American is moving away from the rivalry, as Grand American is becoming more of a national (US) series. With the popularity of club racing in North America, this is a wise choice. Several complaints have been directed at the fact that two of America’s four biggest endurance events – the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and the Six Hours at the Glen – are Grand American events. (The rivalry bites again, you understand.)

Could both series run at the same events? Sure. Would have to be different races, as the American Le Mans Series cars are substantially faster than the Grand American cars. But ALMS could run a support at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Glen Six Hours, while Grand American supports the Twelve Hours at Sebring and the Petit Le Mans. A viable solution isn’t it?

In 2004, sportscar racing is just about perfect in America. But it if wants to go further, the rivalries that result in the tracks being the reserve of one series or another needs to end. It’s the best solution, now isn’t it?

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