IMSA Road America 2016 and new P1

Just got back and this is one of the best Road America IMSA events I have seen in years...The Ford GT was very nice, and the 488's and Lamborghini's were also great. Best sounding GTLM car had to be of all things the Porsche works cars....I don't like the Turbo sound coming from both the Ferrari 488 and Ford GT...The 458 sounded a lot better.

The Road America #66 Ford chassis is the one that won the GT class at Lemans. Also notice the Chris Amon sticker.

The PC1 photo is of the style of prototypes IMSA will use in LMP3 class(edited). They also announced the 2017 schedule in a very nice press conference everyone was invited to. The only major changes are they flip the Circuit of America's and Laguna Seca dates around and a few class changes.

You can read up on several series changes they will make here:

IMSA Finalizes Racing Platform Innovations | IMSA
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just to clarify, the car in the first few pics with "PC1" written is an LMP3 car....and it won't be racing in the top series, it will join the existing Elan/Mazda in Prototype Lights (hence LMP3 becomes "PC1" and the Elan becomes "PC2").

also, the PC class from IMSA is going away entirely at the end of 2017. instead there will be a pro/am subclass added to Prototypes, using the same machines (based on the global P2 chassis)

 

Sorry, your right. He never said that car was the actual new style for the top series. The closed top will be used on the 2017 prototypes. What do you think of the new classes??? Do you like them?

 

I like the new classes. it turns the ALMS/GrandAm merger from a mishmash of legacy formulas into something that resembles top level global racing.

classes in 2018:

Prototype, based on global P2 chassis (with engine and bodywork options)

PC: dead, amateur drivers have option of P2 subclass, GTD, LMP3

GTLM, based on global GTE specs (already exists)

GTD, based on global GT3 specs (already exists)

PC1, based on global LMP3 specs (2017)

Conti GS, based on global GT4 specs (2017)

Conti ST will likely remain the same, partly because there's not an immediate global equivalent (without going to Touring Car specs, which is an option) and partly because those cars are the entry level option into IMSA.

 

Does sound like they are aligning with the FIA almost like ALMS always tried to... We can see who is running the place now(the old ALMS people) and that is a very good sign for the future.

I would like to see what manufactures show up for the Conti GS/GT4. Maybe they can get a few Italian brands to put their foot in the water.

So the DPI International will be almost the same as the global P2 chassis but with non spec engines and varying closed style bodywork from what he said..Under the skin the same other than the engines. That might be good as the Euro cars are so butt ugly they scare the children!!

 

here's a list of the GT4 spec cars. Cayman GT4 and Mustang are already in GS; a few others compete in Pirelli World Challenge GTS (Ginetta, KTM, Sin, Maserati). hopefully this will dramatically increase the GS field, which has only had half a dozen cars this year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GT4_European_Series

DPi is intended to be somewhat cost contained (using P2 approved chassis) but allow manufacturer supported programs-P2 in FIA WEC and elsewhere is now a spec engine, IMSA will allow engine/bodywork flexibility (mainly to keep GM involved if we're honest).

 

What a race! I cannot believe Corvette Racing won in GTLM! Even better that Porsche got a taste of their own medicine and ended up in the wall!

I can't wait for the pathetic **** show failure of a team that is Mazda to finally drop out of this series. The only thing they execute well at is failure and I'm tired of all the Mazda propaganda interviews.

Seriously, what a race. Road America delivers yet again.

 

Agreed. Porsche GTLM team has resembled a demolition derby squad with their continual crashing into other teams. Corvettes in both classes had a great day.

 

haven't' seen the race yet but heard it was outstanding. looking forward to watching it later this week when it's on YT.

agree on Porsche, I'm a big Porsche nerd but they've been pretty disappointing with their "race craft" this year, which mostly involves running other cars off the track.

 

Business as usual for Porsche drivers. Remember at Laguna Seca>

Jan Magnussen escaped uninjured from his violent accident at the end of the Laguna Seca American Le Mans Series round.

The Corvette driver was spun into the wall as he battled with Flying Lizard Porsche's Joerg Bergmeister for the GT2 class victory on the run to the line. Magnussen was taken to the circuit's medical centre for checks where it was confirmed that he had not been hurt, and the Dane and co-driver Johnny O'Connell were still classified second.

Magnussen had hunted down Bergmeister in the final laps after the Porsche lost ground being lapped by the overall leaders. His first passing attempt ended with him running wide, and although he retook the lead with two laps to go, he was ordered to cede the position as he had used the pit exit to complete the pass. Magnussen then dived back in front with an aggressive move at the final corner of the four-hour race, before being spun into the wall as Bergmeister fought back on the straight.
That was October 2009

 

funny how Jan doesn't share the same sentiment about that incident that you do...



[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKEVkmuziBk[/ame]

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOVHp3XYLd8

more Porsche race craft when a Corvette is around...

 

That was a great battle.

 

The entire race on youtube.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNSHhs7-Vsw

 

Thank you..

 

One more video for the vintage racing guys...Way before many tracks in the USA were built.


Road America 1955 with Phil Hill: https://vimeo.com/142298323