2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge explained

The 2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge is the fourteenth season of the IMSA Lites series and its successors and the third season as the IMSA Prototype Challenge. It began on 5 January at Daytona International Speedway, and concluded on 11 October at Road Atlanta. The IMSA Prototype Challenge series is for future IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers and veteran drivers alike. Entering its 14th season, IMSA Prototype Challenge shifts to a single-class, endurance race format in 2019 with six races held on North America’s most premier road courses. The series will continue to feature the global-spec LMP3 prototypes. The endurance format pairs two-drivers per car in a six race season.

Series news

NBC Sports Group took over from Fox Sports as the series' official broadcaster.^[1]
Michelin became the new official tire supplier of the series, following the departure of Continental Tire at the end of 2018.
The Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC) class was discontinued at the end of 2018.

Calendar

Race schedule

The 2019 schedule was released on 2 August 2018 and features six rounds.^[2]

	Circuit	Location	Date	Duration
1	Daytona International Speedway	Daytona Beach, Florida	5 January	3 hours
2	Sebring International Raceway	Sebring, Florida	14 March	1 hour 45 mins
3	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	Lexington, Ohio	5 May	1 hour 45 mins
4	Canadian Tire Motorsport Park	Bowmanville, Ontario	6 July	3 hours
5	Virginia International Raceway	Alton, Virginia	24 August	1 hour 45 mins
6	Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta	Braselton, Georgia	11 October	1 hour 45 mins

Calendar changes

The round at Barber Motorsports Park was replaced with a round at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
The rounds at Daytona International Speedway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park had their race lengths increased from 1 hour 45 minutes to 3 hours.

Entry List

All teams use the Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 engines.

Team	Car		Drivers	Rounds
ANSA Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	2	Jon Brownson	All
		Michal Chlumecky	1, 3–6
		Dakota Dickerson	1
		Tim George	2
		4	Leo Lamelas	All
		Neil Alberico	All
		13	Benjamin Waddell	3
		Jordan Perroy	3
Jr III Racing	Ligier JS P3	3	Kris Wilson	5–6
Performance Tech Motorsports^[3]	Ligier JS P3	7	Blake Mount	All
		Júlio Campos	1
		Max Hanratty	2–6
		19	Dean Baker	All
		Bradley Baker	1–2, 4
		Kyle Masson	1, 3–6
		75	Cameron Cassels	All
		James French	All
JDC Motorsports	Norma M30	9	Scott Andrews	2–6
JDC Motorsports	Norma M30	Gerry Kraut	2–6
Robillard Racing^[4]	Norma M30	10	Joe Robillard	2–6
		Kenton Koch	1
		Stevan McAleer	1, 4
		43	Stevan McAleer	2–3, 5–6
Simraceway Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	11	Maurice Smith	1–3, 5
		Nicolas Rondet	1–3, 5
		12	Kevin Woods	2–3
		Tim Moser	2–3
Alianza/Gilbert Motorsports^[5] Gilbert/Korthoff MotorSports	Norma M30	23	Anthony Simone	1–3
		Jason Bell	1
		Mike Skeen	3, 5–6
Conquest Racing^[6]	Ligier JS P3	25	Ross Chouest	1–2, 5
Conquest Racing^[6]	Ligier JS P3	Aaron Povoledo	1–2, 5
Forty 7 Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	25	Ross Chouest	6
	Ligier JS P3	Aaron Povoledo	6
	Norma M30	47	Austin McCusker	All
		Rodrigo Pflucker	All
		55	Nikko Reger	All
		Timo Reger	1–3
		Wyatt Schwab	4–6
		74	Wyatt Schwab	1–2
		Benjamin Waddell	1
		Colin Thompson	2
		Garett Grist	5–6
		Rob Hodes	5–6
K2R Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	26	Matthew Bell	2
		James McGuire Jr.	2
		51	Rob Hodes	1–4
		Garett Grist	1–4
		64	Naveen Rao	1–5
		Alex Barron	1–3
		Matthew Bell	4–6
Sean Creech Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	30	Naj Husain	6
		Wayne Boyd	6
		33	Lance Willsey	All
		Nigel Greensall	1, 4
Polestar Motor Racing Inc.	Ligier JS P3	40	Keith Grant	All
		David Grant	All
		Kenton Koch	4
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports^[7]	Ligier JS P3	52	Scott Huffaker	2–5
		Mike Guasch	2
		Chris Archinaco	3–5
MLT Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	54	Dylan Murry	2–6
		David Murry	2
		Dakota Dickerson	3–4, 6
		Skylar Robinson	5
Wulver Racing	Ligier JS P3	60	Bruce Hamilton	All
		Tonis Kasemets	All
		Scott Maxwell	1
		Jade Buford	4
ONE Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	66	Will Lin	4
		Mikel Miller	4
		Benjamin Waddell	4
		86	Dave House	All
		Paul LaHaye	All
P1 Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	70	Joel Janco	All
P1 Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	Jonathan Jorge	All
Entry Lists:^[8] ^[9] ^[10] ^[11] ^[12] ^[13]

