Professional Motorsport World
  • News
    • A-E
      • Bodywork
      • Business Services
      • Chassis
      • Circuit News
      • Data Capture
      • Driver Safety
      • Electric Motorsport
      • Engine Technology
    • F-N
      • Karting
      • Legislative
      • Logistics
      • Materials
      • New Competition Car
    • O-S
      • Off Road
      • R&D
      • Race Series News
      • Safety
      • Show News
      • Simulation
      • Single Seaters
    • T-Z
      • Team News
      • Tin Tops
      • Tyres
      • Transmissions
      • Workshop
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • October 2024
    • September 2023
    • 2022
    • September 2021
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • PMW Expo
LinkedIn Facebook Twitter
  • Automotive Interiors
  • Automotive Testing
  • Autonomous Vehicle
  • Automotive Powertrain
  • Tire
  • Media Pack
LinkedIn Facebook YouTube Instagram
Subscribe
Professional Motorsport World
  • News
      • Aerodynamics
      • Bodywork
      • Business Services
      • Chassis
      • Circuit News
      • Data Acquisition
      • Driver Safety
      • Electric Motorsport
      • Engine Technology
      • Karting
      • Legislative
      • Logistics
      • Materials
      • New Competition Car
      • Off Road
      • R&D
      • Race Series News
      • Safety
      • Show News
      • Simulation
      • Single Seaters
      • Team News
      • Testing
      • Tyres
      • Transmissions
      • Workshop
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. October 2024
    2. September 2023
    3. 2022
    4. September 2021
    5. April 2020
    6. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    9th October 2024

    In this Issue – October 2024

    Online Magazines By Lawrence Butcher
    Recent

    In this Issue – October 2024

    9th October 2024

    In this Issue – September 2023

    21st September 2023

    In this Issue – 2022

    4th October 2022
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • PMW Expo
LinkedIn Facebook Instagram YouTube
Subscribe
Professional Motorsport World
Race Series News

IMSA reveals changes for 2019 WeatherTech Championship, returns to two prototype classes

Illya VerpraetBy Illya Verpraet9th August 20183 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
IMSA reveals changes for 2019 WeatherTech Championship, returns to two prototype classes

The rules for the next season of the WeatherTech Championship have been announced by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), with the most fundamental change being that the old Prototype class will be split into manufacturer-backed Daytona Prototype international (DPi) race cars and LMP2-spec cars.

DPi cars will no longer need to be balanced against the best LMP2 example, instead shifting to a class-specific balance of performance (BoP) process similar to the GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes. This will all be managed by the IMSA Technical Committee.

The LMP2 class, meanwhile, becomes Pro-Am with no BoP applied, just like it is in the FIA World Endurance Championship and elsewhere around the world.

The reshuffle of the prototypes means that there will once again be four classes in total (as there had been between 2014 and 2017), including Pro-Am classes in both the Prototype (LMP2) and GT (GTD) categories.

Both classes will follow the same rules for driver line-ups: LMP2 and GTD teams will be required to field at least one bronze- or silver-rated driver for every non-endurance race and will be allowed a maximum of one platinum-rated driver per car.

In Michelin Endurance Cup events, IMSA will balance driver combinations for three-, four- and five-driver line-ups with an emphasis on Bronze and Silver drivers. Maximum drive time for Gold and Platinum drivers will now be limited.

The Bronze or Silver drivers finishing the highest in the season-long WeatherTech driver’s championship point standings for the LMP2 and GTD classes will win the Jim Trueman Award or the Bob Akin Award, respectively. In addition, they will earn the opportunity to secure an entry to compete in the following year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans if they can find a team.

Other changes to the GTD regulations include dedicated track time for bronze or silver drivers only prior to qualifying at each event. Also new is the stipulation that Bronze or Silver drivers only will be permitted to participate in qualifying when the qualifying driver also starts the race. Any Bronze or Silver drivers participating in the additional practice session will be allocated one additional set of dry-type (slick) tires.

The WeatherTech Championship will continue to use FIA Driver Ratings to determine driver eligibility in the LMP2 and GTD classes, as it has done since the series’ inception in 2014. For the 2019 season, IMSA has established a new ‘IMSA Driver Evaluation Committee’ chaired by Paul Walter, IMSA director of racing operations.

This committee will review each IMSA driver’s recorded pace based on both the FIA Driver Ratings Committee’s established criteria and the IMSA Technical Committee’s standardized BoP driver’s weighted average lap time distribution.

The results of this analysis then will be shared with the FIA for consideration before the next applicable driver rating period. IMSA retains the right to adjust a driver’s categorization based on the specific nature of its own championship. However, it will not make in-season changes to any driver’s rating.

The amount of testing possible also changes slightly for next season. For the 24 hours of Daytona, the ‘Roar before the Rolex 24 at Daytona’ will be the only sanctioned test. Held on January 4-6, it is mandatory for all participants, although available time for GTD teams will be reduced to Friday and Saturday only.

Private test sessions for the WeatherTech Championship generally follow the same testing regulations as in 2018. DPi and LMP2 teams will be allowed 10 days of testing per entered car, with nine test days for GTLM entries and four test days for GTD cars.

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleMercedes F1 team sponsored by Unifin for next three Mexican GPs
Next Article A look at the modifications that enable Alex Zanardi to race the BMW M4 DTM with hand controls

Related Posts

R&D

Sauber Motorsport opens technology center at Bicester Motion

1st July 20252 Mins Read
New Competition Car

Honda CR‑V e:FCEV to become first hydrogen vehicle in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

16th June 20253 Mins Read
Race Series News

Tenders awarded for new LMP2 platform

14th June 20252 Mins Read
Latest News

Alpine unveils its first electric customer racing car – the A290 Rallye

8th July 2025

Bcomp, Porsche Motorsport and Four Motors unveil natural-fiber components in GT3 Cup car

7th July 2025

Technical Gallery: 2025 British GP, Silverstone

5th July 2025

Receive breaking stories and features in your inbox each week, for free


Enter your email address:


Supplier Spotlights
  • Öhlins Racing AB
Getting in Touch
  • Contact Us / Advertise
  • Meet The Editors
  • Download Media Pack
  • Free Weekly E-Newsletter
Our Social Channels
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
RELATED UKI TOPICS
  • Automotive Interiors
  • Automotive Testing
  • Autonomous Vehicle
  • Automotive Powertrain
  • Tire
  • Media Pack
© 2025 UKi Media & Events a division of UKIP Media & Events Ltd
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Notice & Takedown Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.

CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie records the user consent for the cookies in the "Necessary" category.
elementorneverThe website's WordPress theme uses this cookie. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time.

Advertisement

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

CookieDurationDescription
OAGEOsessionOpenX sets this cookie to avoid the repeated display of the same ad.
OAID1 yearCookie set to record whether the user has opted out of the collection of information by the AdsWizz Service Cookies.
test_cookie15 minutesdoubleclick.net sets this cookie to determine if the user's browser supports cookies.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysYouTube sets this cookie to measure bandwidth, determining whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
YSCsessionYoutube sets this cookie to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
yt-remote-connected-devicesneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt-remote-device-idneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt.innertube::nextIdneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
yt.innertube::requestsneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.

Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

CookieDurationDescription
CONSENT2 yearsYouTube sets this cookie via embedded YouTube videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
vuid1 year 1 month 4 daysVimeo installs this cookie to collect tracking information by setting a unique ID to embed videos on the website.
_ga1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and track site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognise unique visitors.
_ga_*1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views.

Functional

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

CookieDurationDescription
__cf_bm30 minutesCloudflare set the cookie to support Cloudflare Bot Management.

SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by