A 24 Hour Race is a curious beast. Originally (in Le Mans' case) intended as somewhere for manufacturers to showcase the reliability of their road cars, they have become a thing of myth. From Le Mans a handful have sprung up for varying classes of car, European examples being at the German Nurburgring, Spa in Belguim and Silverstone in the UK. But Le Mans remains the undisputed king. Every June a who's who of motorsport turn up to close a motorway in france, Formula 1 drivers, Rally drivers, Retired Alpine skiers, with some of the most advance technology in the world from the biggest companies - Audi, Peugeot, Porsche, Ferrari, Corvette, Aston Martin - as well as some well respected private teams and chassis builders - Pescarolo, Pilbeam, Courage, Radical. And Le Mans rightfully holds this crown.

But I think I've found a rival. The Rolex 24 hours at Daytona. If I were to go out and ask, people, even those who would watch every F1 race a season, what the Rolex 24 hours was, I doubt they could expand beyond the obvious. Indeed, it's only in the last few years I've heard of it, but I can't work out why. It's got everything Le Mans does.

World famous track - OK, so the road course layout may not be famous in it's own right, but Daytona is a renouned race-track the world over.

Serious equipment - Like Le Mans the list of car makers involved is a list of the world's biggest - Porsche, Lexus, Mazda, BMW, Ford, Corvette.

Who's Who of drivers - When I read through the drivers entry list, or at least I've found, I was amazed to see the strength of the field. I was expecting a few top line teams, feilded by the likes of Ganassi, Penske, with big name drivers and then names that would mean very little to me, but everybody seems to be on this list. Obviously the clutch of NASCAR drivers, Montoya, Allmendinger, Busch, Johnson, Franchitti. The stars of the US sports car circuits, Boris Said and Scott Pruett, and drivers from open-wheel series - Ryan Briscoe, Vitor Meira, Helio, Justin Wilson. But beyond that the list of other nations and series is near endless. Allan McNish and  Mike Rockenfeller from Audi's Le Mans' and ALMS teams, Derek Bell, a legend in his own right, with 5 Le Mans wins. Ricardo Zonta, a man who in my opinion should still have an F1 seat and Jan Magnussen, a man who should not. Drivers from countries around the world, including UK Touring and GT drivers, Tommy Erdos, Tom Kimber-Smith and Tim Sugden.

There are more names notable from other series there, but there's only so much space.

The question is, with these ingredients, why is the Daytona 24 hours hardly ever heard about away from the most hardcore motorsports conversations (at least over here), where it's French brother is heralded worldwide every June.