What is the International Motor Sport Association (IMSA)
It is a North American sport car racing, featuring different series, with WeatherTech SportsCar Championship being the premeir series. IMSA features multiple series, with different types of cars competing at the same time and includes both endurance and sprint races.
Now there are 8 different series that race under the IMSA umbrella, the one we are going to focus on is WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, the main series and the one Logan will be racing in.
WeatherTech sports car championship (WTSCC) features two styles features 2 types of cars
Prototype, which shows the latest automotive technology and are designed for the racetrack.
GT, which are based on road going production models
-These two style of cars make up the series’ 4 classes
-All 4 classes run at the same time on the track
-The cars are all different in performance, including weight, power, design, and technology
-WTSCC uses a leader light system to help fans follow the on track action. The Position of the car is displayed on an LED panel mounted to the side pod the car and the color of LED number corresponds with the class. (the colors below)
- Example: an illuminated LED red number 5 on an GTD PRO style car means that is in 5th place in the GTD PRO class
Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) (black)
- The top class in the IMSA WTSCC
- The most technology advanced prototype race car
- Hybrid-powered prototypes
-Based on *LMDh regulations, they are eligble to race at both IMSA and FIA WEC events (i.e. Le Mans)
-There are no driver rating restrictions
Which means all-pro lineups are allowed
2. Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) (Logan!!) (blue)
-Serves as a stepping stone between LMP3 and GTP
-Uses spec chassis and Gibson V8 engines
-There are diver rating restrictions
Must include at least 1 Bronze or Silver driver
No more than 1 Platinum driver allowed
3. GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) (red)
-Uses the same GT3-spec cars at GTD
-Designed for factory-supported temas and all pro driver lineups
-No driver rating regulations
Platinum + gold pairings are common
Focuses on manufacturer backed professional racing
4. GT Daytona (GTD) (green)
-Based on FIA GT3 regulations
-Features race cars from production models (i.e. Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, etc)
-Most popular class in IMSA
-There are driver rating restrictions
Must include at least 1 Bronze or Silver driver
Maximum of 1 Gold or Platinum driver
-All the classes within WTSCC run Michelin tyres
-There is just 1 dry (slick) and 1 wet tyre for each race event
-Unlike formula 1, any equipment for warming tyres or keeping them to temperature is forbidden
Friday/Saturday: Qualifying
-Usually held on Friday, sometimes Thursday for endurance races (i.e. Daytona, Sebring)
Practice 1: 60-90 minutes
Practice 2: 60-90 minutes (can be a night session for endurance)
Practice 3: 45-60 minutes (optional)
Warm-up: 15-30 minutes on race day
-Purpose: prepare the car, drivers, and strategy for the race
-All drivers must drive in at least one pratice session to be eligible to race
-Usually held on Fridays or Saturdays depending on the event
-Sessions are split by class, one class on the track at a time
-15-20 minutes per class (20 for gtp; 15 for all other classes)
-No refueling or tyres changes allowed during the session (unless red-flagged)
-Only 1 driver per car is allowed to qualify
-Driver must be pre-declared before qualifying session
-Rolling Start after formation lap
-Classes are lined up by qualifying order
-The race duration varies by event
-Drive Stints and Rotations
-Mininum and maximum drive times per driver based on class and race length
-Driver changes are done during a pitstop
-Pitstops have 3 key parts
2. tyres (can not be done during refueling)
-They can also do repairs if needed (can not be done during refueling)
-Pitstops last 30-75 seconds depending on what needs done
-If the race needs to be neutralized or stopped for safety reasons, multiple procedures can be decided by race control
-Race Neutralization is typically due to on-track incident (crash, debris, oil), weather conditions, barrier damage, etc.
