IMSA: 2020

[Juntos]

Originally Posted by joeb

Down to 2 Mazda, 2 Acura, 0 Nissan, 4 Caddy for 2020?

We can expect 7-DPi full-time entry only.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Juntos

We can expect 7-DPi full-time entry only.

Will jdc not be back with 2 cars? Plus the wtr and action express?

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by joeb

Will jdc not be back with 2 cars? Plus the wtr and action express?

They've said they will be back at JDC and WTR is working on the program and hiring new drivers

[TF110]

DPi isn't looking as subscribed as people were making it out to be. This is on top of the fact that we're losing 1 unique car/chassis. Then no talk of customer cars from anyone else but Caddy and even they're cutting back. Maybe we'll get another Mazda, but it doesn't seem like a full-time thing. Hopefully dpi 2.0 or whatever they name it interests some new parties. I think they should talk more with the ACO and have them come together more than 90% in the rules so they can run freely in either series.

[MaskedRacer]

Originally Posted by TF110

DPi isn't looking as subscribed as people were making it out to be. This is on top of the fact that we're losing 1 unique car/chassis. Then no talk of customer cars from anyone else but Caddy and even they're cutting back. Maybe we'll get another Mazda, but it doesn't seem like a full-time thing. Hopefully dpi 2.0 or whatever they name it interests some new parties. I think they should talk more with the ACO and have them come together more than 90% in the rules so they can run freely in either series.

I think Juncos Caddy will be around for endurance races.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by Juntos

We can expect 7-DPi full-time entry only.

2 mazdas
2 acuras
1 AXR

1 WTR
2 JDC



jdc is however a paying drivers business team, their program is about how much and if will be funded by drivers... that basically is the same reason why AXR will field only #31 since barbosa and fittipaldi will retire.
About WTR doubt jordan taylor ever received a salary to drive for his father team, likely he got a % from team revenue... now it's just about to know if wayne taylor will have a 2 hired pro drivers or not for the future.
Acura penske and mazda joest are basically backed work teams, but I don't expect to see mazdas or acuras in private hands.


A huge step behind for the class at all, making the dp-lmp2 class split even sillier

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by canaglia

2 mazdas
2 acuras
1 AXR (with sponsor development second possible)

1 WTR
2 JDC



jdc is however a paying drivers business team, their program is about how much and if will be funded by drivers... that basically is the same reason why AXR will field only #31 since barbosa and fittipaldi will retire. AXR is losing both team owner funding, Mr France is cutting back AND Mustang Sampling is cutting back. It has ZERO to do with their retiring from racing. MP reported Mustang Sampling and Barbosa may be back with a smaller program at another team.
About WTR doubt jordan taylor ever received a salary to drive for his father team, likely he got a % from team revenue... now it's just about to know if wayne taylor will have a 2 hired pro drivers or not for the future.
Acura penske and mazda joest are basically backed work teams, but I don't expect to see mazdas or acuras in private hands. Likely you will see one Mazda for an enduro program for the privateer, unless they can only fund a TCR program to support the new Mazda 3 TCR


A huge step behind for the class at all, making the dp-lmp2 class split even sillier

The class at its most subscribed is not significantly larger than it is now, the losses have been balanced by the newer teams joining. It was never going to be a 30 car field, 5-10 cars was likely the maximum consistent number. I love how everyone wants sportscars to be faster, quicker, more expensive and all out but then don't comprehend there's NO money out there for it. ESM-funded by rich guy and company he ran
Core-funded by rich guy and company he owned
JDC-funded by rich guys and companies they own
Juncos-funded by rich guy and assuming pay drivers without any exterior sponsor markings
WTR-funded by contacts rich guy has with minimal sponsorship
Penske Acura and Multimatic Mazda-fully funded by factory with minimal/zero non-factory markings

Leaves us AXR with Whelen and Mustang Sampling. Sonny Whelen has sponsored various forms of racing for YEARS and has connections with a few drivers and Mr France, team owner. Mustang Sampling apparently had a discounted rate with some team owner money contributed, both have cut back so it couldn't continue in current form.

Previous DP and LMP2/ALMS teams weren't any better with funding. Dyson used companies owned by Dyson family, Audi almost exclusively used Audi branding after the R8, Porsche had Penske's role in bringing in DHL, various team owner business or small contract sections of cars scattered through remaining cars. The biggest sponsor anything has run is Coke on the RSRs and Porsche would fund that team regardless of costs to run.

