IMSA Bumps Snow, Van der Linde to Gold Rating

Photo: IMSA

IMSA has made its first-ever series-specific driver ratings change, confirming both Madison Snow and Sheldon van der Linde as Gold-rated drivers when competing in any IMSA-sanctioned event beginning next year.

It comes in the wake of Friday’s release of the provisional FIA driver ratings for 2019, which listed both drivers as Silver.

Snow teamed with Gold-rated Bryan Sellers to win the GT Daytona class championship with Paul Miller Racing, scoring wins at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Lime Rock Park in their No. 48 Lamborghini Huracan GT3.

Van der Linde, meanwhile, took part in the Michelin Endurance Cup races for Montaplast by Land Motorsport as the team’s designated Silver-rated driver, who regularly outpaced his pro-rated co-drivers.

While van der Linde was not tabbed to complete a full IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, Snow’s re-adjustment will force a driver change in the Paul Miller lineup for 2019.

The IMSA-specific adjustments have been made through the sanctioning body’s recently formed Driver Evaluation Committee, which is aimed to eliminate the so-called ‘fake Silvers’ in the Pro-Am-enforced classes.

Under recommendation by IMSA, a number of current Silver-rated IMSA drivers were also upgraded by the FIA, including Katherine Legge, Mario Farnbacher, Kyle Marcelli, Gunnar Jeannette, Daniel Morad and Sean Rayhall. 

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