The ROAR Before the Rolex 24 test is underway to kick off the 2020 IMSA season.

IMSA’s three-day test of on-track activity covers three championships, all which race with MICHELIN(R) tires in its second season as Official Tire of IMSA.

There are nearly 100 cars entered among the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (40 cars), IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge (38) and IMSA Prototype Challenge (18).

WeatherTech Championship cars practice and qualify for pit positions and garage selections.

MICHELIN Pilot Challenge teams that choose to test here get a head start on race week. Unlike the WeatherTech Championship, this isn’t a mandatory test for these competitors. The Pilot Challenge car count should grow to the mid-40s to pushing 50 cars for race week.

Meanwhile Prototype Challenge holds its first race of the season on Saturday. The three-hour race, which highlights the Scouts of America, airs live from 12:15 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Gold’s new TrackPass program.

Thursday marks IMSA’s annual “Media Day,” and a collective “first day of school” vibe. The paddock reconvenes following the brief break since the 2019 finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Teams reveal new liveries, lineups and participate in a range of media activities.

STRONG WOMEN CONTINGENT

A high volume of women could compete between the WeatherTech Championship and MICHELIN Pilot Challenge in the races next month, based on who is testing this weekend.

Katherine Legge and Christina Nielsen spearhead the new GEAR Racing effort, run by Grasser Racing Team, with a striking Andy Blackmore-designed “pop art” No. 19 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo on track this weekend. Tatiana Calderon and Rahel Frey complete the lineup.

Five women are set to test and/or race within MICHELIN Pilot Challenge. Drivers testing this weekend include:

• New Ford Performance recruit and rising stock car star Hailie Deegan (No. 22 Multimatic Ford Mustang GT4)
• Harvard student and sports car regular Aurora Straus (No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4)
• Developing touring car driver Taylor Hagler (No. 77 L.A. Honda World Honda Civic Type R)
• W Series competitor Beitske Visser (No. 26 Sunoco Classic BMW M4 GT4)
• Lamborghini Super Trofeo competitor Sheena Monk (No. 90 RENNtech Mercedes-AMG GT4).

Track activity runs steadily from Friday to Sunday.