2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship
The 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship) is a planned motor racing championship, set to be the 54th racing season sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association, which traces its lineage back to the 1971 IMSA GT Championship. It will also be the eleventh season of the IMSA SportsCar Championship since the merger between the American Le Mans Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2014, and the ninth under the sponsorship of WeatherTech. Following a change in class structure for the 2024 season, the IMSA SportsCar Championship is poised to see a major expansion of its full-time grid across all of its classes.
Classes
- Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) (LMDh and LMH)
- Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2)
- GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro)
- GT Daytona (GTD)
At the end of the 2023 season, IMSA discontinued the involvement of the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) class from the main championship. The class was originally introduced in 2021 as a means of bolstering the overall grid size, which had seen a record-low 38 starting cars in the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona. IMSA cited the growth of the GTP class as a contributing factor to dropping LMP3 for 2024 onwards, in addition to growth in other classes.[1]
GTP is the flagship class of the championship, and consists of two sister technical regulations: Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh), and Le Mans Hypercar (LMH). The former regulation allows developing a bespoke design from a base chassis with a specification hybrid system on all cars, with freedom on aerodynamics and engine configuration. The latter regulation allows bespoke hybrid designs, and offers more design freedom in exchange for elevated development costs.
The GTP class is made of the same framework that comprises the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, in accordance with the collaborative alliance between IMSA and the French racing organizers ACO, which resulted in the convergence of the two organizer's top class regulations.[2]
Schedule
The provisional schedule was released on August 4, 2023, and features 11 rounds.[3][4][5]
Calendar changes
- Lime Rock Park was dropped from the calendar. The track had been a part of the championship since 2015.[3]
- The Michelin Endurance Cup expanded to 5 rounds, with the event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway transforming from a sprint race in 2023 to a six-hour endurance race for 2024.[3]
- After a 1-year hiatus, Detroit returned to the IMSA calendar, with a sprint race on the Streets of Detroit.[3]
- On September 7, 2023, the Watkins Glen date was moved one week earlier than originally announced, to avoid a clash with the 24 Hours of Spa.[6]
- Canadian Tire Motorsport Park lost their GTP entries from previous seasons, with the LMP2 category becoming the headline category.
Entries
Grand Touring Prototype (GTP)
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Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2)
In accordance with the 2017 LMP2 regulations, all cars in the LMP2 class use the Gibson GK428 V8 engine.[18]
| Team | Chassis | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 CrowdStrike Racing by APR[19] |
Oreca 07 | 04 | George Kurtz[19] |
TBA |
 TBA |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| United Autosports USA[20] |
Oreca 07 | 2 |  Ben Hanley[21] |
TBA |
| Ben Keating[22] |
TBA | |||
| Alex Quinn[22] |
TBA | |||
| 22 | Dan Goldburg[23] |
TBA | ||
| Paul di Resta[23] |
TBA | |||
 Marino Sato[23] |
TBA | |||
| Tower Motorsports[8] |
Oreca 07 | 8 | TBA |
TBA |
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
 TDS Racing[8] |
Oreca 07 | 11 | TBA |
TBA |
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| Era Motorsport[8] |
Oreca 07 | 18 | TBA |
TBA |
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
 High Class Racing[8] |
Oreca 07 | 20 | TBA |
TBA |
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| Sean Creech Motorsport[24] |
Ligier JS P217 | 33 | TBA |
TBA |
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
 Inter Europol by PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports[25][26] |
Oreca 07 | 52 | Jakub Śmiechowski[26] |
TBA |
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| Riley[27] |
Oreca 07 | 74 |  Felipe Fraga[27] |
TBA |
| Gar Robinson[27] |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
 AF Corse[8] |
Oreca 07 | 88 | TBA |
TBA |
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| AO Racing[28] |
Oreca 07 | 99 | P. J. Hyett[28] |
TBA |
| TBA |
TBA | |||
| TBA |
TBA | |||
GT Daytona (GTD Pro / GTD)
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Notes
- Car no. 43 entered as Andretti Motorsports and car No. 45 entered as WTR Andretti.
References
- Thukral, Rachit (4 May 2023). "IMSA drops LMP3 class from 2024 amid GTP growth". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- Watkins, Gary (9 July 2021). "WEC's Le Mans Hypercars allowed to compete in IMSA from 2023". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- "Endurance Cup Expands To Five Rounds For 2024 IMSA Season". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- Dagys, John (2023-08-04). "Detroit to Return on 2024 WeatherTech Series Schedule – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- "2024 IMSA Schedules Revealed at Road America". IMSA.com.
