Dream North American Sportscar Landscape

[seanyb505]

I've noticed completely unfounded, unlikely ideas of P1 in TUSC, PWC endurance races, the WEC P1-H teams racing select NA events making their way through the boards. Let's condense it all right here.

The rules:
1. Make up your own rules.

Why would your vision work?
Why would it be financially viable?
What's your schedule look like?
What cars are eligible?
What teams are involved?
Series Sponsor(s)?
Limiting factors?
How will you connect with current & attract new fans?
What would TV/Internet broadcasting look like?
I'm assuming everyone will come up with something they believe to be vital to the long term feasibility of sports cars in North America, what about your vision do you believe is most important?
Do you realistically think that an aspect of your dream landscape will make it to the real world that isn't there already?

Let's not turn this into criticizing of the current landscape. There's enough of that going on already, and I hear there is an album coming out as well.

I'll take some time to think out my answer.

[ptclaus98]

I'll give my standard answer: When in doubt, do as the Japanese do.


P/GTPTM/SuperGT rules, allow both the turbo 4s and NA V8's, limit to 500 bhp, open tires.

GT3: Many many turnkey options for cars here, class is growing all the time, can't race at Le Mans, but can race at Nurburgring, Bathurst, Dubai, Spa. All very prestigious races in their own right in which the GT3's play second fiddle to no one.


Daytona 24 hr
Sebring 12 hr
Laguna 6 hr
GTP sprint race at Long Beach
Road America 1000mi
Lime Rock 300 mi
GTP sprint race at Detroit
Mid Ohio 300 mi
Watkins Glen 6 hr
VIR 6 hr
Sonoma 300 mi
COTA 6 hr
Road Atlanta 1000mi
GT3 @ Thunderhill 25hr

1000mi or higher races=NAEC

NAEC plus sprint races are televised. The rest are streamed live worldwide. Pay extra to get telemetry and onboards on demand for your computer or mobile device, discounts on this service if you buy regional ticket "packets".


If only I could find a way around the MSA.

[NaBUru38]

IMSA would collaborate with Nascar and IndyCar to promote motorsport in North America.

Manufacturers would field factory teams and supply customer cars to privateers.

There would be a balance between cutting edge technology and parity.

All races would be shown around the world on major cable/satellite television channels, and streamed live.

There would be a mixture of road and street courses. The three endurance classics would attract FIA WEC entries.

There would be Proto1 (cheaper LMP1) and GT1 (=GTLM) classes for factory teams teams, and Proto2 (LMP2=ish) and GT2 (=GT3 sans electronic aids) classes for privateers.

o- Proto1: Honda, Nissan, Lexus, Mazda, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Ford, Chevrolet, Ferrari.
o- Proto2: Who cares the chassis manufacturer, it's engine suppliers who matter.
o- GT1 / GT3: Honda NSX, Nissan GT-R, Lexus LF-A, Mazda RX-9, Audi R8, BMW Z8, Mercedes SLC, Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Viper, Ferrari 468, Aston Martin Vantage, etc.

[TRuss]

I'm pretty okay with the current cars. There could probably be some streamlining between classes but, I'm not too worried about technical regs. I'm more concerned with racing and keeping the great circuits. Which I feel is really good this year. It's been the best part of the merger to me. I would definitely add Circuit Mont Tremblant though. And I know it's too small but I love Lime Rock. And even though I wouldn't consider it one of the greats, there is no parking, no infeild to speak of, nobody who lives here wants it and it's pretty small too I would add PIR because it's home now. This is my dream right?

[David Land]

If I were in control of United States Sports Car Racing there would be a streamlining to focus on creating big, must see, events in terms of location, race distance, and car participation.

I am also making this based on where we are in 2014, honestly ideally I would just turn the clock back to 2007 or 2008 with the ALMS.

CLASSIFICATIONS
LMP1: In WEC terms this class would be LMP1-L, but no hybrid systems will be allowed for full season entries. Open tires.
LMP2: Same as ACO spec, Pro-Am drivers, replaces LMPC.
GTE(LM): Same as current IMSA spec, this class is perfect so why change it? Open tires.
GTD: Same as current IMSA spec, class is on its way to perfect. GT racing in NA is pretty damn good ATM.

