IMSA 2022: Looking to the present?

[canaglia]

entry fee aside, I think IMSA doesn't want to tie with small manufacturers that can't garantuee a mid-long term commitment to the series, with all the consequences that this entails. Personally I would allow to race whoever manages to pay the entry fee, doesn't matter if big/medium/small manufacturers or private team/tuner.

[Pandamasque]

Nobody can guarantee mid-long term commitment. Especially not the big OEMs, whose commitment may change from "in for the foreseeable future" to "pulling out effective immediately" in the space of one corporate meeting, while team personnel are mid-flight on their way to a major motor race.

The simple truth is big OEMs' PR people are not comfortable with "some no-names" challenging their cars on track. This is the same reason why generic LMP2 cars are no longer allowed to race on par with OEM-branded LMP2 cars in IMSA. IMSA caved to OEM pressure, clearly at the detriment to racing, and effectively killed LMP2 in America.

[canaglia]

I don't agree about the last sentence, lmp2 never had big numbers in US like in europe, it's not something related to OEM IMSA policy to me.
Anyway guess IMSA can bask in reflected glory with any big OEM involved.

[chernaudi]

Now to muddy the waters further, SC365 is reporting that Audi Sport might still have a presence in IMSA with a factory team. However, it also confirms that Audi of America (as Marshall Pruett and Graham Goodwin have suggested) is the sticking point, and IMSA is trying to convince Audi of America to back a WRT-run program.


https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/l...ay-notebook-5/

[broadrun96]

Doesn't surprise me at all, they're ALL in with the e-trons and racing doesn't fit that idea in the all mighty marketing departments sadly

[joeb]

Originally Posted by canaglia

I don't agree about the last sentence, lmp2 never had big numbers in US like in europe, it's not something related to OEM IMSA policy to me.
Anyway guess IMSA can bask in reflected glory with any big OEM involved.

I think he was referring to the fact that the first year LMP2 and DPI were supposed to be on even footing the Core Autosport car frequently challenged for wins.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by canaglia

I don't agree about the last sentence, lmp2 never had big numbers in US like in europe, it's not something related to OEM IMSA policy to me.
Anyway guess IMSA can bask in reflected glory with any big OEM involved.

Originally LMP2 were part of the top class, even though usually with unfair BoP favouring DPi cars.

It's hard to dispute that having a few more cars in the top class and a prospect of big international LMP2 teams coming over for big races to try and win overall is better than having a smaller top class, with LMP2 becoming a place for 2 wealthy gentlemen to have a track day while there's a race going on*.
But this meant something called an Oreca can defeat an (Oreca that has stickers which say) Acura. OEMs don't like that kind of thing, IMSA happy to oblige.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

IMSA decided to double down and make sure the Glickenhaus can't run their car in the US in 2023.

***IMSA has updated its sporting regulations to reflect the definition of a manufacturer, which now states that the OEM must not only be recognized as an “IMSA Official Automotive Partner” but also have an “annual production of 2,500 or more vehicles for public consumption and public road use” in order to be eligible in the WeatherTech Championship.

From S365, sounds like confirming in the regs what they'd be telling people were the rules.

What if Glick did a rebrand with a big manufacturer that already pays IMSA "automotive partner fee"? That way the car still competes but is just called something else? Not sure who that would be, but just throwing out the possibility of to get around that rule! Could it be a manufacturer in GTD, or GS, or TCR?

I mean it seems like imsa is going out of its way to make sure the click cannot run in the series, so I think it would be funnier for them to go around IMSA with their own rules and just put the car in under a different name.

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by joeb

What if Glick did a rebrand with a big manufacturer that already pays IMSA "automotive partner fee"? That way the car still competes but is just called something else? Not sure who that would be, but just throwing out the possibility of to get around that rule! Could it be a manufacturer in GTD, or GS, or TCR?

