GTPs Given Weight, Power Increases for Sebring

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

All four LMDh models will have revised Balance of Performance levels for next weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, with the Rolex 24 at Daytona-winning Acura ARX-06 the hardest hit in the weight department.

Issued on Wednesday, the GTP class has undergone wholesale changes compared to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opener where the Acura, BMW M Hybrid V8, Cadillac V-Series.R and Porsche 963 were all on equal numbers.

After each running to a minimum weight of 1030 kg at Daytona, the Acura will now weigh in at 1054 kg, compared to the Porsche at 1048 kg, Cadillac at 1038 kg and BMW at 1040 kg.

It marks a 16 kg swing between the lightest (Cadillac) and heaviest (Acura) top class prototype.

While RPM limits have remained unchanged, the maximum power limit has been increased from the initial 500 kW at Daytona, also to different levels between the manufacturers.

Both the BMW and Cadillac will now have a maximum output of 513 kW, with the Porsche at 517 kW and Acura at 520 kW.

Corresponding maximum stint energy figures has also been declared, with the Acura at 917 MJ, BMW and Cadillac both at 905 MJ and Porsche at 912 MJ, along with adjusted stint energy replenishment rates to equalize energy replenishment times across the four manufacturers.

IMSA also confirmed that there will be no performance changes to the LMP2 category’s configuration from the Rolex 24, with the Oreca 07 Gibsons set to run in the same specification for the second consecutive race.

It comes after data analysis from last month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Sebring International Raceway, which also saw the GTP class cars run with increased power levels.

The sanctioning body has yet to release the BoP for the GTD Pro and GTD classes amid anticipation of possible adjustments to the Type-992 Porsche 911 GT3 R and other new or upgraded GT3 machinery following Daytona.

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