IMSA Revises Drive Time Rules for Red Flags

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

IMSA has overhauled the regulations involving minimum drive time in the event of red flags, following multiple WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races that were impacted by the previous requirements.

The new-for-2025 rule, as laid out in the updated sporting regulations for the new season, states that the minimum drive time will be reduced by 50 percent in the event of a red flag in the first half of the race, and effectively eliminating drive time requirements altogether if a red starts or ends in the second half of a race.

This is notable change from previous years, where IMSA officials used a calculation based on the amount of red flag time to adjust the minimum drive time.

In the case of a red during the second half of a race, drivers will need to either only take the race start or cross the pit exit timing loop to be registered in the car in order to be classified.

IMSA has detailed the minimum drive times for the upcoming season with a table (below), which provides an overview of the red flag drive-times through its two scenarios.

Several races have been impacted by red flags, largely due to weather in the area, in recent years that has resulted in multiple cars or potential race-winners being dropped to the rear of the finishing order due to one of their drivers not meeting the adjusted minimum drive time.

It included last year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, as well as other recent races at Watkins Glen International and Lime Rock Park.

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