IMSA USCC in 2016 and 2017

[Rcz]

It's probably about the engine bay themselves.

IMSA would probably want a big enough engine bay so they can fit as many engine combination like a Audi V10 or a Chevy V8. So the sizes of the chassis engine bay might have to be universally the same.

I don't think it's about aerokits because they'll be removed for LeMans anyway. And the biggest difference between the P2 cars and the DPIs is going to be the engine.

The WEC will probably want some sort of limitations so they can easily BoP the P2 and the DPIs more easily.

[chernaudi]

I already know that some people probably think that DPi (Daytona Prototype international, and international in that DPs will use ACO spec chassis from next year onwards) ought to be called DPM (DP Modernized).

However, when I hear the terms DP and DPM, I don't think of IMSA or Grand Am prototype cars, but rather Russian light machine guns used in the pre- and World War II period and are still found around the world:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degtyaryov_machine_gun

I think that IMSA and ISC are doing this because the ACO call their prototypes LMP cars after Le Mans, and IMSA/ISC feel they should also name their prototypes after a race track.

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

I already know that some people probably think that DPi (Daytona Prototype international, and international in that DPs will use ACO spec chassis from next year onwards) ought to be called DPM (DP Modernized).

However, when I hear the terms DP and DPM, I don't think of IMSA or Grand Am prototype cars, but rather Russian light machine guns used in the pre- and World War II period and are still found around the world:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degtyaryov_machine_gun

I think that IMSA and ISC are doing this because the ACO call their prototypes LMP cars after Le Mans, and IMSA/ISC feel they should also name their prototypes after a race track.

They're just IMSA P2s to me.

[Danske]

Originally Posted by BullMan

They're just IMSA P2s to me.

Which are also racing in the same class at the same time as WEC P2s.

[Lizardfolk]

Can someone confirm or deny something I thought heard by Hindy on the 24hr broadcast?

Did Bentley confirm that they are not coming on board for 2017 P2s after all? I think i could have sworn Hindy say something like that on the broadcast but I was only semi-paying attention and he didnt revisit that point.

Did anyone else hear that Bentley is, after all, not doing 2017 IMSA P2s?

[Rcz]

I thought he said something like it wasn't confirmed.

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Lizardfolk

Can someone confirm or deny something I thought heard by Hindy on the 24hr broadcast?

Did Bentley confirm that they are not coming on board for 2017 P2s after all? I think i could have sworn Hindy say something like that on the broadcast but I was only semi-paying attention and he didnt revisit that point.

Did anyone else hear that Bentley is, after all, not doing 2017 IMSA P2s?

It was also said that the only way such a program could go forward was if the resulting cars were salable and profitable, so it was unlikely much would happen.

[MaskedRacer]

What will be the entry changes from Daytona to Sebring you think? I'm not sure about GTD. But I'll guess the pro categories:

-Subtract: 72 Ferrari 488
-Subtract: 01 Ford DP
-Subtract: 02 Ford DP
-Subtract: 37 BR01 LMP2
-Add: Dragonspeed Oreca LMP2

[Dyson Mazda]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

What will be the entry changes from Daytona to Sebring you think? I'm not sure about GTD. But I'll guess the pro categories:

-Subtract: 72 Ferrari 488
-Subtract: 01 Ford DP
-Subtract: 02 Ford DP
-Subtract: 37 BR01 LMP2
-Add: Dragonspeed Oreca LMP2

I don't think the Frikadelli Racing Porsche (GTD) will be there, the 2nd Konrad entry (GTD) is probably a maybe, Riley/Viper Exchange will probably be down to 1 Viper (GTD), and I have no idea what Highway to Help's plans are. SMP was playing it by round so I think their BR01 might be like a 40/60 for Sebring.

[Rcz]

Rebellion is thinking about racing in IMSA in the future.

http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/ite...imsa-expansion

Imagine if IMSA took them away from P1(and took Toyota with them)

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Rcz

Rebellion is thinking about racing in IMSA in the future.

http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/ite...imsa-expansion

Imagine if IMSA took them away from P1(and took Toyota with them)

ESM winning as a partial season entry may spur further interest in the class from Rebellion and others. 2017 will be interesting though because of the new cars attrition may be key and the reliability of the new cars could be in question.

[BullMan]

Highway to Help says they're running the 4 big races this year. They're going to be in the way so much at Sebring.

[Ephaeton]

Mathias Lauda also mentioned during the broadcast that they will be tackling sebring as well.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

I don't think the Frikadelli Racing Porsche (GTD) will be there, the 2nd Konrad entry (GTD) is probably a maybe, Riley/Viper Exchange will probably be down to 1 Viper (GTD), and I have no idea what Highway to Help's plans are. SMP was playing it by round so I think their BR01 might be like a 40/60 for Sebring.

SMP
- P2 is a big maybe, Rolex pole was a huge plus, race performance not so much
- GTLM entry is another big maybe, according to DSC there were no plans for SMP to run the car anywhere else but Daytona this year, perhaps Ferrari will order it to be run by Scuderia Corse as a warm up for their LM24 Pro entry (if that is granted on Friday)???

