IMSA 2021

[broadrun96]

Early stuff from S365 looks like Wednesday's announcement could be interesting and honestly not so great for me but I'm willing to give it a bit.

LMP3s will be integrated to the big show, teams have reportedly placed orders specifically to use there.

GTLM will be the 4 car show for 2021. But likely not in 2022 with a GT3 pro. Would make sense as BMW will have their new GT3 by then.

Sept 9 announcement from IMSA in a virtual meeting.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/r...ay-notebook-7/

[FLGTFAN]

Aesthetically, I'd rather see a "Cup" GT class of Lambo/Porsche/Ferrari. Make GTD a "pro" class (it already is).

[broadrun96]

Cup GT of GT3s but with only Silvers? I think you'll see the Am celebrated in GTD still with something each round and potentially the LM entry offer again in GTE.

[joeb]

Keating is looking at IMSA next year, as well as WEC, depending on how the class rules breakdown.

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...on-2021-plans/

He seems to really like the GTEAM class in WEC, and is less of a fan of the factory backed GTD teams with pro drivers......

[broadrun96]

Think he's hopeful the GT Pro category gets created and LMP3 in the main event. I could actually see him do both again with GT for all rounds and his LMP3 for the enduros if they're invited.

[joeb]

Next year will be an interesting one for IMSA.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/0...mpionship.html

LMP3 and LMP2 will be in and out of the championship for various rounds, with Daytona being a non-points round for both classes.

There are also some changes to qualifying, with GTD, lmp2 and lmp3 having a 2 driver format, one driver sets the grid and the other gets points for qualifying. Points for everything will be different next year and I'm still not sure why the change was needed.
https://sportscar365.com/imsa/impc/n...rmat-for-2021/

[broadrun96]

Forgot that was today.

And we have our first bite, team moving from GS to LMP3 for 2021. Riley moving their entire GS Merc team to LMP3 Ligier with the possibility of a second.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/r...ith-murry-cox/


Wonder if any LMP2 team can afford a Platinum in the car to assist the Bronze? Platinum will be allowed as full season codriver in 21. Maybe a holding place for a Platinum not signed but can stay in a Prototype until LMDh rules come in?

[broadrun96]

Also MP wrote ONLY new LMP3s or Evo cars allowed in the main show. Stick with the old ones and you're in the sub class of the support race. Prototype Challenge will retain LMP3s as well with a class for new and Evo cars and a class for the previous.

Interesting times at Daytona between LMP3 and the others. DPi at 1:46, LMP2 at 1:51, GTLM at 1:55, and LMP3 at 1:57. GTD were just over 2 min. Could be interesting with the GT cars.

Road Atlanta this weekend was DPi 1:09, LMP2 1:10, GTLM 1:17, GTD 1:20 and LMP3 at 1:41. I'm going to guess that 1:41 would fall by a not insignificant margin and the new cars are rumored to be about 2 seconds faster in Europe now in testing.

[TheMightyM]

The 2021 schedule is out. The most interesting thing is that Laguna Seca is back and will happen a week after Long Beach. The rest is kind of what you'd expect. (Link here to S365 story.)

Jan. 22-24 – Roar Before Rolex 24 (DPi, LMP2, LMP3, GTLM, GTD)
Jan. 28-31 — Rolex 24 at Daytona (DPi, LMP2*, LMP3*, GTLM, GTD)
March 17-20 — Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (DPi, LMP2, LMP3, GTLM, GTD)
April 16-17 — Long Beach (DPi, GTLM, GTD)
April 23-25 — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (DPi, LMP2, GTLM, GTD)
May 14-16 — Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (DPi, LMP3, GTD)
TBA — Detroit Belle Isle (DPi, LMP2, GTD**)
June 24-27 — Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen (DPi, LMP2, LMP3, GTLM, GTD)
July 2-4 — Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (DPi, LMP3, GTLM, GTD**)
July 16-17 — Lime Rock Park (GTLM, GTD)
Aug. 6-8 — Road America (DPi, LMP2, LMP3, GTLM, GTD)
Aug. 20-22 — Virginia International Raceway (GTLM, GTD)
Oct. 6-9 — Motul Petit Le Mans (DPi, LMP2, LMP3, GTLM, GTD)

*LMP2, LMP3 races not counting for season-long points
**IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup only

[TheMightyM]

Per S365, IMSA announces new point structure, qualifying format for 2021. The highlights of the qualifying changes:

Qualifying sessions for WeatherTech Championship LMP2, LMP3 and GTD classes will be broken into two segments and split between two drivers. The first segment will see Am drivers on new sets of tires in each car to set its starting position.

At the end of the Am segment, there will be a mandatory driver and tire change.

The driver in the second segment will qualify for championship points, also using new tires. The tires used in both qualifying segments must be used in the race, and all qualifying tires are considered part of each team’s event tire allocation.

[canaglia]

honestly IMSA points system has always been a joke since in low number class like dpi at example, a car has just to run one lap to automatically score 23 points for 8th place at worst... but now they are getting everything worse....
guess IMSA is too proud or stupid to use FIA points system...

