IMSA Prototype Challenge

For the Camel Lights series of the 1980s, see IMSA GT Championship.

IMSA Prototype Challenge

Category	Sports car racing
Country	United States, Canada
Inaugural season	2006
Folded	2022
Classes	LMP3
Last Drivers' champion	Tõnis Kasemets
Last Teams' champion	Wulver Racing
Official website	IMSA Official Site

IMSA Prototype Challenge (formerly IMSA Prototype Lites) was a racing series featuring two classes of single-seat prototype cars racing simultaneously. The series was sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). Most races were held in support of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. ^[1] The series raced LMP3 class prototype sportscars. The cars have grown in size and speed since its 2006 introduction, starting from four-cylinder and motorcycle powered race cars to large V8 powered cars. Each race was 1 hour and 45 minutes long apart from the season opening 3 hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

The series' final season was in 2022. For 2023, the series was replaced with the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. ^[2]

Car Specifications

LMP3 Class

Minimum weight	930 kilograms (2,050 lb)
Maximum length	4,650 millimetres (183 in)
Maximum width	1,900 millimetres (75 in)
Engine	Naturally aspirated Nissan V8 5.6L
Fuel tank size	85 litres (22 US gal)
Maximum wheel diameter	28 inches (710 mm)
Maximum wheel width	13 inches (330 mm) [3]

Former classes

MPC Class

• Engine: 2.0-liter, Naturally aspirated Mazda MZR engine
• Gearbox: 6 Speed Sequential Manual Transmission
• Weight: 1,425 lb (646 kg) with driver
• Fuel Delivery: Electronic fuel injection ^[4]

L2 Class ^[5]

• Engine: 2.3-liter, Naturally aspirated Mazda MP2
• Gearbox: 6 Speed Sequential Manual Transmission
• Weight: 1,425 lb (646 kg) with driver
• Fuel Delivery: Electronic fuel injection

L2 Class 2006-2012 only ^[6]

• Engine: 1000cc Naturally aspirated Kawasaki or Suzuki
• Weight: 1,100 lb (500 kg) with driver

L3 Class 2006-2009 only, class discontinued for 2010 ^[7]

• Engine: 2.3-liter, Naturally aspirated Mazda MZR
• Weight: 1,350 lb (612 kg) with driver

Champions

Season	Class	Driver Champion	Masters Champion	Team Champion
2006	L1	Adam Pecorari [8]	n/a	Cape Motorsports
	L2	Dan McBreen	n/a	PVM Racing
	L3	Robert Mumm	n/a	n/a
2007	L1	Gerardo Bonilla	n/a	B-K Motorsports
	L2	Robby Card	n/a	PVM Racing
	L3	Richard Spicer	n/a	Spicer-Hagerman
2008	L1	Jonathan Goring	Jon Brownson	Comprent Motorsports
	L2	Tom Drewer	Eric Vassian	WEST Racing
	L3	Chris Funk	Chris Funk	KC Racing
2009	L1	Joel Feinberg	Gary Gibson	Eurosport Racing
	L2	John Weisberg	Alain Nadal	Berg Racing
	L3	Chris Doyle	Chris Funk	Surface Exploration
2010	L1	Charlie Shears	Charlie Shears	Core Autosport
	L2	John Weisberg	Jim Garrett	Berg Racing
2011	L1	Ricardo Vera	Daniel Mancini	Eurosport
	L2	Robert Sabato	Alan Wilzig	6th Gear Racing
2012	L1	Tristan Nunez	Jon Brownson	Performance Tech
	L2	Scott Tucker	Alan Wilzig	Level 5 Motorsports
2013	L1	Sean Rayhall	Jon Brownson	Performance Tech
	L2	Brian Alder	Jerome Mee	Ansa Motorsports
2014	L1	Mikhail Goikhberg	John Falb	JDC Motorsports
	L2	Brian Alder	Jerome Mee	BAR1 Motorsports
2015	L1	Kenton Koch	John Falb	JDC Motorsports
	L2	Brian Alder	n/a	BAR1 Motorsports
2016	L1	Clark Toppe	Joel Janco	JDC Motorsports
2017	LMP3	Colin Thompson	Naj Husain	P1 Motorsports
	MPC	Kyle Masson	Stuart Rettie	Performance Tech Motorsports
2018	LMP3	Kris Wright	Cameron Cassels	#30 Extreme Speed Motorsports
	MPC	Jon Brownson	n/a	#34 Eurosport Racing
2019	LMP3	Austin McCusker Rodrigo Pflucker	Joel Janco	#47 Forty 7 Racing
2020	LMP3	Matthew Bell Naveen Rao	Steven Thomas	#64 K2R Motorsports LLC
2021	LMP3-1	Dakota Dickerson Josh Sarchet	David Grant Keith Grant	MLT Motorsports
	LMP3-2	Danny Kok George Staikos	Danny Kok George Staikos	Conquest Racing
2022	LMP3	Tõnis Kasemets	n/a	Wulver Racing
[9]

Circuits

• Barber Motorsports Park (2017–2018)
• Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2007–2019, 2022)
• Circuit of the Americas (2013)
• Circuit Trois-Rivières (2016–2017)
• Daytona International Speedway (2018–2021)
• Kansas Speedway (2014)
• Laguna Seca (2007–2008, 2010–2013, 2016)
• Lime Rock Park (2006–2011, 2017, 2003–2015)
• Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2006, 2011, 2013, 2019–2022)
• New Jersey Motorsports Park (2009–2010)
• NOLA Motorsports Park (2015)
• Road America (2006, 2009–2015, 2020)
• Road Atlanta (2006–2022)
• Sebring International Raceway (2007–2021)
• Utah Motorsports Campus (2007–2010, 2012)
• Virginia International Raceway (2012, 2014–2015, 2018–2022)
• Watkins Glen International (2014–2017, 2021)

References

1. "IMSA, Cooper Tire align for partnership in Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship" (PDF). Press release. International Motor Sports Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
2. "IMSA to Replace Prototype Challenge with New Sprint Racing Class in 2023". autoweek.com. Hearst Autos, Inc. July 1, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
3. "The different classes". Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). Retrieved 2016-05-05.
4. 2014 Technical Regulations Archived 2015-10-15 at the Wayback Machine , IMSA.com/competitors, Retrieved 20 September 2014
5. 2014 Technical Regulations Archived 2015-10-15 at the Wayback Machine , IMSA.com/competitors, Retrieved 20 September 2014
6. "Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship Technical Regulations Lites 2 / L-2 2011" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. January 20, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
7. "Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship Technical Regulations Lites 3 / L-3 2010" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. February 1, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
8. Åberg, Andres. "The racing career of Adam Pecorari — in detail". Driver Database. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
9. "Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Results and Points". International Motor Sports Association. Retrieved 24 June 2011.

External links

• Official site Archived 2017-02-20 at the Wayback Machine