Doonan Expecting “Very Solid” Grids in 2024 Despite No LMP3

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

The elimination of the LMP3 class from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will not likely have a negative effect on overall car counts next year according to series president John Doonan, who is predicting roughly a 50/50 split between prototype and GT machinery in 2024.

Grid sizes in both LMP2 and GTD are expected to grow, with a number of existing LMP3 teams moving to the two remaining Pro-Am driver-enforced classes, while GTP and GTD Pro will feature additional teams as well, leaving IMSA with potentially the same number, if not more, full-season entrants.

This year’s field has featured 42 full-time entries across five classes, with at least two more GTPs expected in the second Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport Acura ARX-06 and Proton Competition’s Porsche 963, among numerous LMP2 additions including a planned two-car effort from United Autosports.

“At the moment given all the conversations we’re having, the forecast is very solid and very sunny for the sport,” Doonan told Sportscar365.

“There’s a lot of interest in LMP2 from existing teams and those that have announced their intentions.

“GT is exactly the same, and we’ll have Proton [joining] GTP real soon and Lamborghini will also be a player [beginning next year].

“Now you’ve got almost half and half, prototypes and GTs, when you add GTP and LMP2, then GTD Pro and GTD. It’s looking quite solid for next year.

“We’ll announce the schedule at Road America but we’ll also announce a registration process that gives us a better indication earlier of where we sit.”

The production-based ranks will also see growth next year with a two-car Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R effort alongside a pair of Multimatic-run factory Ford Mustang GT3s in GTD Pro, plus other additions.

“Based on what the market has told us, GTD Pro and GTD both have a place,” Doonan said. “I think based on Ford’s comments, they plan to run a GTD Pro effort. Corvette is coming back, so we’ve got a battle of Detroit makes.

“In trying to read the forecast, you could see several of the existing ones back.

“Clearly the OEMs have asked for [GTD Pro]. Having a team like Pfaff, which is a championship-winning effort, multiple times, express that they like that format of going up against up factory-endorsed programs is incredible.”

Doonan said IMSA is currently evaluating the class makeup of the 2024 schedules, which may need to be re-evaluated at some tracks given circuit capacity.

“The first thing you have to look at is how many pit stalls do you have on pit lane at the tracks,” he said. “Square footage in the paddock is the next thing.

“So we have to be smart there and not put anybody in too tight of a space, and also diminish in any way their experience with us.

“It’s going to be tricky but in conversations with teams and manufacturers, indications are that we’re going to need to move that registration deadline up to get a handle on who’s coming.”

The 2024 schedule is set to be released early next month at Road America although IMSA has postponed its annual ‘State of the Sport’ address to October’s season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans for undisclosed reasons.

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