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| 2021 Le Mans Prototype 3 Class (LMP3) |
| ABOUT IMSA SPORTSCARS |
| About WTSC 2021 |
A closed cockpit car developed by four approved constructors. In addition to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship, LMP2 cars are eligible to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship. This class is not
for the top professional drivers, but for gentlemen racers who prefer these cars to GT cars, or for drivers working
on their skills so that they can move up to the DPi class one day.
Championship, LMP2 cars are eligible to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship. This class is not
for the top professional drivers, but for gentlemen racers who prefer these cars to GT cars, or for drivers working
on their skills so that they can move up to the DPi class one day.
This page is only an update to the About IMSA 2020 web page on this site.
A new class has been added to the IMSA WeatherTech Championship:
Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3)
The LMP3 is the top class in the IMSA Prototype Challenge.
It is Pro/Am and has been a training ground for drivers hoping to move
up to LMP2.
The cars are now being allowed to compete in the WeatherTech series
to aid in bolstering the number of entries across each race.
Only brand-new LMP3s and updated EVO models will be permitted in
the class.
Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3)
The LMP3 is the top class in the IMSA Prototype Challenge.
It is Pro/Am and has been a training ground for drivers hoping to move
up to LMP2.
The cars are now being allowed to compete in the WeatherTech series
to aid in bolstering the number of entries across each race.
Only brand-new LMP3s and updated EVO models will be permitted in
the class.
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WeatherTech Championship Expands to Five Classes
There will be even more action for WeatherTech Championship fans to follow in 2021 as the Daytona Prototype international (DPi),
Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes will be joined by a new class – Le Mans Prototype 3
(LMP3) – at selected events.
A new generation of LMP3 models will be introduced to IMSA competition in 2021-2022 from four approved constructors –
Ligier, Duqueine Engineering, Ginetta and Adess – using 455 horsepower, Nissan VK56 engines. New LMP3 cars or earlier models
that have been updated to the new Evo will be eligible for WeatherTech Championship LMP3 competition.
Both the LMP2 and LMP3 classes will compete for points in six 2021 WeatherTech Championship races.
The Rolex 24 At Daytona serves as a stand-alone event that only counts toward the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup for LMP2 and LMP3.
Driver combinations in LMP2 include a mandatory Bronze-rated driver – consistent with 2020 regulations – but now permit a maximum
of one Platinum-rated driver for all races. The Bronze-rated LMP2 class champion will earn the Jim Trueman Award and an invitation to
participate in the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Two options for LMP3 driver combinations are currently under consideration. One option includes a minimum of one Bronze-rated Am
driver and one Pro driver rated Silver or Gold. The other option includes an Am driver that is either Bronze-rated or a Silver driver under
the age of 25 during the 2021 season, as well as a Pro driver that is either Gold rated or Silver over the age of 25 on the day of their first
2021 WeatherTech Championship event.
Platinum-rated drivers are prohibited in the LMP3 class.
New Championship Points Structure Introduced
IMSA will adopt a new championship points structure for the WeatherTech Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA
Prototype Challenge for all race events.
Points will be 10 times what they were in previous years, with a win now worth 350 points, 320 for second, 300 for third, etc. Points will
continue to be awarded to 30th place in each class.
In addition, the WeatherTech Championship will begin awarding points for qualifying at 10 percent of the 2021 points structure.
A pole will be worth 35 points, with 32 points for a second-place qualifier, 30 for third, etc. down to 30th place in each class
Points from qualifying will be awarded for all drivers in each car in addition to each team. Each manufacturer’s highest-qualifying car
also will earn points toward the manufacturers’ championship.
"The introduction of qualifying points will bring even more excitement to our event weekends and the season championship," said
Doonan. "With points on the line, we expect teams will go all out in qualifying as well as the races to earn as many points as possible.
Qualifying points also will reward a team’s performance throughout an entire weekend."
New Qualifying Format for LMP2, LMP3 and GTD
Qualifying sessions for WeatherTech Championship LMP2, LMP3 and GTD classes will be broken into two segments and split
between two drivers. The first segment will see Am drivers on new sets of tires in each car to set its starting position.
