IMSA Confirms No GTD Bronze Driver Mandate for 2024

Photo: Porsche

IMSA has confirmed that it will not change the driver categorization requirements for the GTD class next year in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, despite a recent push from several Bronze-rated teams and GT3 manufacturers to mandate a Bronze-rated driver in each driver lineup.

Speaking to reporters following Friday’s 2024 schedule reveal, IMSA President John Doonan said that its current incentives for Bronze-rated drivers will continue, and is set to be expanded at Michelin Endurance Cup events with a full podium celebration for the top three placed GTD entries featuring a Bronze-rated drivers.

The incentives center around the Bob Akin Bronze Cup championship, which awards an automatic invite to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, among other prizes.

“We’ve done everything we can to enhance the category and recognize those drivers,” Doonan said. “I don’t know how many other championships in the world have a champion that goes to an automatic entry at Le Mans.

“That is a big prize, especially with the way the rules have shaken out with ACO/WEC. We’ll continue to analyze it.

“If you look at our current entry list, there’s a big group of folks, half non-Bronze and half Bronze.

“In either case we’d be forcing people into a decision and right now we think it’s the right move to continue to highlight and recognize the Bronzes as we have been.”

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