18 LMP3 Cars Set for Daytona Season Opener

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

A total of 18 LMP3 cars are set for next weekend’s IMSA Prototype Challenge season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.

IMSA has released the entry list for the three-hour enduro, although have officially withheld driver lineups until early next week once they have been finalized.

The race, which will kick off the six-round season on Jan. 4, will feature an overhaul to the sporting regulations, including the mandatory use of two-driver lineups, one of which must be Bronze-rated.

Additionally, minimum pit stop time have been eliminated.

Platinum and Gold-rated drivers will continue to be prohibited in the development series.

The entry, which is one down from the 2019 race at Daytona, features three LMP3 constructors, with the Ave-Riley AR2 Nissan returning for Dylan Murry and Jim Cox, in an effort run by Riley Motorsports.

The car’s homologation is set to lapse once IMSA introduces the new-generation LMP3 cars, which are due in 2021.

Seven Norma M30 Nissans are listed alongside ten Ligier JS P3 Nissans, which will again make up the majority of the grid.

It includes a two-car effort from Performance Tech Motorsports and Jr III Racing, which is planning its first full-season effort in the series.

Veteran European Le Mans Series LMP3 squad Nielsen Racing, meanwhile, will make its North American debut with a Norma for Garrett Grist and Rob Hodes.

Track action for IPC competitors kicks off on Fri. Jan. 3 with three practice sessions, with qualifying scheduled for Sat. Jan 4 at 8:45 a.m. ET, followed by the three-hour race at 12:15 p.m., which will be streamed live on IMSA.tv.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John