I mean it seems like imsa is going out of its way to make sure the click cannot run in the series, so I think it would be funnier for them to go around IMSA with their own rules and just put the car in under a different name.

Good point that you are marking, Could it be Ford?
I guess they want to race against Cadillac and Dodge, I know Jim has a MKIV 1967 in his collection, and I think I have read that Pipo engine was based on the Ford Rally engine.

[canaglia]

yes 007 engine is basically made by 2 WRC L4 joint together, btw if am not wrong, street 003 uses the m6 4.4L turbo engine, while 004 use GM v8 and nissan gt-r v6 turbo... maybe the minimum production rule could be bypassed by making some little rebadging...

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Originally LMP2 were part of the top class, even though usually with unfair BoP favouring DPi cars.

It's hard to dispute that having a few more cars in the top class and a prospect of big international LMP2 teams coming over for big races to try and win overall is better than having a smaller top class, with LMP2 becoming a place for 2 wealthy gentlemen to have a track day while there's a race going on*.
But this meant something called an Oreca can defeat an (Oreca that has stickers which say) Acura. OEMs don't like that kind of thing, IMSA happy to oblige.

can't say bop was so unfair considering core #54 didn't win 2018 IMSA for just 3 points with their oreca 07 against dpi cars... it was from 2019 that dpi got some extra hp and lmp2 lost power, but that was irrelevant since the prototypes class was split in dpi and lmp2.
Anyway core, jdc, dragonspeed, pr1 and sod aside can't remember other recent american lmp2 teams, back in 2014-2016 there were only msr and esm with their HPD cars and HPD powered ligier, mazda speedsource with their lolas and oreca mmp that ran just few races in 2014. Even in last years of ALMS there were few lmp2 around. US never had many lmp2 in general.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

Good point that you are marking, Could it be Ford?
I guess they want to race against Cadillac and Dodge, I know Jim has a MKIV 1967 in his collection, and I think I have read that Pipo engine was based on the Ford Rally engine.

Well, one cannot just take someone else's name. Ford would have to become part of the project. And they seem to have lost interest in sports car racing.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Well, one cannot just take someone else's name. Ford would have to become part of the project. And they seem to have lost interest in sports car racing.

Yes, the new manufacturer would have to rehomologate the car under the new name. But compared to the price of building a new project from scratch, I'm sure the price could be tempting.

Plus Glick said he would be open to selling chassis to other manufacturers for projects if they wanted.

[broadrun96]

Ford has lost interest in everything but convincing us Mustang is a brand (it is not), the new Bronco does not leak (it does like it doesn't have a top on), the new GM/Ford 10 speed is great (it most assuredly is NOT) and that racing sucks (Ford family seems to have been ticked off at Indy and it's just getting worse each year for everyone)

[Tique]

Originally Posted by joeb

I think he was referring to the fact that the first year LMP2 and DPI were supposed to be on even footing the Core Autosport car frequently challenged for wins.

And JDC too. I recall that CORE Autosport was close to win the championship a couple of years ago.

[joeb]

Lexus has confirmed a GT Pro and GT Am entry next season with Vasser Sullivan. No word on drivers yet.

https://racer.com/2021/09/22/lexus-c...sser-sullivan/

[seanyb505]

Nice news for sure.

[broadrun96]

How long before IMSA announces they are changing the BOP between the classes and the Lexus is right back to GTD?

[seanyb505]

Something something, gtlm Corvette, something something bop roi

[TheMightyM]

Racer is reporting that the Detroit race likely will move from Belle Isle back to downtown Detroit beginning in 2023.

[broadrun96]

Not surprising, there's been lots of pushback in the legislature about using a park for racing lately

[Simmi]

Works Cadillac driver rumours - https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/c...fort-for-2022/

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Works Cadillac driver rumours - https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/c...fort-for-2022/

Now that would be a fantastic line-up!

[broadrun96]

They confirmed that lineup today.

https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/c...ais-in-lineup/

[NaBUru38]

Could be worse... :P