2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge

2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda

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2017

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2019

Parent series:
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
Support series:
IMSA Michelin Encore

The 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda is the thirteenth season of the IMSA Lites series and its successors and the second season as the IMSA Prototype Challenge. The season features 6 races across 6 weekends.

Series news

• 2018 is the final season Fox Sports will televise the series, NBC Sports Group becomes the series' broadcaster, starting in 2019.
• 2018 is also the final season that Continental Tire will be the tire supplier, Michelin will take over that role for the 2019 season.
• 2018 will be the final season of the Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC) class, with LMP3 to become to sole class from 2019 onwards.

Classes

• Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3)
• Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC)

Calendar

Race schedule

The 2018 schedule was released on 24 August 2017 and features six rounds.

Rnd	Circuit	Location	Date	Duration	Supporting
1	Daytona International Speedway	Daytona Beach, Florida	January 6	1 hour 45 mins	WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
2	Sebring International Raceway	Sebring, Florida	March 16	1 hour 45 mins	12 Hours of Sebring
3	Barber Motorsports Park	Birmingham, Alabama	April 22	1 hour 45 mins	Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
4	Canadian Tire Motorsport Park	Bowmanville, Ontario	July 8	1 hour 45 mins	WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
5	Virginia International Raceway	Alton, Virginia	August 18	1 hour 45 mins	WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
6	Road Atlanta	Braselton, Georgia	October 12	1 hour 45 mins	Petit Le Mans
NC	Sebring International Raceway	Sebring, Florida	November 9	4 hours	IMSA Michelin Encore1

¹ LMP3 will participate in this race with the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's GT Daytona class and the Grand Sport and TCR cars from the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge as one single four-hour race. This race will preview the 2019 IMSA rules package and new tyre supplier Michelin.

Calendar Changes

• The race weekend format has been changed to feature a single 1 hour 45-minute race instead of two 45 minute races as was the case in 2017.
• The rounds at Watkins Glen International, Lime Rock Park and Circuit Trois-Rivières were removed from the calendar and replaced by rounds at Daytona International Speedway and Virginia International Raceway, this reduced the number of events from seven down to six.

Entry List

LMP3

All teams use Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 engines.

Team	Car	No.	Drivers	Rounds
Extreme Speed Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	3	Max Hanratty	All
			Michael Whelden	1
			Benjamin Waddell	2–3, 5
			Garett Grist	4
			Harry Gottsacker	6
		30	Kris Wright	All
			Daniel Morad	1
			Michael Whelden	2
			Yann Clairay	3–4
			Stephen Simpson	5
			Niclas Jönsson	6
		33	Lance Willsey (M)	1–4, 6
ANSA Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	4	Roman De Angelis	1
			Dean Baker (M)	2–6
			Zacharie Robichon
Charles Wicht Racing	Ligier JS P3	7	Charles Wicht (M)	1
			Leo Lamelas	All
			Patricio O'Ward	2
			Will Owen	3
			Roman De Angelis	4
			Andrew Evans	5–6
Mazzoni	Ginetta-Juno P3-15	12	Bill Mazzoni	2
P1 Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	17	Corey Lewis	All
			Matt Dicken
		25	Kenton Koch	All
			Joel Janco (M)
		42	Jim Garrett (M)	All
			Robby Foley
Baker Racing	Ligier JS P3	19	Brad Baker (M)	2–4
			Jan Heylen
Gilbert LMP3 Racing	Ligier JS P3	23	Henry Gilbert (M)	1
			Andy Pilgrim (M)	1
			Mike Skeen	2
			Shane Lewis	2
K2R Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	26	James McGuire Jr (M)	2
			Matthew Bell
		51	Rob Hodes (M)	All
			Sean Rayhall	1–4
			Scott Andrews	5
			Garett Grist	6
Polestar Motor Racing Inc.	Ligier JS P3	40	Keith Grant	3–6
			David Grant
Ave Motorsports	Riley-Ave AR-2	44	Josh Hurley	1–3
			Gary Gibson (M)
Forty 7 Motorsports	Norma M30	47	Austin McCusker	All
			David Droux	1
			TJ Fischer	2–6
		74	Anthony Simone	2–4, 6
			Rodrigo Pflucker
JDC Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	55	Gerry Kraut (M)	2, 6
			Scott Andrews
Wulver Racing	Ligier JS P3	60	Bruce Hamilton	5–6
			Tõnis Kasemets
Performance Tech Motorsports	Ligier JS P3	75	Cameron Cassels (M)	All
			Trent Hindman	4
Five Miles Out Racing	Norma M30	87	Nicholas Colyvas (M)	3
			Jay Howard	3–4
			Hanna Zellers	4–6
			Daniel Swanbeck	5
			Nicholas Colyvas	6
		88	Charles Chi (M)	3–6
			Memo Gidley
Source:

Note: A driver with a (M) is participating in the Amateur Masters Category.

Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC)

All teams use Elan DP02 chassis and Mazda MZR 2.0L 4 cylinder engines.

Team	No.	Drivers	Rounds
Performance Tech Motorsports	11	Robert Masson	All
		Kyle Masson	4–6
	18	Wyatt Schwab	1–3
		John DeAngelis	6
	22	Stephen Dawes	All
	77	Howard Jacobs	All
		James French	4–6
ODU Motorsports	21	Stuart Rettie	1
	46	Jay Salmon	1
Eurosport Racing	24	Tim George	1–2
	31	Michal Chlumecky	1, 3–6
	34	Jon Brownson	All
Wolf Motorsports	28	Bart Wolf	All
		Tazio Ottis
ONE Motorsports	32	Gerhard Watzinger	6
	36	Paul LaHaye	All
	86	Dave House	All
		Mikel Miller	1, 5–6
Source:

Results

Race Results

Bold indicates overall winner.

Round	Circuit	LMP3 Winning Car	MPC Winning Car
		LMP3 Winning Drivers	MPC Winning Drivers
1	Daytona	No. 4 ANSA Motorsports	No. 11 Performance Tech Motorsports
		Roman De Angelis	Robert Masson
2	Sebring	No. 7 CWR	No. 86 ONE Motorsports
		Leo Lamelas Patricio O'Ward	Dave House
3	Barber	No. 30 Extreme Speed Motorsports	No. 31 Eurosport Racing
		Yann Clairay Kris Wright	Michal Chlumecky
4	Mosport	No. 47 Forty 7 Motorsports	No. 77 Performance Tech Motorsports
		TJ Fischer Austin McCusker	James French Howard Jacobs
5	Virginia	No. 30 Extreme Speed Motorsports	No. 77 Performance Tech Motorsports
		Stephen Simpson Kris Wright	James French Howard Jacobs
6	Road Atlanta	No. 47 Forty 7 Motorsports	No. 34 Eurosport Racing
		TJ Fischer Austin McCusker	Jon Brownson

Points system

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Race	35	32	30	28	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1

Drivers' Championships

LMP3

Pos. Driver DAY SEB BAR MOS VIR ATL Points 1 Kris Wright 3 3 1 2 1 2 194 2 Austin McCusker 2 2 16 1 6 1 174 3 Max Hanratty 4 8 4 3 5 4 163 4 Leo Lamelas 7 1 3 16 4 13 150 5 TJ Fischer 2 16 1 6 1 142 6 Matt Dicken Corey Lewis 12 5 6 6 8 9 140 7 Cameron Cassels 8 11 13 7 9 5 133 8 Rob Hodes 11 16 7 5 3 16 130 9 Robby Foley Jim Garrett 9 6 9 8 13 12 129 10 Zacharie Robichon Dean Baker 13 8 4 2 8 124 11 Kenton Koch Joel Janco 6 14 11 13 7 17 118 12 Keith Grant David Grant 5 10 11 3 97 13 Lance Willsey 13 10 12 14 10 96 14 Sean Rayhall 11 16 7 5 85 15 Rodrigo Pflucker Anthony Simone 17 2 15 15 78 16 Benjamin Waddell 8 4 5 77 17 Charles Chi Memo Gidley 10 12 14 11 77 18 Scott Andrews 12 3 7 73 19 Yann Clairay 1 2 67 20 Gary Gibson Josh Hurley 5 7 17 64 21 Michael Whelden 4 3 58 22 Hanna Zellers 9 12 14 58 23 Brad Baker Jan Heylen 15 14 11 53 24 Roman De Angelis 1 16 50 25 Andrew Evans 4 13 46 26 Bruce Hamilton Tõnis Kasemets 10 6 46 27 Garett Grist 3 16 45 28 Gerry Kraut 12 7 43 29 Jay Howard 15 9 38 30 Patricio O'Ward 1 35 31 Stephen Simpson 1 35 32 Nicholas Colyvas 15 14 33 33 David Droux 2 32 35 Daniel Morad 3 30 36 Will Owen 3 30 37 Matthew Bell James McGuire Jr 4 28 38 Harry Gottsacker 4 28 39 Charles Wicht 7 24 40 Trent Hindman 7 24 41 Shane Lewis Mike Skeen 9 22 42 Henry Gilbert Andy Pilgrim 10 21 43 Daniel Swanbeck 12 19 Pos. Driver DAY SEB BAR MOS VIR ATL Points

