IMSA The future of factory GT teams

[NaBUru38]

Porsche is leaving the IMSA GT Le Mans class for 2021, leaving Chevrolet and BMW as the only full-time factory teams in the class.



IMSA could split GT Daytona into a Pro class (no bronze drivers allowed) and a Pro-Am class (one bronze driver required).


IMSA could copy DTM's GT Plus regulations.


IMSA needs to do something. But will it?

[W2Motorsport]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Porsche is leaving the IMSA GT Le Mans class for 2021, leaving Chevrolet and BMW as the only full-time factory teams in the class.



IMSA could split GT Daytona into a Pro class (no bronze drivers allowed) and a Pro-Am class (one bronze driver required).


IMSA could copy DTM's GT Plus regulations.


IMSA needs to do something. But will it?

I think the easiest and best solution is GTD Pro, and GTD Pro/AM. Keep the regulations the same (just GT3 cars). If an AM can punch above his class then it is what it is IMO. GTWC runs races like Spa, and Endurance rounds with cars all running in the same spec but with different classes and it works fine. No reason to think it wouldn't work in IMSA as well.

I do think GTD Pro would be an upgrade over GTLM because there are so many manufacturers that support GT3 racing. Would be great to see factory squads from Mercedes, Audi, Lambo, Ferrari, Mclaren, Aston, etc. in addition to BMW, Porsche, and Chevrolet.

[broadrun96]

Is there a demand from the factories for that support though? Just because it's an option doesn't mean teams will do it, see the US WC series. Plus you have to deal with the GM team in the corner whispering in the ear of IMSA.

[W2Motorsport]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Is there a demand from the factories for that support though? Just because it's an option doesn't mean teams will do it, see the US WC series. Plus you have to deal with the GM team in the corner whispering in the ear of IMSA.

I would be very surprised if some of the current non participating manufacturers wouldn't jump at the opportunity to compete for wins at Daytona, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans, etc. If the cars are the same as the ones that compete in SRO championships (for the most part). These factories already have several of factory drivers, most of whom don't have a whole lot to do during the time of year when Daytona and Sebring take place.

[canaglia]

agree... the best choice would be changing class structure in GTD pro and GTD am.
GTD am will be GTD as we know: mandatory pro-am line-up and michelin customers compound. GTD pro, basically factory backed teams with all pro line-up with a more performant bop and confidential michelin

[tux]

I just wish the ACO & SRO would get together, suck it up and just announce GT3 as the universal GT class.

Then you can do one of two things.

GT3+ - Open Tyres, small increase in power, small downforce increase, pro driver lineups, factory teams, no ABS/TC

GT3 AM - Spec Tyres, standard GT3 specs (See SRO series)

OR
GT3 Pro - Open Tyres, no ABS/TC

GT3 AM - Spec Tyres, Standard GT3 Specs (See SRO series)

Just imagine the potential grids you could have across all series.

[joeb]

Both of those options sound sensible to me. So I guess that means it won't happen!

[chernaudi]

I agree with no ABS, but GTE has ASR traction control, and I don't see that genie going away, since it's been legal in GT2 (now GTE) since 2004, as well as the old GT1 class, and legal in LMP1 and LMP2 since 2006.

[canaglia]

gtlm cars have tcs and braking distribution already, presence of ABS is not an issue since pro drivers could just set it to 0.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by canaglia

gtlm cars have tcs and braking distribution already, presence of ABS is not an issue since pro drivers could just set it to 0.

I think the reason this came up was a GTLM pro driver raced in gt3 for the first time recently and made a comment that they didn't like the ABS, and they'd be faster without it.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by joeb

I think the reason this came up was a GTLM pro driver raced in gt3 for the first time recently and made a comment that they didn't like the ABS, and they'd be faster without it.

Yeah, the GTD driver was complaining about it compared to his other rides. Sounded like they couldn't turn it off or change it enough to matter for him.

[NaBUru38]

Pfaff is considering joining the GT Daytona Pro class in 2022.

[WyldStallion]

https://racer.com/2021/03/15/corvett...ng-to-le-mans/

Now this is very interesting. Chevy racing looks to be building new Corvette C8R chassis in 2022 that will be GTE/GT3 convertable. Just like Aston and Ferrari are now.