-During a neuatralization cars must slow down to safety speed, there is no overtaking, not racing resumed until directed
-Intended for short problems
-Safety car picks up overall leader
-All cars pack-up behind safety car, in current running order
only cars that have their class leader behind them in the pack-up are eligible
moves eligible cars around the safety car and back to the rear of the pack-up, remaining in running order
prevents cars that are not in the same class as the overall leader from losing track position by being “trapped” behind the safety car
-Used when incident is too dangerous to manage with cars on track (makor crashes, severe weather, barrier needs repaired)
-Cars line-up at pit exit or pit box
-Yellow-local(one flag): there is a danger at one part of the track, slow done and no overtaking at that point of the track
-Yellow-full course(double flag): all cars must slow mantain position behind pace car
-Yellow with red stripes: debris on track
-Red: used to stop a session
-Blue: faster car is appoaching
-Black: must reports to the pits immediately due to rule infraction
-Black with disk: must report to the pits due to a mechanical issue
-White: waved when there is one lap to go
-Checkered: indicates a session is over
-Each race has multiple winners with each class competing for its own win
The first place car in each class is the class winner
They stand on the podium with 2nd and 3rd in their class (not based on overall position)
Four seperate podiums per class, 1 per class
-Example: If you are in GTD and finish P15, but 1st in GTD, you win in your class
-There are 3 different championship types
1. IMSA WeatherTech Championship (main)
2. Michelin Endurance Cup (endurance races only 4 races)
3. Sprint Cup (GTD only 7 races)
-Points are awarded after qualifying, after the race
-During endurance races, points are awarded at certain hour marks to encourage hard racing throughout the event (i.e. points can be earned at the 6hr or 12 hr mark)
How the Championships are Won
-Driver with the most points in their class = driver champion
-Team with the most points in their class = Team Champions
-Manufacturer with the most points = Manufacturer Champion
Only highest-finishing car from each brand scores for manufacterur points
-From there it drops by 1 point until 30+ then it just 1 point
-From there drops by 10 until 30+ who just earn 10
-There are around 55 cars racing during 2025 season but entry numbers can vary per race
-Line-ups are composed of 2-4 drivers depending on the type of race it is (standard, sprint or endurance)
-Although IMSA isn’t under the FIA it follows FIA Driver Categorization System which clasifies drivers into:
-The categorization can be adjusted following the pace of the driver during the current season and his/ her results in the series he/she is taking part in.
PLATINUM DRIVERS (just some basics)
-has held a Super Licence (for Formula One)
-has won the Le Mans 24 Hours in a professional category (LMP1 / LMGTE Pro)
-has been a Factory Driver, paid by a car manufacturer, with results to match
-has finished in the top 3 in the general classification of an F3 international series or major international single-seater championship
-has finished in the top 3 in the general classification of a secondary international single-seater series
-has won the general classification of a regional or national single-seater series
-has competed in the FIA F2, GP2, GP3, FIA F3 or Super Formula series since 2012 and has finished on the podium on three or more occasions in one calendar season.
-is a driver whose average lap time has been consistently as fast or faster over the majority of the season than the average lap time of Gold drivers competing in the same event of the season
-driver aged under 30 and not satisfying the criteria of categories Platinum and Gold
-driver who has finished in 1st place in the general classification of regional or major national championships or international series, or has won a major endurance race
-driver who has won a non-professional drivers' series or a regional, national or international single-make lower category series organized by a Manufacturer
-has competed competitively in high-level international karting competitions
-Any driver who was over 30 years old when his/her first license was issued, and who has little or no single-seater experience.
-Any driver over 30, previously categorized as Silver, but with no significant results (titles, pole positions or race wins) and whose performance has been shown to be that of a Bronze driver in a monitored series.
-Any driver under 30 years old with a license issued for the first time during the same year as their first categorization and who has not competed in high-level international karting competitions.
Now after all of that, where the hell does our Logan Sargeant fit in?
-Logan is a gold category driver
-Logan will be joining PR1/Mathiasen Motorsport for the final 2 rounds of IMSA WeatherTech Championship in an LMP2
-He is will be politing the #52 Oreca 07 (Ls2 Ls52)
-His teammates (also under #52)
-The rounds he is competing are:
TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks (Indianapolis Motor Speedway): 6 hour endurance race
Motul Petit Le Mans (Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta): 10 classic endurance challenge
Fun Fact: Logan has already made an endurance racing debut!
-In 2021 he made a brief but impressive debut with Iron Lynx
-He secured 2 pole positions and 2 wins in a Ferrari 488 GT3
European Le Mans (LMP2 Class)
-He also drove for Racing Team Turkey in two races of ELMS
-Claiming a pole position on his first outing
Please feel free to correct me or add things in reblogs/replies :) I am very new so I will be learning with everyone 🙌
