WeatherTech Championship To Drop LMP3 Class From 2024

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will not feature a class for LMP3 cars from 2024 onwards, due to growth in the other categories.

LMP3 cars, which have formed part of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship grid since 2021, will instead be exclusively accepted in the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge for LMP3 and GT4 cars on the IMSA support package. The current crop of cars will be eligible through the current 2026 homologation period.

“The LMP3 class has contributed to the growth and success of the WeatherTech Championship since 2021,” IMSA President John Doonan said.

“With that has come expanded fields at many events that can test the capacity limits we have at some IMSA tracks. We expect that growth trend to continue into 2024 and beyond, making it necessary to just have the GTP and LMP2 classes for Prototypes with GTD PRO and GTD classes for Grand Touring (GT) competing together going forward.”

The GTP, GTD Pro and GTD classes are all expected to grow next year. In GTP Lamborghini’s unnamed LMDh car is set to feature during the season, in addition to other customer GTP entries with the Porsche 963 platorm. New GTD cars from Corvette and Ford are due to debut too.

DSC also believes that the LMP2 category is also set to feature healthy numbers, with multiple new teams to the class from IMSA and beyond known to be looking at filing entries.

The final race for the WeatherTech LMP3 class is set to be at this year’s season-ending Petit Le Mans in October.

“We’ve already seen the promise that the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge holds through the first two event weekends,” Doonan added. “We saw a considerable increase in entries between the first race of the season at Daytona and Round 2 at Sebring, and the competition is tight.

“The format of two 45-minute sprint races on a weekend allows LMP3 entrants to race for overall wins while competitors in both the LMP3 and GSX classes gain valuable multiclass racing experience. It’s the best learning environment for drivers and teams looking to move up the IMSA ladder.”