The fourth year of the unified IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar series sees many changes from the 2016 season. Gone are the DP and LMP2 chassis from P, replaced with a new LMP2 based car called the DPi. LMPC sees it's final year with the main game, and LMP3 is introduced into the newly renamed Prototype Challenge series. The CTSCC will see GT4 cars becoming the defacto spec in GS.
Schedule(Classes Competing):
R01 - Rolex 24 at Daytona - January 26-29 (All)
R02 - Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Fresh Florida - March 15-18 (All)
R03 - BUBBA Burger SportsCar Grand Prix at Long Beach - April 7-8 (P, GTLM, GTD)
R04 - Circuit of the Americas - May 5-7 (All)
R05 - Chevrolet Belle Isle Detroit Grand Prix - June 2-3 (P, PC, GTD)
R06 - Sahlen's 6 Hours of the Glen - June 30-July 2 (All)
R07 - Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix - July 7-9 (All)
R08 - IMSA WeatherTech Northeast Grand Prix - July 21-22 (GTLM, GTD)
R09 - Continental Tire Road Race Showcase - August 4-6 (All)
R10 - Michelin GT Challenge - August 25-27 (GTLM, GTD)
R11 - Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda - September 23-24 (P, GTLM, GTD)
R12 - Petit Le Mans - October 5-7 (All)
Races in bold are rounds of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup(NAEC)
2017 sees the introduction of the Daytona Prototype International(DPi), a replacement for the current mish-mash of DP and LMP2 machinery that populates the Prototype class in IMSA's WetherTech SportsCar Championship. Using the new for 2017 ACO LMP2 base, it allows manufactures to install their own engines into the back of one of the four chassis, and style the bodywork to more closely represent their brand. Three manufactures are known to be represented so far when the green flag flies at the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Those being Cadillac, Mazda, and Nissan(with ESM, who makes their return in a full-time capacity for the first time since 2014).
GTLM will see Porsche represented by their new mid-engine 911, while the rest of the field stays status quo. Expect a few more entries for the NAEC rounds.
GTD welcomes Lexus to the grid finally, with a two car effort by Paul Gentilozzi and Lexus' 3GT Racing, fielding and upgraded version of the Lexus RC-F GT3 car. Expect Ben Keating's team to be behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz AMG-GT GT3, while Michael Shank Racing moves from Prototype to the GTD ranks to run Acura's two-car IMSA programme for the new NSX GT3.
PC sees reduces run-time this year before being phased out of the top series in 2018. With the checkered flag at Petit, it will also see the end of the Oreca FLM-09 chassis, as they will be made obsolete by new LMP3 machinery in the Prototype Challenge series.
Speaking of Prototype Lites, they will be going to a true two class format in 2017, with the introduction of the IMSA Prototype Challenge series. LMP3 cars will populate the top class, referred to as PC1, while the current Elan cars will continue as the PC2 class.
