The Rolex 24 at Daytona runs January 28 to 31, 2027. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener. A 24-hour endurance race at Daytona International Speedway, on the same 3.56-mile road course that combines the high-banked oval with the infield road circuit.
I am on site for this race. Here is what to expect, how to plan, and what makes this weekend one of the best on the American motorsport calendar.
What a 24-hour race actually looks like
The Rolex 24 starts mid-afternoon on Saturday January 30. It runs continuously through the night. It finishes mid-afternoon on Sunday January 31. Each car runs three or four drivers in rotation. Pit stops include driver changes, fueling, tires, and any repairs.
Four classes run together: GTP (the prototype hybrids, the headliner class), LMP2 (prototype, customer), GTD Pro (professional GT cars), and GTD (pro-am GT cars). The classes share the same track at the same time. Watching the leaders work through slower-class traffic is one of the defining elements of endurance racing.
The venue
Daytona International Speedway is the 31-degree-banked tri-oval most fans know from the Daytona 500. The Rolex 24 uses the same banking but adds the infield road course. The cars cross the start-finish line on the oval, dive into the infield through the Bus Stop chicane, weave through the tight infield section, and rejoin the banking through the high-speed International Horseshoe.
The viewing locations are different from the Daytona 500. Many of the best Rolex 24 vantage points are on the infield, where you can watch the cars handle the slower corners.
The Rolex 24 sleep strategy
The Rolex 24 is 24 hours. Almost nobody watches the whole thing live. The question is how to plan the weekend so you see the moments that matter without exhausting yourself.
The most-watched windows are the start (Saturday afternoon), the first night transition (Saturday evening through midnight), the early-morning hours (3am to 6am Sunday, when teams settle into rhythm and incidents change the running order), and the final two hours Sunday afternoon.
The professional approach: watch the start. Sleep through midnight to 4am. Get up for the pre-dawn hours. Sleep mid-morning Sunday. Watch the finish.
The casual approach: watch as much as you want and sleep when you are tired. The race will be there when you wake up.
Where to stay for the Rolex 24
The featured hotel is three blocks from the speedway gates. Walking distance. Race-week rates are reasonable compared to most major race weekends.
Daytona Beach is the broader hotel market. Oceanfront properties on the Atlantic, ten minutes from the speedway. Fly into Daytona Beach International Airport (15 minutes) or Orlando International Airport (90 minutes).
Pit lane, grid, and Victory Lane access
The Rolex 24 hospitality tiers include pit lane access on race weekend, grid walk before the start, and Victory Lane access for the trophy presentation Sunday afternoon. These are the access events that turn a race attendance into a race-week immersion.
The Racing Passport package for the 2027 Rolex 24 includes these access elements. Robert is on the ground for the weekend.
What the weekend looks like
- Thursday January 28: Arrival, IMSA practice begins, Speedway museum and tour
- Friday January 29: Qualifying, support series races
- Saturday January 30: Race-day morning, grid walk, race start mid-afternoon, race runs through the night
- Sunday January 31: Race finishes mid-afternoon, Victory Lane, post-race
- Monday February 1: Departure
Pair with the Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 runs three weeks after the Rolex 24, in February. The same venue. A completely different race. Many guests on the Rolex 24 trip return for the 500. The two-race Daytona January and February pairing is one of the most rewarding double-headers in American motorsport.
The trip page for the 2027 Rolex 24 is at 2027 Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 2027 Daytona 500 trip is at 2027 Daytona 500.
Bottom line
The Rolex 24 at Daytona is the most rewarding endurance race weekend on the American calendar. The combination of the venue, the access, the discipline, and the 24-hour format is unlike any other trip Racing Passport plans.
If you are weighing the 2027 race, the inquiry form is the right next step. Group size, hotel preference, viewing approach, hospitality tier.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Rolex 24 at Daytona?
The 2027 Rolex 24 at Daytona runs January 28 to 31, with the race itself starting mid-afternoon Saturday January 30 and finishing mid-afternoon Sunday January 31. Thursday is arrival and IMSA practice. Friday is qualifying and support races.
What is the Rolex 24 at Daytona?
The Rolex 24 at Daytona is the season-opening endurance race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Cars race continuously for 24 hours at Daytona International Speedway, on a 3.56-mile road course that combines the high-banked tri-oval with the infield road circuit. Four classes (GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro, GTD) run on track at the same time.
Where should I stay for the Rolex 24?
The featured hotel is three blocks from the speedway gates. Race-week rates are reasonable compared to major race weekends. Daytona Beach oceanfront properties are ten minutes away. Fly into Daytona Beach International Airport (15 minutes) or Orlando International Airport (90 minutes).
How do I watch a 24-hour race without exhausting myself?
The professional approach: watch the start Saturday afternoon, sleep midnight to 4am, get up for the pre-dawn hours, sleep mid-morning Sunday, watch the finish. The most-watched windows are the start, the first night transition, the 3am to 6am pre-dawn hours, and the final two hours. The casual approach is to watch what you want and sleep when you are tired.
Is the Rolex 24 worth it for first-time IMSA fans?
Yes. The combination of the venue, the four-class racing, the night element, and the 24-hour format makes it the most distinctive race weekend on the IMSA calendar. First-time IMSA fans usually report the Rolex 24 as the race that hooked them on endurance racing.
Can I pair the Rolex 24 with the Daytona 500?
Yes. The Daytona 500 runs three weeks later in February at the same venue. Same speedway, completely different race. Many guests on the Rolex 24 trip return for the 500. Booking both is the most rewarding double-header in American motorsport.
When should I book my 2027 Rolex 24 trip?
Six to nine months ahead is the right window. The featured speedway-adjacent hotel and the premium hospitality access tiers move fastest. Starting the conversation early secures hotel walking distance and the access elements that define the experience.