Imsa 2024

[rfuerst911sc]

Sebastian Bourdais to run in LMP2 next year .

Bourdais Joins Tower LMP2 Lineup for 2025 https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/bourdais-joins-tower-lmp2-lineup-for-2025/

[CurtEgerer]

Aston Martin's first IMSA GTP test at Daytona. It won't be difficult to spot from the rear ....

[dlockhart]

[astrochex]

Wow, the rear looks fragile.

[CurtEgerer]

A few pics from 3-day IMSA test at Sebring today. Hoping to see the Aston Martin Hypercar but nobody seems to know if it's coming or doing a private test later. Also was told today that IMSA is now prohibiting private team testing at Sebring from December 1 until the 12 Hour in March

Pratt & Miller were shaking down some customer Corvettes and were also running an LMP2 car.

[CurtEgerer]

[CurtEgerer]

[URY914]

https://en.endurance-info.com/auto/article/114455-imsa-no-aston-martin-valkyrie-24-hours-daytona

IMSA - No Aston Martin Valkyrie at the 24 Hours of Daytona

[CurtEgerer]

^^^ Interesting because AM was supposed to be testing at Sebring this week according to Sportscar 365 (their GT3 car is there). I wonder if something happened at Daytona? I talked to a couple of people at the track and they said the AM Hypercar was not on the list for the 3-day test concluding today. Maybe a private test next week. That would seem to be their last opportunity given the new IMSA 12/1 testing ban.

[rfuerst911sc]

Lamborghini pulls out of WEC but will continue in IMSA .

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lamborghini-pauses-hypercar-lmgt3-efforts-after-single-season/

[CurtEgerer]

Their GT3 cars are gone as well. WEC's new requirement that each manufacturer have a 2-car team + a 2-car GT3 team is making things VERY expensive. Plenty of manufacturers looking to get in though and, eventually, the grid will limit out. Lamborghini may not ever be able to re-enter. Iron Lynx who was running the Huracan GT3s has switched to Mercedes AMG GTs, which allows Mercedes to also run at Le Mans for the first time in many years. Can a M-B Hypercar be far behind? We've also got Hyundai coming in and McLaren as a near certainty. The Golden Age of endurance racing.

I suppose this is all good for IMSA, as long as they don't implement a 2-car rule.

[CurtEgerer]

Hyundai/Genesis unveiled their new Hypercar for 2026 WEC & IMSA .... no word on the engine. Let's hope for another V12, but it's likely going to be a V6 TT.

[CurtEgerer]

One-hour IMSA 2025 preview coming up tomorrow at 3:00 on NBC & Peacock. And our long national nightmare is nearly over - only 14 days until the Roar

[astrochex]

I’ll be going to the ROAR on Friday and working the 24 on Sat/Sun.

[URY914]

The Roar used to be the secret event that no one attended. Now you need to go on friday to avoid the crowds.

[William930t]

The Roar last year had what seemed like 70% of actual infield race crowd. Traditionally NASCAR turn 3/4 camping area is reserved for Scouts Weekend, compacting the Roar "free" space. Last year was also the filming of the brad Pitt racing movie, likely brought additional interest. I'm not sure I will make the double weekend trip from Atlanta for the Roar+Rolex 24. Race is a must, only missed two since 1971. It's incredible how DIS has evolved over the years.

Should we start a IMSA 2025 Discussion?

[rfuerst911sc]

^^^ A IMSA/WEC 2025 thread would be good to cross cover the races in both series .

[URY914]

I know that having the Roar the weekend before the 24 is best for the teams and having two race weekends in a row is great for us fans that live close. Maybe they are thinking people will want to escape the cold and spent over a week down here. I wish they would send out the tickets for the Roar at the same time as the 24.

[CurtEgerer]

^^^ Sebring is changing things up this year by hosting the Classic 12 Hour the weekend before the 12 Hour. So there's basically about 10 days of racing.