IMSA IMSA 2024

[Coach Ep]

Quite a few very recent IMSA cars @ the 'Historic' Daytona 24H this past weekend (3 DPi's and 2 LMP2s being the frontrunners). I'd like to see a 'Historic' series on the support role for the IMSA weekends, I'm sure it'll get the crowds cheering. It will also provide a great platform for the new owners to show their toys in front of big crowds.

[JT240Z]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Quite a few very recent IMSA cars @ the 'Historic' Daytona 24H this past weekend (3 DPi's and 2 LMP2s being the frontrunners). I'd like to see a 'Historic' series on the support role for the IMSA weekends, I'm sure it'll get the crowds cheering. It will also provide a great platform for the new owners to show their toys in front of big crowds.

Agreed, but the problem IMSA faces now is having enough track time and paddock space for the featured races and cars. It's really a good problem to have. They used to have to add some strange filler races just to keep the crowds amused. I remember a year at the Petit Le Mans that had a preview race of new generation turbo VW Beatles where Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor was a guest driver. Never saw a race where there were more yellow flag laps then green like that one. Another year they had racing semi-tractors. Got to love it.

[Coach Ep]

Yeah, the new Beetle crashfest was a hoot!

[Nick Woodbury]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Quite a few very recent IMSA cars @ the 'Historic' Daytona 24H this past weekend (3 DPi's and 2 LMP2s being the frontrunners). I'd like to see a 'Historic' series on the support role for the IMSA weekends, I'm sure it'll get the crowds cheering. It will also provide a great platform for the new owners to show their toys in front of big crowds.

That would sound awesome, much like the Supercars championship with their V8 Touring Car Legends. But take a look at the attached photo.



That's 7 support categories in company with the main championship now that the mustang challenge is a thing. I don't think there's been a single IMSA weekend since the merger that has accommodated all of it's support categories at once on a give race weekend, could be wrong though. Unfortunately, I don't see them having any more bandwidth to accommodate historics without axing the popular ones that exist now?

Naturally, I'd want to get rid of the VP challenge right away, but all those gentlemen drivers and dentists could take their ball (and paychecks) and go home if more racing weekends are taken away from them. Something IMSA wouldn't want to lose perhaps.

[Coach Ep]

It'll be a squeeze, agreed. Short practice and race sessions, shouldn't take up more than an hour or so in total from the event. Some of those VP folks might actually participate in such a 'vintage' series.

Not gonna happen though. Bit of a shame imo.

[broadrun96]

it's not even track time, it's the physical space for the equipment. Road Atlanta is packed in tight already and everyone is kicked out of the support, sorry outside, paddock by midnight Friday for parking. Indy could work for that with a decant amount of space but most of the other tracks are also tight on paddock space.

And IMSA wants them to go their other product, HSR. They already run at Daytona, Sebring x2, Road Atlanta x2, Road America, Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca.

[broadrun96]

Well Braun has a ride, Crowdstrike car with the boss again, George Kurtz. Not a bad ride in an Algarve Pro prepared car. ok not a factory GTP ride but no slouches either. And makes sense given their AsLMS ride and guessing he will appear in the car at LM as well with Kurtz's Trueman win.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/b...strike-by-apr/

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by tomcug

Four drivers mandatory in pro classes at Daytona, beginning in 2025.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/i...s-for-enduros/

Could pro teams not find enough pro drivers for the enduros?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well Braun has a ride, Crowdstrike car with the boss again, George Kurtz. Not a bad ride in an Algarve Pro prepared car. ok not a factory GTP ride but no slouches either. And makes sense given their AsLMS ride and guessing he will appear in the car at LM as well with Kurtz's Trueman win.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/b...strike-by-apr/

That is good for the series and team. They have proven themselves at Le Mans as a good duo in P2, might as well try for an IMSA title too.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Could pro teams not find enough pro drivers for the enduros?

Some stuck with the usual 3 they had already and didn't feel they needed another. Not sure, and they haven't released a reason, why this was needed for pro teams. Especially as Cup drivers increasingly have conflicts in their deals with sponsors or affiliates. But guess they know what they're doing??

[NaBUru38]

Maybe the play is to draw FIA WEC and GTWCE drivers?

[BRANDON102287]

About the HSR comments and then supporting IMSA it seems like the door has been reopened for that. The Lamborghini Super Trofeo isnt back at VIR this year and evidently HSR will have a few groups there that weekend.

https://www.hsrrace.com/2023/08/05/2...-announcement/

[broadrun96]

Group 7 will be pre-IMSA/ALMS/GARRA cars. Lola and Tojs with a mix of others of the 60-80s. Group 5 is usually hammer and tong racing and guys are quick, Group 3 is huge and has had 50 plus cars often at The Mitty.

