IMSA Updates Testing Regulations for 2016

As IMSA prepares for the first season of the renamed, rebranded WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the sanctioning body is also updating the testing regulations for 2016.

A competition bulletin released Friday has several changes compared to 2015, to take effect starting January 1.

The number of testing days is reduced per class in each of the four classes. Prototype teams can now test eight, GT Le Mans nine, and Prototype Challenge and GT Daytona four days in 2016.

Previously, Prototype and GTLM teams could test 10 days, and PC and GTD teams could test six days.

However for Prototype teams, evaluating new 2017 Prototype cars may be exempt from the testing regulations, subject to IMSA approval.

Also of note, teams can’t test at the event site two weeks (14 days) prior to the last day of on-track activity for an official race or test.

The previous rule stated teams could not test one week (seven days) prior to an event at a track that is not the event site.

IMSA is set for a two-day test at Daytona on November 17-18, which is expected to see the formal debut of several new specification FIA GT3 cars in the GTD ranks.