Major Thefts Plague Treasured Fan Tradition at Rolex 24
Collecting broken car parts as racing memorabilia has been a beloved tradition at motorsport events, but recent incidents at the Rolex 24 At Daytona have highlighted growing concerns over theft and unauthorized access.
While some teams like DXDT Racing officially gave fans permission to take damaged parts from their fire-damaged Corvette Z06 GT3.R, other teams faced unauthorized removal of their equipment. DXDT's Charlie Eastwood experienced a significant fire during the race, leading to various burnt components being available as souvenirs.
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AO Racing reported multiple incidents of unauthorized access and theft, including the disappearance of their damaged Porsche 911 GT3 "Rexy" bumper. Team principal Gunnar Jeannette expressed concern about increasingly bold behavior from some attendees, noting people entering restricted areas without permission and requesting parts during active race operations.
The situation has raised questions about security measures at future events. Teams are considering implementing additional garage security for IMSA's 2026 return, either through track-provided staff or independent security personnel.
These incidents highlight the delicate balance between maintaining IMSA's fan-friendly atmosphere and protecting teams' equipment and workspace. While the tradition of souvenir hunting continues, the need for clearer boundaries and improved security measures has become apparent to ensure both fan access and team operations can coexist safely.