CORE Planning 2020 Return With Nissan DPi

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

CORE autosport is planning a return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with its Nissan DPi according to Jon Bennett, who is taking a long-term approach to his team’s level of investment in the DPi class.

The Rock Hill, S.C.-based organization, which made the switch from LMP2 to the Ligier Automotive-built DPi car this year, has revealed intentions of continuing in the top prototype class with the unchanged lineup of Bennett and Colin Braun.

Despite some early season struggles, Bennett has expressed the desire to build on their first season with the DPi package that it acquired from the now-defunct Extreme Speed Motorsports late last year.

“We don’t have any plans to change our shape,” Bennett told Sportscar365. “I don’t know what that means and what IMSA has planned for us, but we’re certainly happy with the Nissan DPi.

“In many ways, every time we come to a race track this year, it’s not our first time there, but it’s the first time we’ve been there with this car.

“Next year will be a nice opportunity to at least have a set of notes to work from as we go from track to track.

“We want to take advantage of some of what we’re learning this year and be able to apply that to next year.”

Bennett noted the expansion within the team, primarily from an engineering standpoint, has paid dividends, although not yet fully with on-track results. 

“We have an amazing team and amazing staff right now, with wonderful, effective experts in all the different areas that we need,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to leveraging that as a polished unit next year.

“We met quite a few new people this year, we have some new expert positions we didn’t have last year. It’s really gelling quite well.

“Like I mentioned to the team, our results have not measured our effort at the moment. But that’s something we have to have patience with because it will turn around.”

CORE Looking for “All Opportunities” for DPi 2.0

While locked into its current customer-based DPi package, Bennett admitted CORE has continued to look at options for the future, particularly around the next-generation DPi regulations due in 2022.

The team, which operates Porsche’s factory GT Le Mans class effort, has previously voiced the desire of aligning with a manufacturer for a similar works program in DPi. 

“We’re quite happy with our relationship with Nissan at the moment,” Bennett said. “Nissan is committed to continuing to support the DPi effort here at CORE.

“We really have no complaints. But in all business, you have to keep your eyes open for all opportunities and we’re certainly at that point for 2022 and beyond.”

Porsche is known to be among the manufacturers currently involved in the DPi 2.0 steering committee, to help shape the next-generation regulations.

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