Results

Race Results

	Circuit	Pole Position	Race Winners
1	Daytona	No. 51 K2R Motorsports	No. 4 ANSA Motorsports
1	Daytona	Garett Grist Rob Hodes	Neil Alberico Leo Lamelas
2	Sebring	No. 47 Forty 7 Motorsports	No. 43 Robillard Racing
2	Sebring	Austin McCuscker Rodrigo Pflucker	Stevan McAleer
3	Mid-Ohio	No. 23 Gilbert/Korthoff MotorSports	No. 54 MLT Motorsports
3	Mid-Ohio	Anthony Simone Mike Skeen	Dylan Murry Dakota Dickerson
4	Mosport	No. 10 Robillard Racing	No. 47 Forty 7 Motorsports
4	Mosport	Stevan McAleer Joe Robillard	Austin McCusker Rodrigo Pflucker
5	Virginia	No. 43 Robillard Racing	No. 43 Robillard Racing
5	Virginia	Stevan McAleer	Stevan McAleer
6	Road Atlanta	No. 43 Robillard Racing	No. 23 Gilbert/Korthoff MotorSports
6	Road Atlanta	Stevan McAleer	Mike Skeen
Sources:^[14] ^[15] ^[16]

Drivers' Championship

Overall

	Driver(s)	DAY	SEB	MOH	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points
1	Austin McCusker Rodrigo Pflucker	2	2	4	1	8	6	175
2	Stevan McAleer	17	1	15	10	1	4	149
3	Neil Alberico Leo Lamelas	1	10	2	5	22	5	149
4	Bruce Hamilton Tonis Kasemets	3	17	3	11	10	7	139
5	Dylan Murry		5	1	4	4	18	130
6	Cameron Cassels James French	5	6	23	6	6	10	130
7	Blake Mount	14	4	9	17	7	9	127
8	David Grant Keith Grant	19	8	8	8	5	11	127
9	Dean Baker	7	20	12	13	3	21	112
10	Max Hanratty		4	9	17	7	9	110
11	Joel Janco Jonathan Jorge	8	11	16	16	14	15	106
12	Kyle Masson	7		12	13	3	21	101
13	Garett Grist Rob Hodes	12	19	17	7	15	20	96
14	Naveen Rao	6	7	7	18	23		94
15	Lance Willsey	11	12	21	19	16	14	93
16	Dakota Dickerson	18		1	4		18	89
17	Wyatt Schwab	13	9		12	20	12	89
18	Joe Robillard		13	13	10	17	13	89
19	Scott Andrews Gerry Kraut		21	5	3	21	19	88
20	Jon Brownson	18	23	19	9	13	16	88
21	Nikko Reger	10	25	22	12	20	12	85
22	Dave House Paul LaHaye	16	16	18	15	19	17	85
23	Mike Skeen			14		2	1	84
24	Matt Bell		3		18	23	2	83
25	Scott Huffaker		22	11	2	11		81
26	Michal Chlumecky	18		19	9	13	16	80
27	Alex Barron	6	7	7				73
28	Chris Archinaco			11	2	11		72
29	Nico Rondet Maurice Smith	4	24	10	18			69
30	Ross Chouest Aaron Povoledo	9	14			12	22	67
31	Benjamin Waddell	13		6	14			60
32	Bradley Baker	7	20		13			53
33	Anthony Simone	15	18	14				46
34	Kris Wilson					9	8	45
35	Kenton Koch	17			8			37
36	Timo Reger	10	25	22				36
37	Nigel Greensall	11			19			32
38	Scott Maxwell	3						30
39	James McGuire		3					30
40	Naj Husain Wayne Boyd						3	30
41	Skylar Robinson					4		28
42	Tim Moser Kevin Woods		15	20				27
43	David Murry		5					26
44	Jordan Perroy			6				25
45	Colin Thompson		9					22
46	Jade Buford				11			20
47	Júlio Campos	14						17
48	Will Lin Mikel Miller				14			17
49	Jason Bell	15						16
50	Mike Guasch		22					9
51	Tim George		23					8
	Driver(s)	DAY	SEB	MOH	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points