At the end of the Am segment, there will be a mandatory driver and tire change. The driver in the second segment will qualify for
championship points, also using new tires. The tires used in both qualifying segments must be used in the race, and all qualifying
tires are considered part of each team’s event tire allocation.
"Including multiple drivers in qualifying for our Pro-Am classes provides some unique opportunities," Doonan said. "The Am drivers
will continue to play the ultimate role of establishing each car’s starting position, while the Pro drivers should contribute to further
showcasing each car’s performance."
The DPi and GTLM qualifying structure continues as it was in 2020, with each car being qualified by a single driver and also earning
championship points.
There will be even more action for WeatherTech Championship fans to follow in 2021 as the Daytona Prototype international (DPi),
Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes will be joined by a new class – Le Mans Prototype 3
(LMP3) – at selected events.
A new generation of LMP3 models will be introduced to IMSA competition in 2021-2022 from four approved constructors –
Ligier, Duqueine Engineering, Ginetta and Adess – using 455 horsepower, Nissan VK56 engines. New LMP3 cars or earlier models
that have been updated to the new Evo will be eligible for WeatherTech Championship LMP3 competition.
Both the LMP2 and LMP3 classes will compete for points in six 2021 WeatherTech Championship races.
The Rolex 24 At Daytona serves as a stand-alone event that only counts toward the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup for LMP2 and LMP3.
Driver combinations in LMP2 include a mandatory Bronze-rated driver – consistent with 2020 regulations – but now permit a maximum
of one Platinum-rated driver for all races. The Bronze-rated LMP2 class champion will earn the Jim Trueman Award and an invitation to
participate in the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Two options for LMP3 driver combinations are currently under consideration. One option includes a minimum of one Bronze-rated Am
driver and one Pro driver rated Silver or Gold. The other option includes an Am driver that is either Bronze-rated or a Silver driver under
the age of 25 during the 2021 season, as well as a Pro driver that is either Gold rated or Silver over the age of 25 on the day of their first
2021 WeatherTech Championship event.
Platinum-rated drivers are prohibited in the LMP3 class.
New Championship Points Structure Introduced
IMSA will adopt a new championship points structure for the WeatherTech Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA
Prototype Challenge for all race events.
Points will be 10 times what they were in previous years, with a win now worth 350 points, 320 for second, 300 for third, etc. Points will
continue to be awarded to 30th place in each class.
In addition, the WeatherTech Championship will begin awarding points for qualifying at 10 percent of the 2021 points structure.
A pole will be worth 35 points, with 32 points for a second-place qualifier, 30 for third, etc. down to 30th place in each class
Points from qualifying will be awarded for all drivers in each car in addition to each team. Each manufacturer’s highest-qualifying car
also will earn points toward the manufacturers’ championship.
"The introduction of qualifying points will bring even more excitement to our event weekends and the season championship," said
Doonan. "With points on the line, we expect teams will go all out in qualifying as well as the races to earn as many points as possible.
Qualifying points also will reward a team’s performance throughout an entire weekend."
New Qualifying Format for LMP2, LMP3 and GTD
Qualifying sessions for WeatherTech Championship LMP2, LMP3 and GTD classes will be broken into two segments and split
between two drivers. The first segment will see Am drivers on new sets of tires in each car to set its starting position.
At the end of the Am segment, there will be a mandatory driver and tire change. The driver in the second segment will qualify for
championship points, also using new tires. The tires used in both qualifying segments must be used in the race, and all qualifying
tires are considered part of each team’s event tire allocation.
"Including multiple drivers in qualifying for our Pro-Am classes provides some unique opportunities," Doonan said. "The Am drivers
will continue to play the ultimate role of establishing each car’s starting position, while the Pro drivers should contribute to further
showcasing each car’s performance."
The DPi and GTLM qualifying structure continues as it was in 2020, with each car being qualified by a single driver and also earning
championship points.
| SERIES CHANGES FOR 2021 |