IMSA Makes Changes to Separate GTD Pro, GTD Classes

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

IMSA has made several changes in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sporting regulations to separate the GTD Pro and GTD classes next year, including the introduction individual qualifying sessions and a class split during full-course cautions.

While set to still utilize the same Balance of Performance and Michelin Pilot Sport Pro tires, the two classes will be treated more individually in qualifying and race procedures.

It will include separate 15-minute qualifying sessions, which will see all GTD Pro cars starting ahead of the GTD class, no matter their qualifying times, in a identical format to what’s enforced between the GTP and LMP2 categories.

Additionally, IMSA will aim to have cars in category order during race restarts through a revised class split while under yellows.

The change has been met by approval from GTD Pro and GTD drivers alike.

“IMSA made a step in the right direction,” said Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports driver Nicky Catsburg. “I believe they thought that everyone would enjoy the GTD class to be one big class, but I think the opposite was true.

“People want to race people in their class and don’t want to get involved too much with people who weren’t in their class.

“The way the races were run last time meant that we were always in each other’s way, which made it frustrating for everyone.

“I’m happy they went in this direction and I think we have renewed energy going into this season because I think this was the right way to go.

“I think things will go back to how they were in GTLM days. Hopefully that will make things a little less frustrating.”

Inception Racing driver Ollie Millroy, who competes in GTD, also voiced support of the revised format.

Inception Racing’s Ollie Millroy added: “For us, it’s good because we normally qualify Brendan [Iribe], who’s a Bronze, and some of the cars have Silvers and qualify them, so it’s good for us because it means with they’re not helping the guys that are you out at the front of the grid.

“We’re happy, and I think it makes sense. I don’t think there’s a reason why GTD and GTD Pro need to interfere with each other’s races. I can’t see any negative to it, really.”

Fellow Ferrari GTD driver Manny Franco added:”As long as they can make it a quick execution, then I don’t really mind it. I think it’s probably better because sometimes when you have the restarts, we ask, ‘Who’s in front? Who’s behind?’

“Probably sometimes for the pro guys [ask], ‘Who’s behind?’, and it is kind of annoying to let them by because it’s not your race, and there’s no point for me as a first driver or even like Cedric [Sbirrazzuoli] as our second driver.

“Our job is just to take the car and pass it along to our pro. So if we can have it so that we’re just immediately fighting only to guys that we have to fight, to me, that sounds great, because you’re not even thinking about it.

“At least for three or four laps until the GTPs come around again, and then you think about it again. But for me, if they can execute it quickly, it sounds like a good idea.”

Vasser Sullivan Lexus GTD Pro ace Kyle Kirkwood, meanwhile, believes it will leave “less room for error” with GTD Pro cars lined up together.

“I think we’re happy about it,” he said. “It just leaves less room for errors based on other cars that are just as quick as you, but you’re not racing against them.

“In some ways, it changes strategy things a little bit, which is going to be the biggest question mark, because now it’s not as big of a detriment to take a pit stop if you want to take fresh tires or or take any yellow, because you’re not going to fall back as many positions compared to the cars that you’re racing.

“I think it’s positive for qualifying, especially if the tighter tracks… The class split will make it a little bit interesting strategy-wise, but overall, I think it’s positive.

“I’m glad IMSA has understood the issue that has come up, and they’ve made a change quickly to what it seems like everybody wants.”

Jonathan Grace contributed to this report

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