[chernaudi]

IMSA's old ALMS points system is that you had to run a certain number of laps or time to get both drivers and team/manufacturers points. Then around 2003 they adopted the ACO 70% classification distance. Since the merger, it's been basically the old (pre-2003) system aside from the fact that you just have to take the green to get entry points and have to complete a certain number of laps or time to get drivers points.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by canaglia

honestly IMSA points system has always been a joke since in low number class like dpi at example, a car has just to run one lap to automatically score 23 points for 8th place at worst... but now they are getting everything worse....
guess IMSA is too proud or stupid to use FIA points system...

I don't get it either, do they just think that a larger number of points sounds better?

[seanyb505]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Forgot that was today. ...
Wonder if any LMP2 team can afford a Platinum in the car to assist the Bronze? Platinum will be allowed as full season codriver in 21. Maybe a holding place for a Platinum not signed but can stay in a Prototype until LMDh rules come in?

That's a great point. I also wonder if this is to allow some drives for "sneaky platinums" (those exist, right?).

Originally Posted by joeb

I don't get it either, do they just think that a larger number of points sounds better?

I'm not positive of the driver for the change, but bumping up the race points by ten allows the normal pts to be given for qualifying. Otherwise we'd have 35 for the win, and 3.5 for the pole. Would have rather seen a 3-2-1 point allocation for qualifying, but, my application for rule writing hasn't even been reviewed by HR.

I can tangibly tell the different between 63 and 58 points. 745 and 680 takes a split second and a smidgen more mental math effort.

[broadrun96]

Well if they all show up we'll have a podium at least for Daytona, Muehlner is planning for 2 Duqueine LMP3s for Daytona at least. They had run the 2019 IPC LMP3s before returning to Europe this year.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/o...lmp3-addition/


The only thing I can come up with for Platinum in LMP2s is the guys just out of a factory ride or from Indy/Nascar to get in as well. There had to have been some asking about it for them to decide that but who asked. Other thought was teams trying to sell themselves as LMDh programs with a pro in the car to get the cheaper path to LM.

The points makes zero sense, even Nascar redid theirs to cut the number a couple years back I thought. Enough with quali points, make it a couple or something for pole if you must but 10% of a win? No way.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

IMSA's old ALMS points system is that you had to run a certain number of laps or time to get both drivers and team/manufacturers points. Then around 2003 they adopted the ACO 70% classification distance. Since the merger, it's been basically the old (pre-2003) system aside from the fact that you just have to take the green to get entry points and have to complete a certain number of laps or time to get drivers points.

I'm not sure how 70% rule actually works... if memory helps me that rule allows cars to score points also if the race is definitely interrupted before the scheduled end (red flags, japanese typhoons etc...) but more than 70% of the lenght has been completed. Otherwise cars get half points as happened some years ago during WEC fuji race.
I'm not sure since 7 years have passed from ALMS final season, but I think to remember that in ALMS points were awarded only to cars that were able to finish the race, but I'm not 100% sure about this.

IMSA basically is using the old grand-am nascar-like points system, that was ok those year where in dp class were used to be also 15-20 cars on grid, but keep on using that points system in a 8 cars class like 2020 dpi is a joke!
a car could just run a single lap and then retire on next one and automatically gets 65% of points awarded by the winner...
not to consider that points awarded are the same regardless if a race is 2 or 24hours long.

[broadrun96]

Not 2021 but future regs.

https://racer.com/2020/09/18/imsa-re...l-regulations/

Seems fairly reasonable and sealed programmed hybrid units with batteries from Williams Advanced Engineering and Bosch motor will cut some of the whinging about needing another tech for each team. Hopefully IMSA brings a couple Williams guys for support.

Costs are not crazy but figure 2 million a car for chassis, spares, hybrid and engine program isn't cheap. Rolling chassis is estimated at just under a million right now so increase but not exponential.

The bodywork has been opened more as well so Mazda can make a better car and everyone else will use the base with a bit of sanding.

I'm hopeful they can sell it better to the bean counters but not sure it will add to the field.

[joeb]

Next regs expected to be delayed until 2023:

https://tentenths.com/forum/showthre...=155466&page=2

Delays in parts due to Covid is sited as the reason. Its a bummer but understandable.

[broadrun96]

IMSA released a couple sketches.

Facebook release

Rendering on Racer and S365

[seanyb505]

That porsche looks fun. Though I imagine the lights would be more like taycan/panamera blobbly trapezoidal units.

[broadrun96]

That was specifically mentioned that they could integrate rear design elements and tail light design. Who will? But it's there

[NaBUru38]

I suggest to continue the DPi / LMDh discussion here.

[WyldStallion]

I do not think adding LMP3 to the Weathertech series is a good idea. Noticed on the sportscar365 podcast both John and Ryan are against it as well. Their concerns about it echos my feelings so just listen to that.

[Lasse]

Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing to run Acura DPI in 2021.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/0...nk-racing.html

[WyldStallion]

Originally Posted by Lasse

Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing to run Acura DPI in 2021.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/0...nk-racing.html

Ricky T to WTR and Cameron to Shank seems likely. The competition for the other driver slots will be very very intense. Can you imagine what a pro driver looking for work will do to get that ride. How desperate will one be.