| {{flagicon|CAN}} Zach Robichon<ref name="RobichontoParkPlace">{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/robichon-joins-park-place-for-detroit-in-sprint-cup-bid/|title=Robichon Joins Park Place for Detroit in Sprint Cup Bid|last=Dagys|first=John|date=May 22, 2019|work=sportscar365.com|publisher=John Dagys Media|access-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Zacharie Robichon]]<ref name="RobichontoParkPlace">{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/robichon-joins-park-place-for-detroit-in-sprint-cup-bid/|title=Robichon Joins Park Place for Detroit in Sprint Cup Bid|last=Dagys|first=John|date=May 22, 2019|work=sportscar365.com|publisher=John Dagys Media|access-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref>
| 5
| 5
|-
|-
Revision as of 13:37, 24 March 2023
49th season of the racing series organized by IMSA
Michelin increased its IMSA involvement by becoming the sole official tire supplier of the series, following the departure of Continental Tire at the end of 2018.
As part of a plan to attempt to cut costs for the series' GT Daytona (GTD) class, the 2019 season featured a new support championship called the WeatherTech Sprint Cup. The championship was held for the GT Daytona class at the sprint events of the calendar.[3]
After an eleven-year partnership, Tequila Patrón ended their involvement with IMSA altogether at the end of the 2018 season. They also ended their sponsorship of the Extreme Speed Motorsports prototype team, who subsequently closed down operations.[4]Michelin took Patrón's place as the sponsor of the endurance cup.[5]
As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of IMSA, multiple teams adopted racing liveries created in tribute to iconic teams throughout IMSA's history, such as Brumos Porsche, Electramotive Engineering, Roush Racing, and Comptech Acura.[6][7][8][9]
Classes
The Daytona Prototype International (pictured on the left) and LMP2 (right) categories were given their own distinct classes for the 2019 season.
The DPi class is now the lead class of the championship, and features teams with full professional lineups running DPi cars. The class has its own Balance of Performance (BoP). The LMP2 class is the lower prototype class in the championship, featuring Global LMP2 cars with Pro-Am lineups. There is no BoP applied to the LMP2 class.
Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) and GT Daytona (GTD), the Pro-Am classes of the championship, must adhere to driver rating requirements. Each car is only allowed two Platinum-rated or Gold-rated drivers for the endurance events, alongside the requirement of at least one Bronze-rated or Silver-rated driver for all sprint races. In these classes, the Bronze or Silver-rated drivers are required to start the race.[11]
Schedule
The 2019 schedule was released on August 3, 2018 and features twelve rounds.[12]
Championship points are awarded in each class at the finish of each event. Points are awarded based on finishing positions as shown in the chart below.
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 points
Points are awarded in each class at the finish of each event.
Team points
Team points are calculated in exactly the same way as driver points, using the point distribution chart. Each car entered is considered its own "team" regardless if it is a single entry or part of a two-car team.
Manufacturer points
There are also a number of manufacturer championships which utilize the same season-long point distribution chart. The manufacturer championships recognized by IMSA are as follows:
Daytona Prototype international (DPi): Engine & bodywork manufacturer
GT Le Mans (GTLM): Car manufacturer
GT Daytona (GTD): Car manufacturer
Each manufacturer receives finishing points for its highest finishing car in each class. The positions of subsequent finishing cars from the same manufacturer are not taken into consideration, and all other manufacturers move up in the order.
Example: Manufacturer A finishes 1st and 2nd at an event, and Manufacturer B finishes 3rd. Manufacturer A receives 35 first-place points while Manufacturer B would earn 32 second-place points.
Michelin Endurance Cup
The points system for the Michelin Endurance Cup is different from the normal points system. Points are awarded on a 5–4–3–2 basis for drivers, teams and manufacturers. The first finishing position at each interval earns five points, four points for second position, three points for third, with two points awarded for fourth and each subsequent finishing position.
Position
1
2
3
Other Classified
Race
5
4
3
2
At Daytona (24 hour race), points are awarded at six hours, 12 hours, 18 hours and at the finish. At the Sebring (12 hour race), points are awarded at four hours, eight hours and at the finish. At Watkins Glen (6 hour race), points are awarded at three hours and at the finish. At Road Atlanta (10 hour race), points are awarded at four hours, eight hours and at the finish.
Like the season-long team championship, Michelin Endurance Cup team points are awarded for each car and drivers get points in any car that they drive, in which they are entered for points. The manufacturer points go to the highest placed car from that manufacturer (the others from that manufacturer not being counted), just like the season-long manufacturer championship.
For example: in any particular segment manufacturer A finishes 1st and 2nd and manufacturer B finishes 3rd. Manufacturer A only receives first-place points for that segment. Manufacturer B receives the second-place points.
† Points only counted towards the WeatherTech Sprint Cup, and not the overall GTD Championship.
1 Originally finished 2nd in class, but demoted to last after violating minimum drive time regulations. 2 Originally finished 14th in class, but demoted to last after violating minimum drive time regulations.
† Points only counted towards the WeatherTech Sprint Cup, and not the overall GTD Championship.
1 Originally finished 2nd in class, but demoted to last after violating minimum drive time regulations. 2 Originally finished 14th in class, but demoted to last after violating minimum drive time regulations.