jayzbird

Hadn’t seen this tidbit of good news posted yet:

https://www.imsa.com/news/2021/01/06...-gtlm-in-2021/

PGas32

I really need to get into the floormat business...

But very happy to see to RSR carry on in GTLM...it's a shame that class has kind of fallen apart and it'll probably get dissolved into GTD somehow going forward, but I sure do like seeing Porsche represented in the top GT class

Matt Romanowski

Serious! I saw that he was celebrating on his yacht in Saint Barthélemy

They will be well funded and will hopefully do really well. I always love watching Porsche race.

Kein_Ersatz

Weather tech, gets my accessory business, they support sports cars soI’ll gladly pay their premium for made in America.

Great they are now with Porsche factory!

RSBro

Weird they're already committing to coming back, while announcing BOTH Porsche and Audi in the LMDH or whatever it's called in IMSA, after leaving for 2020? I guess CORE just wasn't giving them what they wanted? They obviously seem happy with Manthey as the WEC programme was kept together for GTE-Pro.

I think with the convergence of LMH/DH we're going to see the 'pro' GT classes get absorbed into just 1 big GT class of GTD/GTE-Am or something along those lines here within 5 years or so. It's what made sportscar racing so great in the mid 80s thru early 90s, so I'm all for manufacturers in the top classes eligible for a 24HR LM win, which is really what most everyone is after anyway.

Most manufacturers don't have the resources to field two top-class classes like that, hence the lack of participation in GTE-Pro/GTLM.

Akunob

Seriously, isn’t he the guy who dropped $80 million on a Ferrari 250 GTO a few years ago...happy Porsche is back in GTLM

ProCoach

The dad, David, did. This is the kid.

Akunob

Ah, gotcha...

ProCoach

It’s going to be tough with the LMP3 cars tripping over the GTLM cars. May see some carnage in the qualifying race today. And, in the 24 hours...

Matt Romanowski

Reports seem that the LMP3 and GTLM cars are all taking a very conservative approach so that they are not getting tangled. Time will tell if execution matches the plan or not.

ProCoach

Well, the two most vocal folks have been Bill Riley, who espoused the cautious approach, and Jon Bennett, who suggests the cars make speed similarly in both the corners and the straights. Jon seems to think if it becomes a problem, IMSA may alter specifications so they’re a little further apart in performance.

The only person I’ve spoken to won the prototype race yesterday and is on the pole for LMP3 today. He says you just have to think a LOT more about whether they (GTLM) can see you and also that the pros in the GTLM cars will have a lot more concern about the Bronze drivers in the P3 cars in the big race.

It would be good for another ten LMP3 cars to show up!

phefner

I too was very happy to hear Porsche would be in GTLM with WeatherTech.

IMSA could do a better job of showcasing the differences in those prototype classes. I've looked over the website and browsed their prototype document, but still fuzzy on the major differences. And wow are they intermixed with GTLM and GTD today.

Any help on the prototype class differences appreciated. Can't be just Aero, HP, and Brakes.

ProCoach

The WeatherTech car is in a reasonably comfortable third, behind the two factory Corvettes but ahead of the factory BMW’s with a few minutes to go in the Qualy race. Great job, especially by Estre

ProCoach

It’s complicated...

The DPi is the top category, obviously. US-derived and now may be eligible for LeMans, but not for the rest of the world.

LMP2 is ALMOST as powerful as DPi, but not quite, worldwide acceptance makes it a big deal. Can race here, Le Mans, as well as Asian and European LeMans series. Big deal.

LMP3 is a “spec series.” Think Spec Boxster or Spec Carmen in prototype form. Nissan V-8 engine, limited chassis manufacturers, less cost. Now integrated into IMSA for the big races (as opposed to only support races up until now), this class is poised for big things. Ten cars entered in the 24 Hours, same as much more expensive (but a fair bit quicker) LMP2 cars. The sweet spot in pro racing prototype value!

1:34 at Daytona for DPi, 1:37 for LMP2 and 1:42 for LMP3 is the TLR

Geneman

Thanks PK. I too was interested learning the differences in class. Found this in my search: https://www.hagerty.com/media/motors...ses-explained/