[Damian Baldi]

Juncos-funded by rich guy and assuming pay drivers without any exterior sponsor markings

Sorry, but Ricardo Juncos arrived to US some years ago with absolutely nothing. The team runs thanks to the lower formular teams they manage and sponsorship. He isn't rich for sure.

They don't have a program for 2020 yet. The idea is to do the endurance events, plus try to have Lopez for Daytona.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Damian Baldi

Sorry, but Ricardo Juncos arrived to US some years ago with absolutely nothing. The team runs thanks to the lower formular teams they manage and sponsorship. He isn't rich for sure.

They don't have a program for 2020 yet. The idea is to do the endurance events, plus try to have Lopez for Daytona.

Nothing like disparaging a hard working guy who obviously has worked his ass off to achieve. Nothing about me calling him rich is refuted by any information provided, and sorry but he has multiple times said they are filling the gaps with team funds with paying drivers funding the rest. And apparently buying insurance coverage on the chassis so they had he car back after Mosport. I doubt they are running the team on his paltry 5k in the bank, there's more than the average American's savings supporting him.

[skycafe]

John Doonan of Mazda Motorsports to be new IMSA President: https://racer.com/2019/10/15/doonan-...msa-president/

[broadrun96]

I'm thinking a good choice, he definitely lives and breathes sportscars.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by skycafe

John Doonan of Mazda Motorsports to be new IMSA President: https://racer.com/2019/10/15/doonan-...msa-president/

I wonder what that means for the Mazda program? Great addition for the series, and I think the Mazdas might get some favorable bop next season

[broadrun96]

Some one at Multimatic will be taking over I'm guessing, or a Mazda holdover from Speedsource days.

[kvenom]

Is Mazda sticking with Joest? I know their contract is up, and multimatic have stepped up involvement considerably.

[rich07]

Hopefully the Mazda programme doesn’t suffer without someone as passionate as Doonan in their corner.

Good pickup for IMSA though

[NaBUru38]

So 8 cars in DPi and 6 in GTLM? Doesn't look promising.

[broadrun96]

I'd guess a few partials across both classes but yes, it's another 20ish entry season ahead. But of the cars on track, it's a strong field.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

So 8 cars in DPi and 6 in GTLM? Doesn't look promising.

unfortunately yes (so far)


it's really sad to think about how many parties left the playground after just 2 seasons

[MaskedRacer]

Seriously the Penske Acura guys need to go to work this off season on one main thing: their liveries. So far the 2018 and 2019 ones have not done it. Those Acura DPIs are ugly. Maybe the liveries don't do it justice.

[broadrun96]

Well one addition to GTD so far, Grasser has decided to join full time with 2 cars it appears.

[MaskedRacer]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well one addition to GTD so far, Grasser has decided to join full time with 2 cars it appears.

Great move on their part. Grasser is one of those teams that actually likes to race cars as supposed to following a pace car the whole time like they did in SRO. The GT Endurance series was a complete circus this year. IMSA on the other hand was great, and had its best season as a whole this entire decade.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well one addition to GTD so far, Grasser has decided to join full time with 2 cars it appears.

That's a real shot in the arm for GTD!

[Coach Ep]

More positive entry news (P2)!

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/1...confirmed.html

[MaskedRacer]

GTD competition will have to step it up big time. Grassar will instantly be the favorite for every race and we don't even know who their 'silver' driver will be. I imagine Mirko Bertolotti will be there. Hope Land/Monteplast can do the same thing and run full time. But it looks like Starworks is going to be aligned with Grassar now. Both Land and Grassar are regular front runners in ADAC. As far as SRO GT goes. I guess FFF is the Lambo team now there.

[MaskedRacer]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

More positive entry news (P2)!

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/1...confirmed.html

Eh..its LMP2. Running alongside DPI as one category is fine like in 2018. But a class of its own. Scared it will be like LMPC. A secondary pro-am prototype category is not really needed in IMSA. Does not bring me in that's for sure. DPI, GTLM, and GTD is just fine. At least they are there only for 7 races of the 12. GTLM won't have to worry about them for Long Beach, CTMP, VIR, and Lime Rock.


On a unrelated note, just a thought. If there is a worry for the VIR all-GT race grid to be under 20 cars for the 2020 season, then maybe the GS class from the Pilot Challenge could be added for that one race only? 16-18 cars for Lime Rock is fine due to the small track size, but at VIR it starts to look empty when you get sub-20 like in 2018.