Group 6 is the IMSA/ALMS/GARRA cars. Last season had Caddy DPi, Nissan DPi, Audi R8; has in the past had multiple DP of multiple generations with Whelen Vette DP often running. You also get multiple generations of GT cars from 90s-present in Group 9 that races with them in a couple races.

[broadrun96]

Canadians getting MORE. Canadian, Pfaff signed Hinch to enduros, Daytona, Sebring and Petit

https://racer.com/2023/11/09/hinchcl...durance-races/

[BRANDON102287]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Group 7 will be pre-IMSA/ALMS/GARRA cars. Lola and Tojs with a mix of others of the 60-80s. Group 5 is usually hammer and tong racing and guys are quick, Group 3 is huge and has had 50 plus cars often at The Mitty.

Group 6 is the IMSA/ALMS/GARRA cars. Last season had Caddy DPi, Nissan DPi, Audi R8; has in the past had multiple DP of multiple generations with Whelen Vette DP often running. You also get multiple generations of GT cars from 90s-present in Group 9 that races with them in a couple races.

Sounds great I have been wanting to make it to the mitty and even the historic 24 but finances havent allowed it. im two hours frow VIR so go every opportunity did the three weekends in a row between runoffs, speed tour and then Petit. Daytonta and Sebring doesnt help my budget but know SVRA groups still learning HSR

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Canadians getting MORE. Canadian, Pfaff signed Hinch to enduros, Daytona, Sebring and Petit

https://racer.com/2023/11/09/hinchcl...durance-races/

Nice!

[broadrun96]

WTR w/AA running a Lamborghini GTD, last years Super Trofeo Pro winners Marcelli and Formal in the #45

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/w...ini-gtd-entry/

[broadrun96]

Barnicoat and Hawksworth returning to GTD Pro Lexus

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/h...sser-sullivan/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

WTR w/AA running a Lamborghini GTD, last years Super Trofeo Pro winners Marcelli and Formal in the #45

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/w...ini-gtd-entry/

Just think it's a little odd that you win the pro class of a different series and you make it into the AM class of the next series? Is the Lambo rules that you only need one pro to be in the pro class?

[veeten]

Great to see that drivers are getting signed up, and some pretty full cards for the season. Definitely some frequent flier miles will be racked up.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by joeb

Just think it's a little odd that you win the pro class of a different series and you make it into the AM class of the next series? Is the Lambo rules that you only need one pro to be in the pro class?

Yeah, their Silver is very much "sneaky" Silver. Think he's 19 and moving up the ladder. And yeah, the pro vs am in Super Trofeo is a bit speed vs actual professional status. Some of the Am cars are SLOWWW but they're paying and having fun, and generally don't wreck too much either.

[broadrun96]

Couple dudes joining Corvette for 2024 across all series

Daniel Juncadella, Earl Bamber, Charlie Eastwood and Nico Varrone added to factory lineup, Juncadella joins Garcia and Sims while Bamber joins Milner and Catsburg in IMSA enduros. Juncadella will join TF Sport as well for WEC along with Eastwood in the second car.

https://racer.com/2023/11/13/juncade...a-competition/

Andretti to Porsche for 2024, Scott Hargrove to join Andretti and Chaves in the car

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/a...-gtd-campaign/

Jarvis and Marvin Kirchhofer join Pfaff for 2024 with Hinch

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/j...td-pro-lineup/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Couple dudes joining Corvette for 2024 across all series

Daniel Juncadella, Earl Bamber, Charlie Eastwood and Nico Varrone added to factory lineup, Juncadella joins Garcia and Sims while Bamber joins Milner and Catsburg in IMSA enduros. Juncadella will join TF Sport as well for WEC along with Eastwood in the second car.

https://racer.com/2023/11/13/juncade...a-competition/

Andretti to Porsche for 2024, Scott Hargrove to join Andretti and Chaves in the car

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/a...-gtd-campaign/

Jarvis and Marvin Kirchhofer join Pfaff for 2024 with Hinch

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/j...td-pro-lineup/

Wow a ton of drivers announcements today! all good stuff, and this is in addition to Iron Lynx announcing 3 Lambos for Daytona with one in the pro class

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...-rolex-24.html

[broadrun96]

And more keep coming

Mario Farnbacher joins Heart of Racing GTD Pro car for enduros

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/f...urance-rounds/

AO bring Priaulx and Laurin Heinrich in the GTD Pro car and PJ Hyett and Paul-Loop Chatin in the LMP2 car

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/a...d-pro-lineups/

Korthoff Preston remains with Skeen and Grenier in the MB GTD car

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/u...on-gtd-effort/

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Jarvis and Marvin Kirchhofer join Pfaff for 2024 with Hinch

Also Alexander Rossi will be their fourth driver at Daytona.