Bold - Pole position
Italics - Fastest lap

Bronze Cup

	Driver(s)	DAY	SEB	MOH	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points
1	Joel Janco Jonathan Jorge	1	1	2	3	3	4	190
2	Lance Willsey	2	2	6	4	4	3	175
3	Dave House Paul LaHaye	3	5	3	2	6	6	168
4	Jon Brownson		7	4	1	2	5	145
5	Joe Robillard		3	1		5	2	123
6	Michal Chlumecky			4	1	2	5	121
7	Kris Wilson					1	1	70
8	Nigel Greensall	2			4			32
9	Tim Moser Kevin Woods		4	5				54
10	Bradley Baker Dean Baker		6					25
11	Tim George		7					24
	Driver(s)	DAY	SEB	MOH	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points

Team's Championship

	Team	DAY	SEB	MOH	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points
1	47 Forty 7 Motorsports	2	2	4	1	8	6	175
2	4 ANSA Motorsports	1	10	2	5	22	5	149
3	60 Wulver Racing	3	17	3	11	10	7	139
4	54 MLT Motorsports		5	1	6	4	18	130
5	75 Performance Tech Motorsports	5	6	23	6	6	10	130
6	7 Performance Tech Motorsports	14	4	9	17	7	9	127
7	40 Polestar Motor Racing Inc.	19	8	8	8	5	11	127
8	64 K2R Motorsports	6	7	7	18	23	2	126
9	43 Robillard Racing		1	15		1	4	114
10	23 Gilbert/Korthoff Motorsports	15	18	14		2	1	113
11	19 Performance Tech Motorsports	7	20	12	13	3	21	112
12	70 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports	8	11	16	16	14	15	106
13	10 Robillard Racing	17	13	13	10	17	13	103
14	33 Sean Creech Motorsports	11	12	21	19	16	14	93
15	9 JDC MotorSports		21	5	3	21	19	88
16	2 ANSA Motorsports	18	23	19	9	13	16	88
17	55 Forty 7 Motorsports	10	25	22	12	20	12	85
18	86 ONE Motorsports	16	16	18	15	19	17	85
19	52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports		22	11	2	11		81
20	11 Simraceway Motorsports	4	24	10		18		69
21	51 K2R Motorsports	12	19	17	7			69
22	25 Forty 7 Motorsports	9	14			12	22	67
23	74 Forty 7 Motorsports	13	9			15	20	67
24	3 Jr III Racing					9	8	45
25	26 K2R Motorsports		3					30
26	30 Sean Creech Motorsports						3	30
27	12 Simraceway Motorsports		15	20				27
28	13 ANSA Motorsports			6				25
29	66 ONE Motorsports				14			17
	Team	DAY	SEB	MOH	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points

External links

Notes and References

News: NBC reveals IMSA TV coverage plan. 2018-11-15. RACER. 2018-11-16. en-US.
Web site: 2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge Schedule Released. Dagys. John. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 3 August 2018. 9 February 2019.
Web site: Mount Joins Performance Tech for LMP3 Effort. Dagys. John. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 6 November 2018. 9 February 2019.
Web site: Robillard/Muehlner Norma LMP3 Breaks Cover. Dagys. John. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 27 December 2018. 9 February 2019.
Web site: Alianz, Gilbert Join Forces for Norma LMP3 Effort. Dagys. John. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 20 December 2018. 9 February 2019.
Web site: Conquest Confirms LMP3 Effort for Chouest, Povoledo. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 27 December 2018. 9 February 2019.
Web site: PR1: LMP3 Program to Develop Young Talent "Makes Sense". 6 March 2019. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 7 March 2019.
Web site: 2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge Daytona Entry List. IMSA. 5 January 2019. 9 February 2019.
Web site: 2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge Sebring Entry List. IMSA. 12 March 2019. 7 March 2019.
Web site: 2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge Mid-Ohio Entry List. IMSA. 2 May 2019. 4 May 2019.
Web site: 2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge Mosport Entry List. IMSA. 5 July 2019. 7 July 2019.
Web site: 2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge VIR Entry List. 22 August 2019. IMSA. 25 August 2019.
Web site: 2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge Road Atlanta Entry List. IMSA. 8 October 2019. 12 October 2019.
Web site: ANSA wins IPC Season Opener at Daytona. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 5 January 2019. 10 February 2019.
Web site: McAleer Takes Robillard Norma LMP3 to Victory at Sebring. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 14 March 2019. 23 March 2019.
News: Murry, Dickerson Take Mid-Ohio IPC Win. 5 May 2019. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 7 July 2019.