Daytona Beach is synonymous with auto racing, thanks to the early pioneers of speed who practiced their sport on the hard-packed sands as far back as 1903. From a friendly wager between two gentlemen the famous speed trials gave way to stock car racing and, eventually, on 22 February 1959 the Daytona International Speedway opened to host the first Daytona 500 race. Many of those early racers are still celebrated with turns and grandstands named after them.
 The superb facilities at Daytona Speedway ensure that any event here is spectacular but the 24 Hours in particular is awesome and a weekend of pure racing pleasure. Oval racing guarantees good viewing – the 2009 Rolex 24 saw the top four cars only two seconds apart going into the final hour, with Montoya’s Lexus Riley leading the pack. He lost it in the last minutes to Donohue in the Brumos Porsche but never stopped pushing and finished the race just two-tenths of a second behind. It’s nailbiting stuff! It’s also the perfect opportunity to enjoy some early sunshine in America’s fun state of Florida where there’s no end to the list of attractions.
 Our weekend tour takes you to the heart of the action but you may want to extend your stay – if so we can help. After the race take off with a hire car and drive south following US1 to Fort Lauderdale, Miami and out into the Gulf of Mexico, on the Hemingway trail to the Florida Keys. Whilst you are there enjoy some reef diving and deep sea fishing. Return via the Everglades National Park and through the many east coast resorts with soft sandy beaches, an abundance of hotels and restaurants, golf courses and theme parks.
But first - start your Florida holiday with a fully inclusive weekend of racing entertainment!
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Friday 29 January
