The United SportsCar Racing Series announced the new class specification rules for its inaugural season, which kicks off at the 24 Hours of Daytona next year.
USCR, which was announced this May, will see North America’s two biggest sportscar series – American Le Mans and Grand-Am – merge to create a new, unified racing body under IMSA.
Class structures were announced earlier this year and will include the P2 prototypes (ALMS) and Daytona Prototypes (DP) (Grand-Am) as the top class, followed by the Prototype Challenge (PC), GTLM (Le Mans/ACO GT) and GT Daytona class.
The top ALMS P1 class was dropped completely, presumably because of the high enrollment in European competition and to ensure maximum entries in each class.
The GT Daytona (GTD) class will include the current Porsche 911s of the ALMS GTC class, as well as the Grand-Am GX class. In an announcement yesterday, the low-car count of GX required the series to merge it with the larger GTD class.
Despite the structure announcement, vehicle specifications were unclear. Today’s announcement helps clarify how the combined classes will be regulated.
Prototype Class
- Performance balancing between the ALMS P2, DeltaWing and DP cars
- Cars considered P2 in origin will follow current technical specs of the ACO
- Paddle shifters and 6-speed gearboxes allowed for all cars
- Sonic air intake restrictors for all approved engines for P2 and DP cars
PC Class
- Prototype Challenge class will use current ALMS PC specs
GT Class
- 2014 GT Daytona class performance adjusted for new class structure
- 2014 GT Le Mans class will retain ALMS’ current GT specs
- Side nets around driver seat as added safety measure to keep drivers in place during an incident
GTD Class
- Current Grand-Am GX class to be transitioned into GT Daytona class
- Grand-Am GT teams will run adjusted performance levels to assist in cost reduction
- Restricting engine air intake will be mandatory, as will single-lug, single piece wheels
- GTD cars will carry a series-specified rear wing
- GTD may also include FIA GT3 cars with minimal modifications
Additional notes:
Cars in every class except for PC will also carry series-mandated data loggers, which will be downloaded on every pit stop. Teams will be responsible for the proper operation of the data loggers.
To help delineate the classes, each car will use standardized number panels with colored backgrounds identifying each class, similar to what is being used currently in the ALMS. The panels will be backlit for night races.
Another feature sure to be popular with fans is the return of a new and improved Leader Lights system, which will be required on all cars. The colored lights, which will be similar in color to the number panels, will enable fans to determine each car’s running position within its class at all times during United SportsCar Racing events.
