IMSA to assess LMP3, TCR and GT4 regulations for future use
US sanctioning body IMSA is evaluating the LMP3, TCR and GT4 categories as it maps out the future for its roster of series
IMSA stated that it was "taking into consideration" the trio of global classes in a memo to teams and stakeholders designed to open a dialogue on plans for the IMSA SportsCar Championship, the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and the Prototype Lites category.
It explained that it was reacting to a trend of "increased complexity of conversion from production vehicles to race vehicles".
The memo focuses on the future of the Prototype Challenge category in its premier championship, the Grand Sport and Street Tuner classes of the CTSC and both divisions of the Lites series.
IMSA evaluated the adoption of LMP3 for PC last year, before opting to remain with the existing ORECA-Chevrolet FLM09 one-make racer, pictured, at least until the end of 2017.
A home for P3 could also potentially be found in the top division of the Lites prototype feeder series, which is currently a one-make class for the Panoz-Mazda DP02.
GT4 cars such as the Aston Martin Vantage and the Porsche Cayman Clubsport already compete in the GS division of the CTSC.
It could adopt the category in the same way as it mandated pure FIA GT3 machinery for the GT Daytona class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship ahead of this season.
The TCR category, which was launched last year, might provide a fit with the ST division.
IMSA president Scott Atherton said: "There is truly a desire on our part to start that dialogue and to hear from every stakeholder we have.
"The follow-along to this memo will be a series of conferences that will be aligned with specific categories to throw out some ideas that we've been batting around internally, and see if they make sense."
Atherton and IMSA chief executive officer Ed Bennett stressed that no decisions about the future had been made.
The future of the Prototype class, GT Le Mans and GTD are already confirmed and are not part of this process.
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