Colour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Points finish Blue Non-points finish Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Withdrew (WD) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX) Bold - Pole position Italics - Fastest lap

Mazda Prototype Challenge

Pos.	Driver	DAY	SEB	BAR	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points
1	Jon Brownson	5	9	2	2	6	1	172
2	Tazio Ottis Bart Wolf	3	4	4	7	4	2	170
3	Stephen Dawes	4	3	8	4	3	3	169
4	Howard Jacobs	11	5	7	1	1	5	166
5	Dave House	6	1	5	6	2	10	164
6	Paul LaHaye	9	2	6	3	5	4	163
7	Robert Masson	1	8	3	8	8	9	156
8	Michal Chlumecky	12		1	5	7	8	104
9	James French				1	1	5	96
10	Mikel Miller	6				2	10	78
11	Wyatt Schwab	7	6	9				71
12	Kyle Masson				8	8	9	68
13	Tim George	8	7					47
14	Stuart Rettie	2						32
15	Gerhard Watzinger						6	25
16	John DeAngelis						7	24
17	Jay Salmon	10						21
Pos.	Driver	DAY	SEB	BAR	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points

Team's Championships

LMP3

Pos.	Team	DAY	SEB	BAR	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points
1	No. 30 Extreme Speed Motorsports	3	3	1	2	1	2	194
2	No. 47 Forty 7 Motorsports	2	2	16	1	6	1	174
3	No. 3 Extreme Speed Motorsports	4	8	4	3	5	4	163
4	No. 4 ANSA Motorsports	1	13	8	4	2	8	159
5	No. 7 CWR	7	1	3	16	4	13	150
6	No. 17 P1 Motorsports	12	5	6	6	8	9	140
7	No. 75 Performance Tech Motorsports	8	11	13	7	9	5	133
8	No. 51 K2R Motorsports	9	16	7	5	3	16	130
9	No. 42 P1 Motorsports	9	6	9	8	13	12	129
10	No. 25 P1 Motorsports	6	14	11	13	7	17	118
11	No. 40 Polestar Motor Racing Inc.			5	10	11	3	97
12	No. 33 Extreme Speed Motorsports	13	10	12	14		10	96
13	No. 74 Forty 7 Motorsports		17	2	15		15	78
14	No. 87 Five Miles Out Racing			15	9	12	14	77
15	No. 88 Five Miles Out Racing			10	12	14	11	74
16	No. 44 Ave Motorsports	5	7	17				64
17	No. 19 Baker Racing		15	14	11			53
18	No. 60 Wulver Racing					10	6	46
19	No. 55 JDC Motorsports		12				7	43
20	No. 23 Gilbert LMP3 Racing	10	9					43
21	No. 26 K2R Motorsports		4					28
Pos.	Team	DAY	SEB	BAR	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points

Mazda Prototype Challenge

Pos.	Team	DAY	SEB	BAR	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points
1	No. 34 Eurosport Racing	5	9	2	2	6	1	172
2	No. 28 Wolf Motorsports	3	4	4	7	4	2	170
3	No. 22 Performance Tech Motorsports	4	3	8	4	3	3	169
4	No. 77 Performance Tech Motorsports	11	5	7	1	1	5	166
5	No. 86 ONE Motorsports	6	1	5	6	2	10	164
6	No. 36 ONE Motorsports	9	2	6	3	5	4	163
7	No. 11 Performance Tech Motorsports	1	8	3	8	8	9	156
8	No. 31 Eurosport Racing	12		1	5	7	8	127
9	No. 18 Performance Tech Motorsports	7	6	9			7	95
10	No. 24 Eurosport Racing	8	7					47
11	No. 21 ODU Motorsports	2						32
12	No. 32 ONE Motorsports						6	25
13	No. 46 ODU Motorsports	10						21
Pos.	Team	DAY	SEB	BAR	MOS	VIR	ATL	Points

External links

• Prototype Challenge Website Archived 2019-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
• IMSA Website