By alley - Jan 28, 2016, 1:59 PM ET

ROLEX 24: Thursday notebook 2016

[4:05 p.m. ET]

• The following was distributed by Continental Tire: Continental Mandates Air Pressure Change for GTD: Both IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship practices were rain soaked Friday, requiring teams to move to the Continental wet tire. Following several issues in the GTD class, and due to the increased loads of the GTD platform in 2016, Continental has mandated that all GTD teams up their minimum pressure to 26 psi cold, for wet tires at Daytona.

There were no problems reported at the Roar test in early January while on Continental's ExtremeContact Dry Race tire. Also of note, this is the same wet tire used in the GTD class since Continental's entry into IMSA and there have been no issues reported.

[3:30 p.m. ET]
• IndyCar and sports car driver James Davison has been added to the No. 007 TRG-AMR Aston Martin V12 Vantage lineup. Davison drove for the team through the first portion of 2015 before exiting the program, and said team owner Kevin Buckler brought him in to add another layer of speed to support Antonio Perez and the other drivers in the car. Davison set numerous poles in the car as the Pro in a Pro-Am lineup, and it's believed his return could be a foreshadowing of a pairing with Perez, provided Perez's backers fund a full season program after Daytona.

• Stevenson Motorsports driver Dion von Moltke is in the team's No. 9 Audi R8 GT3 LMS for Daytona, Sebring, and possibly Petit Le Mans, but continues to search for more opportunities between IMSA's biggest events. "I want to be here full-time, but there aren't many seats at the moment, so I'm looking at GRC." Growing popularity for the Global Rallycross series would certainly boost DvM's profile, whose career has been defined by sports cars.

• P2 and PC constructor ORECA is expanding its horizons by entering the driving gear market. A line of race suits and the rest of the necessary safety apparel is expected to be launched in America in the coming months.

• The crash by Spencer Pumpelly in the No. 16 Change Racing during FP1 will force the Lamborghini Huracan to miss the 30-minute FP2 as repairs are completed. The team reported some form of brake issue as the possible cause of Pumpelly's crash, which took place on an out lap.

• Heavy rain is expected for qualifying, which starts at 4 p.m. ET.

• As noted in RACER's FP2 session report, Continental Tire is looking into the cause of the multiple tire failures that took place in a short span during the 30-minute session. A blown right-rear on the No. 007 TRG-AMR car halted the session due to debris on the front straight, and the team was looking into the extent of the damage with qualifying on the horizon.

• Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan confirmed its U.S.-based P2 program is evaluating a trek to Le Mans, as early as 2017, to compete in the legendary 24-hour race. With new, global-spec P2s set for introduction next year, Mazda's 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine would be legal at Le Mans, but the chassis carrying the engine would not be permitted to carry the custom bodywork allowed in IMSA.

Continued speculation regarding a possible tie-up with the Visit Florida Racing team has been persistent. The Corvette DP team, which came close to winning IMSA's Prototype championship in 2015, has been active in pursuing chassis/engine solutions for 2017, and with Mazda rumored to be considering an expansion to the two-car factory program led by SpeedSource, VFR could be one of few championship-contending outfits available to field cars next season.

• Between Continental and Michelin, both brands are directly involved in the overall wins at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although the Daytona Prototypes and P2 in IMSA's Prototype class are built to slower regulations than the P1 Hybrids that compete in France, and the significant differences in circuit length, it's still interesting to look at the relative mileage and consumption figures between the winning Prototype and P1 entries.

Chip Ganassi Racing's Continental-shod Ford EcoBoost DP completed 2,634 miles at an average speed of 109.693mph, posted a fastest race lap of 128.49mph, made 34 pit stops, and used 30 sets of tires.

Riding on Michelins, Porsche's 919 Hybrid completed 3,452 miles at an average speed of 139.3mph, turned a fastest race lap of 154.84mph, made 30 pit stops, and used 10 sets of tires.

• IMSA has reduced the fuel capacity for the GTLM Ford GTs. "It was something the team actually brought to us," an IMSA official told RACER. The twin-turbo V6-powered cars have had their tanks reduced from 68 liters to 63 after Ford Chip Ganassi Racing brought its ability to run longer on a full tank than the series anticipated.

• Pirelli World Challenge CEO Greg Gill and series technical director Marcus Haselgrove are present at the Rolex 24. Gill, who took over PWC in September, says he and his colleagues were invited by IMSA president Scott Atherton as part of the ongoing relationship building between the two sports car series. "Scott invited us down and it was a welcome gesture," Gill told RACER.

PWC kicks off its season the first weekend in March at Circuit of The Americas. A grid of more than 70 cars is expected to take the green flag in Texas.

• The mother of JDC/Miller PC driver Kenton Koch has been filled with love and support this week. Karen Koch missed last year's Rolex 24 after undergoing a heart transplant. Messages of encouragement and support were sent her way in 2015, and with her body restored to full health, she's here with Kenton and took time to thank those who helped her get through the process.

"A little over a year ago my mom received a heart, and it was a pretty big deal, obviously," her son told RACER. "I wanted to do something special for her last year, and the racing community reached out, so we wanted to thank them for their support, and let people know organ donation saves lives. It's a pretty big deal to become an organ donor. She's a very kind person, and the support has meant a lot. She's here with us and so, so appreciative."

This article will be updated.