Konrad
2nd GTD entry looks likely but nothing confirmed right now, car's performance at Rolex certainly didn't hurt prospects!

Highway to something
Team have already announced a full NAEC campaign, therefor they should be back

Riley/Viper
2nd Viper is a good possibility - 3rd place for #93 at Rolex is a good start for a NAEC campaign and/or maybe Stan Knox and his Lone Star Racing will join the party?

Overall I expect to see 2-3 cars less than Daytona which leaves the car count around 50. Not too bad imo.

[godlameroso]

Sebring is a much more challenging track than Daytona, and also isn't as dependent on outright grunt(and more prone to FCY's). I expect a closer fight everywhere than in Daytona.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by godlameroso

Sebring is a much more challenging track than Daytona, and also isn't as dependent on outright grunt(and more prone to FCY's). I expect a closer fight everywhere than in Daytona.

Agreed, especially on the cautions - it could be 2014 all over again (!) and the current positive vibe might be over before it ever took off...

And I'm sure Corvette Racing is looking for that second bit of your statement!

[Dyson Mazda]

Originally Posted by godlameroso

Sebring is a much more challenging track than Daytona, and also isn't as dependent on outright grunt(and more prone to FCY's). I expect a closer fight everywhere than in Daytona.

The one thing that I will say to this point, is that the modern ACO cars were not initially designed for the banking at Daytona so it is a bit of a misfit. That is why you high attrition rates across all classes in 2014 and 2015.

[Coach Ep]

Any word if the Kermit Audi (FLM & Krohn) will be back for Sebring?

[Rcz]

Nissan is considering entering the DPi class

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/12587...ogram-for-2017

[Danathar]

Originally Posted by Rcz

Nissan is considering entering the DPi class

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/12587...ogram-for-2017

Yup, and I think that's one of the reasons why the ACO is having issues with the DPi/P2 formula. They didn't believe that manufacturers might bolt for IMSA's DPi formula over LMP1 in the WEC.

They were dumb to think not.

The opportunity to win Daytona + Sebring and have exposure to the U.S. market at a tenth of the cost of building an LMP1 and racing in the WEC is really enticing I bet.

[TF110]

It's a prototype gt3 type structure with less choices of chassis. Looks like a big boom of interest, but I don't see it happening. There's going to be a catch. Too many cooks in the kitchen want their say and I don't think IMSA/NASCAR know who to listen to. They should ignore the ACO and go about their own way. I can see a GTP/GROUP C type clash if this falls through.

[Danathar]

Originally Posted by TF110

It's a prototype gt3 type structure with less choices of chassis. Looks like a big boom of interest, but I don't see it happening. There's going to be a catch. Too many cooks in the kitchen want their say and I don't think IMSA/NASCAR know who to listen to. They should ignore the ACO and go about their own way. I can see a GTP/GROUP C type clash if this falls through.

Agree, and we all know how THAT turned out

I think IMSA knows it needs to be related in some way to international specs to attract teams from overseas, enough so that an overseas team can be BoP'd with IMSA specific car types. The way fan's look down on Daytona Prototypes demonstrate that they can't go back that route of being too spec.

Using the p2 as a base and then enhancing it seems to be the way to go, although that is walking a mighty thin tightrope.

I'd love to see LMP1 in IMSA again, but the costs are just too darn high.

[Danathar]

Originally Posted by TF110

It's a prototype gt3 type structure with less choices of chassis. Looks like a big boom of interest, but I don't see it happening. There's going to be a catch. Too many cooks in the kitchen want their say and I don't think IMSA/NASCAR know who to listen to. They should ignore the ACO and go about their own way. I can see a GTP/GROUP C type clash if this falls through.

There is already talk of letting Nissan take the same route as Mazda by letting them use the engine from the failed LMP1 car.

If they let two manufacturers do it, you can bet GM will want to develop a bespoke engine as well.

[TF110]

And then everyone wants their own bespoke racing engine. Then the manufacturer's get upset because their engine has to be pegged back to play nice with a production based one. Then there's the chassis issue which will probably be a talking point about bop also. It looks like a good idea, but then it'll be dumbed down or we'll either end up with a Audi like spending spree or a big disagreement between manufacturers and other interested parties (aco) that ruins the class. I hope not, but that's how I envision this.

[FormulaFox]

Maybe IMSA should just replace P with "Super GT3" - a name I've given to an idea that's been popping up on occasion ever since there was rumor that Super GT was going to switch to a "souped up" GT3 class for GT500 out of frustration over DTM's hesitance to switch to 2-liter turbo engines(that rumor has been debunked by both sides, though).

People really seem to like the idea - take any GT3 car, and swap the suspension to widen the track and fit bodywork not unlike the aero treatments of the old GT500 cars and open up the engines(it's believed most GT3 engines are reliably capable of as much as 200 horsepower over what they get restricted down to in the various championships) and you have GT-derived cars that can take the position of prototypes with ease.

Series loses the Le Mans tickets, but with how much disagreement there is over the P class it might actually be easier to do this. It doesn't look like the IMSA/ACO collaboration has much of a future regardless at this point.