2017 will be the first season since 2003 that the front of the field hasn't included the eponymous Daytona Prototypes (DP) that made up the sharp end of the grid in the Grand-Am series, and then continued to battle in the Prototype ranks after the series merged with the American Le Mans Series to form the new IMSA Sportscar Championship.
The DPs never proved popular looks-wise, and various accidents in recent years raised eyebrows as to their safety in a modern motorsport setting. But, especially after they were given a boost in performance to match the LMP2 ranks, there was no denying they made a spectacular noise.
As such we can join multiple IndyCar champion Scott Dixon as he attacks the gloom of nightime at last year's Daytona 24 in his Riley-bodied Daytona Prototype, powered by a Ford (whisper it) V6. The mixture is a relentless concoction of noise, vibration and speed, as Dixon hammers through the night in pursuit of the leading LMP2 Ligier. Unfortunately for Dixon, issues would mean that the Chip Ganassi car finished 28 laps down on the leader, but that doesn't dimish from the sheer speed shown in the clip above.
Here's hoping the new era of American prototype racing brings more great racing this weekend.
Daytona 24
Ford
Riley
Scott Dixon