Current chassis would make great units to sell for GTE Am buyers in 2022 eh?....well maybe not the #3 car. That is a Daytona 24 winner. That car's future is a display/museum car I bet.

[Mike Hedlund]

Just to clear some stuff up about brake systems in GT3 cars:

* You can't just "turn off" ABS in current generation GT3 cars and expect it to work anything like a normal race car without ABS. Neither the software nor mechanical / hydraulic brake hardware work that way.
* I interpreted the Pro's comment (it was Gavin I think?) that he'd be quicker relative to his speed to the other Pros if nobody had ABS because he doesn't normally drive with it. Which is fair and accurate as the Pro's who have a lot of GT3 time have gotten used to taking full advantage of how ABS can help you go quicker. He wouldn't actually lap the circuit quicker with ABS turned off, that's not how it works in modern GT3 cars (it does in some of the crappier street based ABS systems in older Challenge / GT4 cars though).

I always hear these same things come up in discussions about it and just wanted to clarify. :-)

-mike

[WyldStallion]

From the racer article, I even think keeping the tires spec in GTD pro is a good idea at this point, to save on BoP hassle. The best way to separate Pro and Am is:
1. Bronze driver mandate for GTD Am
2. Bronze drivers have a bigger minimum drive time (60-70 mins maybe).
3. Brnoze drivers must start race
4. GTD Am's get smaller fuel capacities

That's it folks. Done and duested. Get the cars on the entry lists...and add more all GT races in 2022 too. At least the Daytona Q-race and Laguna Seca for sure to go along wtih VIR and Lime Rock

[Speed-King]

I agree with much of what you say, but

GTD Am's get smaller fuel capacities

seems like a needless complication. If anything, they should increase the stint length for the prototypes to get them closer to where the GTs are - having to stop every 40 minutes really does not send a good message about fuel consumption.

I'm also not sold on more all-GT-races. Now that it'll be only GT3, there's nothing to differentiate these races from the myriad of other GT3 races and I really don't see where this will add any value. If anything, I'd like to see some prototype only races, if necessary by including the full IPC field.

[NaBUru38]

I wouldn't mess with fuel tanks.

[WyldStallion]

Someone on here who actually gets their questions answered on the MP/GG This week in Sportscar show should ask about the reponse in this article. It is from S365 whom is on the receiving end from Marshall Pruett critcism a lot (undeservingly). But earlier this year I remember hearing Marshall laugh at the idea of a grandfathered BoPed Corvette C8 GTLM car running in GTD Pro. Now it MAY happen.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/c...ette-for-2022/

[NaBUru38]

Corvette spends quite a bit in sponsorship, and IMSA will be wise not to reject it.

[WyldStallion]

BMW favoring the modified Corvette to be in GTD Pro next year is a pretty big deal.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/b...d-pro-program/



So with that said. What could you do to the current Corvette C8R to make it lap 4 seconds slower at Sebring? GTLM looks like did 1 min 55 while GTD with pro drivers did 1 min 59.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

BMW favoring the modified Corvette to be in GTD Pro next year is a pretty big deal.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/b...d-pro-program/



So with that said. What could you do to the current Corvette C8R to make it lap 4 seconds slower at Sebring? GTLM looks like did 1 min 55 while GTD with pro drivers did 1 min 59.

well first of all C8R uses confidential michelins, give the same gtd michelin spec tires and just with that the car should be about 1-1.5s slower on qualifying pace and potentialy even slower in average race trim since it would be C8R to adapt to the tires and not the opposite as happens with confidential compound.
Then consider that lexus has a 5.4L engine and is 100kg heavier than C8R lol, make C8R in the range of >1350kg and it would be >2s slower than now for sure.
Also a more gt3-like diffuser should slow down the car and make it a bit less aero-efficient decreasing top speed too.

[NaBUru38]

This is interesting:

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/b...d-pro-program/


[BMW Motorsport head engineer Mike Krack] confirmed the long-believed discussions between IMSA and the ACO that were aimed to bring the remaining active GTE-spec cars together for a series of races around the key WeatherTech Championship and WEC events.