2015 IMSA Prototype Lites Schedule Released

The 2015 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda schedule features stability and a fresh challenge, as the IMSA Development Series will compete at six classic venues from 2014 and a new event at NOLA Motorsports Park in its 10th season.

IMSA unveiled today a seven-venue, 14-round schedule for the series, which provides thrilling action and grooms drivers and teams for future TUDOR United SportsCar Championship competition in the Prototype and Prototype Challenge classes.

The series will run 10 of its 14 rounds as a companion to TUDOR Championship events, providing plenty of high-profile visibility for teams and drivers at the largest sports car racing events in North America.

“IMSA Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda is fast becoming recognized for grooming and developing drivers who advance to the professional level of sports car racing,” said Steven Sewell, senior series manager, IMSA Development Series.

“The series features an expanding grid of competitive racers, and we are proud to showcase the series at some of our most popular TUDOR Championship events. The addition of a new event at NOLA also provides the opportunity to introduce our competitors to a new market of fans.”

The season gets underway March 18-20 at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, as part of the prestigious Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida race week.

Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda competitors then will race at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana, for the first time April 10-12 during the track’s inaugural INDYCAR event weekend. The facility features a 16-turn, 2.75-mile circuit.

Next up is the traditional summer stretch of events June 25-27 at Watkins Glen International in the scenic Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, July 9-12 on the challenging Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, and Aug. 7-9 at the classic Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. All of those races will take place on TUDOR Championship event weekends.

The series returns Aug. 28-29 to Virginia International Raceway in Danville, Virginia, for the second consecutive year with an event featuring special incentives for teams and competitors provided by Cooper Tires.

Cooper Tires will serve as the entitlement sponsor of both rounds and also provide a half-day promoter test session Thursday, Aug. 27 at no cost to teams.

Cooper Tires also is supporting the event by providing the first-ever combined event purse for a Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda event. Podium finishers in Lites 1 and Lites 1 Masters will share a $17,000 overall purse.

Both rounds at VIR will be streamed live on FansChoice.TV.

The season again will end during the Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda weekend Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, one of the most prestigious events in the TUDOR Championship.

2015 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda Schedule
March 18-20 Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Florida*
April 10-12 NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, Louisiana
June 25-27 Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York*
July 9-12 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario*
Aug. 7-9 Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin*
Aug. 28-29 Virginia International Raceway, Danville, Virginia
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia*

* — In conjunction with IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship events