The fifth participation in a 24-hour racewill have this weekend of 28 and 29 the Chilean Benjamin Hites (US Race Tronics) at Daytona International Speedwayparticipating in the 61st edition of the classic competition which launches the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The test takes place on a 3.56 mile (5,728 meter) track, with 12 curves, with the participation of 234 pilots in the five different classes of the event, which They represent six of the seven continents and 32 countries, including Chile.

Eleven manufacturers from around the world make up the GTP, GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes. Germany has the most BMWs, Mercedes-AMGs and Porsches. The United States has Chevrolet and Cadillac. Britain has Aston Martin and McLaren. Iconic Italian brands Ferrari and Lamborghini have a large contingent and Japan will be represented with Acura and Lexus.

Benjamin Hites and his teammates Misha Goikhberg (Russia), Loris Spinelli and Marco Mapelli (Italy), will compete in the GTD (GT Daytona) category, with 23 machines on the track, the largest class of the five present.

“We have been working on the car since last week with practice and qualifying, where we finished in a good place on the grid which is not the first in our category, but which is strategic from the point of view that it is It’s a 24-hour race Moreover, we are very close to the Lamborghini which precedes us, so be optimistic about this long term“said the 23-year-old pilot.

Of the 234 registered drivers, 62 are former winners of the Rolex 24 Hours overall or by category. More than three dozen conquered the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There are three previous Indianapolis 500 winners and even the defending NASCAR Daytona 500 champion.

Hites, current European GT Open International Champion, and his teammates will drive the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 #78, with Russian-Canadian Misha Goikhberg, winner of the Rolex 24 category (Prototype Challenge, 2016); Loris Spinelli, multiple Lamborghini Super Trofeo champion; and Marco Mapelli, who has a Lamborghini championship to his name with Andrea Caldarelli in one of Europe’s premier GT3 series.