ROAR BEFORE THE ROLEX 24

With a season of partnership with Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) under their belts, Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson enter the 2022 IMSA Pilot Challenge campaign poised to build on 2021’s experience and success.

That journey will begin this weekend when the team competes in the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

However, not all remains the same from season one.

After spending the first year with BHA behind the wheel of a Hyundai Veloster N, Johnson and Simpson will make a switch and pilot a Hyundai Elantra N, however under the same No. 53 Universal Coating moniker. The Elantra made its debut on the TCR circuit a year ago at  Daytona. Year one was successful, as the new Hyundai ELANTRA N TCR netted two IMSA Pilot Challenge wins. 

The Roar Before the Rolex 24 is a three-day event, running from Friday, Jan. 21-Sunday, Jan. 23, that features five practice sessions (see below for schedule).

Friday, Jan. 21

9:45 a.m.-11 a.m. 

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge practice session #1 for BMW Endurance Challenge

2:45 p.m.-4 p.m.

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge practice session #2 for BMW Endurance Challenge

Saturday, Jan. 22

8:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m.

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge practice session #3 for BMW Endurance Challenge

4:50 p.m.-5:50 p.m.

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge practice session #4 for BMW Endurance Challenge

Sunday, Jan. 23

10:35 a.m.-11:50 a.m.

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge practice session #5 for BMW Endurance Challenge

The trials are a precursor to and preview of the BMW Endurance Challenge, part of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which will be held in one week, on January 28, at the historic track on the northeast Florida coast. The duration of the BMW Endurance Challenge is four hours on the 3.56 mile DIS track.

Johnson and Simpson have experienced their share of success at Daytona. In 2019, in qualifying for the BMW Endurance Challenge, Johnson etched his name in record book, breaking the TCR