The start of the new Formula 1 season may be eight weeks away, yet two of its stars wiꦕll get their first racing action of the year thi🅺s coming Saturday.

The Rolex 24 sports car race has traditionally been recognised as the curtain-raiser for the motorsport year, but it is set to enjoy heightened interest from all o♛ver the world in 2018 thanks to the F1 interest.

Two-time🐠 F1 world champion Fernando Alonso will make his sports car racingღ bow in the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, acting as a prelude to a possible entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans later this year.

Alonso will be joined in the field ⛎by F1 sophomore Lance Stroll, who is making his second Rolex 24 appearance after finishing fifth on debut with Chip Ganassi Racing back in 2015.

Are you a sports car rookie keen to learn more about the Rolex 24? Or an F1 fanatic looking to learn the basics so you can cheer Alo꧒nso and Stroll on through the night?

We have everything you need ri🌄﷽ght here with our rookie’s guide to the Rolex 24 at Daytona.