- Richard S. James (2023-09-07). "IMSA moves 2024 Watkins Glen date to avoid Spa conflict". Racer.
- Lloyd, Daniel (24 August 2021). "Cadillac Announces LMDh Program with AXR, Ganassi". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- Dagys, John (12 October 2023). "2024 Full Season, Endurance Cup Entry Lists Released". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- Lloyd, Daniel (24 October 2023). "Hanson Joins JDC-Miller for Endurance Cup Races". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- Eckhardt, Holger (24 June 2022). "Global quest for Porsche Penske Motorsport with the new 963". newsroom.porsche.com. VW Group Media. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- "Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport To Run Second Acura ARX-06 GTP in 2024". acuranews.com. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- Dagys, John (17 August 2023). "Jordan Taylor Returns to WTR with Deletraz in Second Acura". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- James, Richard (13 November 2021). "BMW confirms move to LMDh with BMW Team RLL". racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing Inc. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- Dagys, John (17 August 2023). "Jordan Aitken to Replace Sims as Full-Season Action Express Driver". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- Dagys, John (19 October 2023). "Blomqvist Joins Action Express for Enduros in 2024". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- Kilbey, Stephen (26 September 2023). "Proton Committing To Full-Season Top Class Programmes In WEC & IMSA". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- "Lamborghini SC63 LMDh car unveiled ahead of 2024 WEC, IMSA debut". www.motorsport.com. 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- "New Year, New Regulations for LMP2". European Le Mans Series. January 13, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- Dagys, John (6 September 2023). "CrowdStrike by APR Confirms 2024 Full Season LMP2 Entry". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- Dagys, John (9 June 2023). "United Autosports Moves to IMSA Full-Time in 2024". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- Dagys, John (17 October 2023). "Hanley to Team Up With Keating in United LMP2 Entry". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- Goodwin, Graham (22 August 2023). "United Signs Keating & Quinn For 2024 IMSA Campaign". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- Goodwin, Graham (September 28, 2023). "Goldburg, Sato & Di Resta Join United For 2024 IMSA Campaign". Dailysportscar. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- Goodwin, Graham (17 July 2023). "Sean Creech Acquires Ligier For 2024 IMSA LMP2 Programme". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- Dagys, John (21 September 2023). "PR1/Mathiasen Seeking Out Bronze Driver for 2024 Program". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- Lloyd, Daniel (13 October 2023). "Inter Europol Partners With PR1/Mathiasen for LMP2 Entry". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- Dagys, John (14 June 2023). "Riley Confirms Move to LMP2 With Robinson, Fraga in 2024". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- Goodwin, Graham (21 August 2023). "AO Racing Submit 2024 IMSA Entry Requests In LMP2 and GTD Pro". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- Dagys, John (6 August 2023). "Paul Miller Racing Confirms Step Up to GTD Pro for 2024". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- Kilbey, Stephen (June 23, 2023). "GTD Pro Programme Confirmed For Corvette Racing By Pratt Miller Motorsports". dailysportscar.com. Dailysportscar. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- Goodwin, Graham (17 August 2023). "Corvette Confirms Full-Season GTD Pro Drivers". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- Dagys, John (October 9, 2023). "Pfaff Switches to McLaren for 2024 GTD Pro Campaign". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- Dagys, John (9 June 2023). "Ford Unveils Mustang GT3; Proton Named First Customer". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- staff, Sportscar365 (9 June 2023). "Mark Rushbrook on Ford Mustang GT3 Launch". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- Lloyd, Daniel (12 October 2023). "Ford Names Full-Season GTD Pro Driver Lineup". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- Euwema, Davey (August 3, 2023). "AWA Moves to GTD With Two-Car Corvette Effort". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- Dagys, John (26 October 2023). "AWA Confirms Corvette GTD Lineup for 2024". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- Dagys, John (September 7, 2023). "Conquest Set for IMSA Return in Ferrari GTD Entry for Franco". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- "IMSA fields poised for multi-class growth in 2024". RACER. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- Dagys, John (September 20, 2023). "Andretti Set for Full-Season GTD Effort With Aston Martin Evo". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- Dagys, John (13 October 2023). "WTR Andretti Finalizing Full Season GTD Effort for 2024". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 13 October 2023.