The all new Pontiac G8 performance sedan made its North American track debut pacing the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 46th running of the Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona.

The 361-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive G8 sedan does not go on sale in dealerships until this Spring, but sports car fans and race television viewers on the FOX Network and SPEED Channel will get an on-track glimpse of this performance four-door out front at the 46th Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona.

The G8 Pace Car with its 361-horsepower will have no problem jumping out front of the Rolex field and maintaining the pace around Daytona this weekend,” Craig Bierley, Pontiac director of marketing, said.The G8 with its aggressive Pontiac styling and soon to be legendary performance attributes will look and feel right at home running in front of all of the fast machinery at the World Center of Racing this weekend.”

Under the hood is the production 6.0L V-8, rated at 361-horsepower (268kW) and 385 lb.-ft. of torque (520 Nm). A six-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control backs the powerful small-block engine and complements a four-wheel independent suspension outfitted with factory 19-inch wheels and performance tires.

The G8 Pace Car carries race inspired graphics which highlight the strong Pontiac design cues, such as a dual-port grille, fog lamps, bold wheels and a confident, wheels-at-the-corners stance. The car’s design accents Pontiac’s performance lineage, with fenders that flare over the wheels, seemingly hugging the wide tires and enhancing its athletic posture.