Doonan Speaks on Addition of IMSA’s ‘BoP Conduct’ Rule

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

IMSA President John Doonan has spoken regarding the sanctioning body’s new rule that prohibits competitors from making public comments about the Balance of Performance process.

The clause, added to the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sporting regulations earlier this month, states that “any infringement may be penalized by IMSA Officials at any time” should the sanctioning body deem them to be aimed to influence the BoP process or be detrimental to the sport.

Speaking to assembled reporters during last weekend’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona, Doonan clarified the reasons behind the new rule, which mirrors that of the FIA World Endurance Championship that has been enforced for the last two years.

“BoP is a necessary part of our sport,” said Doonan. “We have 18 auto manufacturers racing in this sport with all the different platforms and all the different powertrains and all the different aero.

“It’s incredibly important, in order to produce the incredible show that we want, to have BoP. It’s a necessary part of it.

“I actually love our BoP meetings. People may say that I need to go see my doctor. The bottom line is that’s the product we’re putting forth.

“We have a very clear process. We work really hard with the manufacturers to have a great understanding and a great line of communication on how BoP should and present at the end of the race, a level playing field where everyone’s fighting and everyone has a chance.

“That’s our ultimate goal at IMSA. And I know that’s what the manufacturers want. It’s what I wanted when I was on the manufacturer side.

“In order to have a good process you need communication. I think that communication should remain with us. We’re all in the business of growing the sport, not tearing it down.

“I think our sport of endurance sports car racing is tricky enough to understand that we want to educate people on what BoP is and how that works.

“It’s incumbent on us to communicate that more. In short, we shouldn’t be airing out our issues in public. That’s the goal.”

When asked by Sportscar365 if the rule was implemented because of the WEC, Doonan said:  “We obviously have our strategic alliance with the ACO, Pierre [Fillon, ACO President] and his team. We looked at that and adjusted it in the same manner.

“The intent is the same. We’re not trying to prevent anybody from talking to the media. Of course we want [them] to tell the stories.

“The fact that you all (the media) are here is really important for us. That’s all we want to do.”

Doonan suggested that further clarity on IMSA’s BoP process could eventually be part of its newly launched IMSA Labs initiative, which was announced at Daytona last week during its third annual IMSA Technology Symposium, held at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

“It raises a good point that I think we could probably try to simplify it down,” he said. “I’ve been around the sport all my life.

“It’s hard to explain. If we could put together a tutorial on what BoP is, that might benefit us all.”

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