FOR NAEC ROUNDS:
LMP1-H: Audi wont stay for a full season... but I bet they would turn up for Sebring, Daytona, and maybe Petit. They would probably bring Toyota and Porsche too. Would boost ticket sales/prestige.

SCHEDULE:

Round 1: Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona NAEC
Round 2: Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring NAEC
Round 3: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Round 4: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Round 5: Sahlen's 6 Hours of Watkins Glen NAEC
Round 6: Road America 500
Round 7: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport)
Round 8: 9 Hours of the Brickyard (Indianapolis) NAEC
Round 9: Lime Rock Park (Split race LMP1/GTE, LMP2/GTD)
Round 10: Petit Le Mans Powered By Mazda NAEC

TELEVISION COVERAGE:

All races appear live and in full on Speedvision (hey ideal scenerio ).

Races would also be streamed LIVE and FREE to ALL on IMSA.com.



Finally, I would sit back and enjoy sports car racing again as it should be.

[Purist]

Alright, since I get to dream on this one, I'm going to have some fun.

The Schedule:
1. Daytona 24 Hours NAEC
WEC Mexico City
2. Sebring 12 Hours NAEC
3. Long Beach (2 hours, P1/GTLM)
4. Laguna Seca (4 hours)
5. Mid Ohio (3 hours)
6. Detroit (2 hours, P1/GTLM/GTD)
WEC Le Mans
7. Watkins Glen 6 Hours NAEC
8. Mosport Park (3 hours)
9. Sears Point (3 hours, P1/P2 & GTLM/GTD)
10. Portland (3 hours, P1/GTLM & P2/GTD)
11. Road America 500 NAEC
12. Mont Tremblant 6 Hours NAEC
13. Lime Rock Park (3 hours, P1/P2 & GTLM/GTD)
WEC Austin
14. VIRginia 500 NAEC
15. Road Atlanta (Petit Le Mans) NAEC

Track Capacities (Full Field):
Daytona- 75
Sebring- 65
Laguna Seca- 50
Mid Ohio- 50
Watkins Glen- 65
Mosport Park- 50
Road America- 70
Mont Tremblant- 55
VIRginia- 60
Road Atlanta- 55

For an added bonus, GTs can run the original layout at Lime Rock.

Coordination will be made with the the WEC regarding promotion and one-off entries in the Austin race, and a forthcoming Mexico City race. (Honestly, I can't see a 6-hour race at Montreal working so well. A 3-hour "sprint" might be the right way to go, but would WEC go for that?)

Le Mans Test Day on weekend between Mid Ohio and Monaco GP/Indy 500/Coke 600.

Classes:
P1- ACO LMP1 (one class, LMP1-L will be allowed more fuel and/or less weight)
P2- ACO LMP2 (Pro-Am not required, but given incentives)
GTLM- ACO GTE
GTD- FIA GT3 (Pro-Am, spec tire)

Amateur driver status evaluated based upon on-track performance.

Coverage:
First 2hr and last 90min of Daytona on FOX. First and last 90min of Sebring on FOX. First 2hr of Watkins Glen on FOX. First and last 90min of Road Atlanta on FOX. Full Long Beach, Detroit, and Road America races on FOX. The remainder are shown on SPEED. All will be shown live and in their entirety, with the possible exceptions of a few segments during Daytona, Sebring, or Road Atlanta. (Plug in the over-the-air network of your choice; FOX is just the place-holder I'm using here.)

Free live streaming of qualifying and races on IMSA.com with RLM commentary. The TV crew will take over commentary duties on the stream, if there are patches that TV does not pick up in the three longest races.

Paid streaming packages include onboards with telemetry and radio feed. The scale could work something like this.
a.) Individual Race- $5
b.) NAEC Race Pack- $25
c.) Full Season Pack- $70

Summary:
The key markets, top Sportscar events, and best road racing circuits in the US and Canada are covered. Tracks that can handle a larger grid (55 cars or more) get longer races, which appeals to the enduarance crowd, and gives more drive time/exposure to the amateurs/gentlemen racers. (Laguna Seca gets a sightly longer race due to the circuit's nature and recent track history.)

The series has the top cars, with best efforts made to give decent competition where it is needed, particularly in LMP1, between the factories and smaller operations. The most ubiquitous and diverse GT category (GT3) gets full acceptance on the grid.

[TRuss]

I like your thinking.