IMSA Prototype Challenge explained

IMSA Prototype Challenge
Category:Sports car racing
Country/Region:United States, Canada
Inaugural:2006
Folded:2022
Classes:LMP3
Champion Driver: Tõnis Kasemets
Champion Team:Wulver Racing
Website:IMSA Official Site

IMSA Prototype Challenge (formerly IMSA Prototype Lites) was a racing series featuring two classes of single-seat prototype cars racing simultaneously. The series was sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). Most races were held in support of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.[1] The series raced LMP3 class prototype sportscars. The cars have grown in size and speed since its 2006 introduction, starting from four-cylinder and motorcycle powered race cars to large V8 powered cars. Each race was 1 hour and 45 minutes long apart from the season opening 3 hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

The series' final season was in 2022. For 2023, the series was replaced with the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge.[2]

Car Specifications

LMP3 Class

Minimum weight 930kg (2,050lb)
Maximum length 4650mm
Maximum width 1900mm
Engine Naturally aspirated Nissan V8 5.6L
Fuel tank size 85litres
Maximum wheel diameter 28inches
Maximum wheel width 13inches [3]

Former classes

MPC Class

L2 Class[5]

L2 Class 2006-2012 only[6]

L3 Class 2006-2009 only, class discontinued for 2010[7]

Champions

SeasonClassDriver ChampionMasters ChampionTeam Champion
2006L1 Adam Pecorari[8] n/a Cape Motorsports
L2 Dan McBreenn/aPVM Racing
L3 Robert Mummn/an/a
2007L1 Gerardo Bonillan/a B-K Motorsports
L2 Robby Cardn/aPVM Racing
L3 Richard Spicern/a Spicer-Hagerman
2008L1 Jonathan Goring Jon Brownson Comprent Motorsports
L2 Tom Drewer Eric Vassian WEST Racing
L3 Chris Funk Chris FunkKC Racing
2009L1 Joel Feinberg Gary Gibson Eurosport Racing
L2 John Weisberg Alain Nadal Berg Racing
L3 Chris Doyle Chris FunkSurface Exploration
2010L1 Charlie Shears Charlie Shears Core Autosport
L2 John Weisberg Jim Garrett Berg Racing
2011L1 Ricardo Vera Daniel Mancini Eurosport
L2 Robert Sabato Alan Wilzig 6th Gear Racing
2012L1 Tristan Nunez Jon Brownson Performance Tech
L2 Scott Tucker Alan Wilzig Level 5 Motorsports
2013L1 Sean Rayhall Jon Brownson Performance Tech
L2 Brian Alder Jerome Mee Ansa Motorsports
2014L1 Mikhail Goikhberg John Falb JDC Motorsports
L2 Brian Alder Jerome Mee BAR1 Motorsports
2015L1 Kenton Koch John Falb JDC Motorsports
L2 Brian Aldern/a BAR1 Motorsports
2016L1 Clark Toppe Joel Janco JDC Motorsports
2017LMP3 Colin Thompson Naj Husain P1 Motorsports
MPC Kyle Masson Stuart Rettie Performance Tech Motorsports
2018LMP3 Kris Wright Cameron Cassels #30 Extreme Speed Motorsports
MPC Jon Brownsonn/a #34 Eurosport Racing
2019LMP3 Austin McCusker
Rodrigo Pflucker
Joel Janco #47 Forty 7 Racing
2020LMP3 Matthew Bell
Naveen Rao
Steven Thomas #64 K2R Motorsports LLC
2021LMP3-1 Dakota Dickerson
Josh Sarchet
David Grant
Keith Grant
MLT Motorsports
LMP3-2 Danny Kok
George Staikos
Danny Kok
George Staikos
Conquest Racing
2022'LMP3 Tõnis Kasemetsn/a Wulver Racing
[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IMSA, Cooper Tire align for partnership in Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship . Press release . International Motor Sports Association . 30 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111017235846/http://www.imsaracing.net/2009/news/lites/IMSA%20Lites%20Cooper%20Tires%20Announcement.pdf . 17 October 2011 . dead .
  2. Web site: IMSA to Replace Prototype Challenge with New Sprint Racing Class in 2023. July 1, 2022. January 21, 2023. autoweek.com. Hearst Autos, Inc.
  3. Web site: The different classes . Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) . 2016-05-05 .
  4. http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/files/uploads/TECHNICAL%20REGULATIONS%202014%20CTPL%20030414.pdf 2014 Technical Regulations
  5. http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/files/uploads/TECHNICAL%20REGULATIONS%202014%20CTPL%20030414.pdf 2014 Technical Regulations
  6. Web site: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship Technical Regulations Lites 2 / L-2 2011 . International Motor Sports Association . 30 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111015211308/http://imsaracing.net/2011/lites/rules/2011%20PROTOTYPE%20Lites%202%20Technical%20Regulations.pdf . 15 October 2011 . January 20, 2011 . dead .
  7. Web site: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship Technical Regulations Lites 3 / L-3 2010 . International Motor Sports Association . 30 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111015215848/http://imsaracing.net/2010/lites/bulletins/Prototype%20Lites%203%20Tech%20Regs%202010%20Final.pdf . 15 October 2011 . February 1, 2010 . dead .
  8. Web site: Åberg . Andres . The racing career of Adam Pecorari — in detail . Driver Database . 30 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121019121224/http://www.driverdb.com/drivers/948/career/ . 19 October 2012 . dead .
  9. Web site: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Results and Points. International Motor Sports Association. 24 June 2011.