IMSA Prototype Lites
Encyclopedia
Cooper Tires Prototype Lites (formerly IMSA Lites) is a 14 race series featuring two classes of single-seat prototype cars racing simultaneously. The series is sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association
(IMSA). Most races are held in support of the American Le Mans Series
. The L1 class features Élan Motorsport Technologies
DP02 cars powered by a Duratec 2.3L engine
, L2 consists of West Racing WX10 and WR1000 chassis with either a Kawasaki ZX-10R or Suzuki GSX-R1000
engine. Each class has an overall championship, a master’s championship for drivers at least 40 years of age and a team championship. Each race is usually 30–45 minutes with an occasional 75 minute endurance race.
L2 Class
L3 Class*
*Class was eliminated after the 2009 season
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
(IMSA). Most races are held in support of the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
. The L1 class features Élan Motorsport Technologies
Élan Motorsport Technologies
Élan Motorsport Technologies is an umbrella company containing the race car manufacturing companies owned by the Panoz Motor Sports Group. Élan designs and builds Panoz-branded race cars, and have also acquired other manufacturers, including famous Formula Ford builders Van Diemen and IndyCar...
DP02 cars powered by a Duratec 2.3L engine
Mazda L engine
The Mazda L-series is a mid-sized inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine ranging in displacements from 1.8L to 2.5L. Introduced in 2001, they are the evolution of the cast-iron block F-engine...
, L2 consists of West Racing WX10 and WR1000 chassis with either a Kawasaki ZX-10R or Suzuki GSX-R1000
Suzuki GSX-R1000
The GSX-R1000 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.-2001:...
engine. Each class has an overall championship, a master’s championship for drivers at least 40 years of age and a team championship. Each race is usually 30–45 minutes with an occasional 75 minute endurance race.
Car Specifications
L1 Class- Engine: 2.3-liter, Naturally aspiratedNaturally-aspirated engineA naturally aspirated engine is one common type of reciprocating piston internal combustion engine that depends solely on atmospheric pressure to counter the partial vacuum in the induction tract to draw in combustion air...
Mazda MP2Mazda L engineThe Mazda L-series is a mid-sized inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine ranging in displacements from 1.8L to 2.5L. Introduced in 2001, they are the evolution of the cast-iron block F-engine... - Gearbox: 6 Speed Sequential Manual TransmissionSequential manual transmissionA sequential manual transmission is a type of manual transmission used on motorcycles and high-performance cars for auto racing, where gears are selected in order, and direct access to specific gears is not possible....
- Weight: 1,425 lb (646 kg) with driver
- Fuel Delivery: Electronic fuel injection
L2 Class
- Engine: 1000cc Naturally aspiratedNaturally-aspirated engineA naturally aspirated engine is one common type of reciprocating piston internal combustion engine that depends solely on atmospheric pressure to counter the partial vacuum in the induction tract to draw in combustion air...
Kawasaki or Suzuki - Weight: 1,100 lb (500 kg) with driver
L3 Class*
- Engine: 2.3-liter, Naturally aspiratedNaturally-aspirated engineA naturally aspirated engine is one common type of reciprocating piston internal combustion engine that depends solely on atmospheric pressure to counter the partial vacuum in the induction tract to draw in combustion air...
Mazda MZRMazda L engineThe Mazda L-series is a mid-sized inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine ranging in displacements from 1.8L to 2.5L. Introduced in 2001, they are the evolution of the cast-iron block F-engine... - Weight: 1,350 lb (612 kg) with driver
*Class was eliminated after the 2009 season
Champions
Season | Class | Driver Champion | Masters Champion | Team Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | L1 | United States Adam Pecorari | n/a | United States Cape Motorsports |
L2 | United States Dan McBreen | n/a | PVM Racing | |
L3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
2007 | L1 | Puerto Rico Gerardo Bonilla Gerardo Bonilla Gerardo Bonilla is a Puerto Rican-born professional race car driver. He competed in and won the IMSA Lites Championship in 2007, the Star Mazda Championship in 2006, and the Skip Barber National Championship in 2005... |
n/a | United States B-K Motorsports |
L2 | United States Robby Card | n/a | PVM Racing | |
L3 | United States Richard Spicer | n/a | United States Spicer-Hagerman | |
2008 | L1 | United States Jonathan Goring | United States Jon Brownson | United States Comprent Motorsports |
L2 | Australia Tom Drewer | United States Eric Vassian | United States WEST Racing | |
L3 | United States Chris Funk | United States Chris Funk | KC Racing | |
2009 | L1 | United States Joel Feinberg | United States Gary Gibson | United States Eurosport Racing |
L2 | United States John Weisberg | United States Alain Nadal | United States Berg Racing | |
L3 | United States Chris Doyle | United States Chris Funk | Surface Exploraton | |
2010 2010 IMSA Prototype Lites season The 2010 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites season was the fourth season of the series. It consisted of eight rounds which started on March 20 at Sebring International Raceway and ended on October 2 at Road Atlanta. This was one of the support series of the American Le Mans Series.CORE Autosport's... |
L1 | United States Charlie Shears | United States Charlie Shears | United States Core Autosport |
L2 | United States John Weisberg | United States Jim Garrett | United States Berg Racing | |
2011 2011 IMSA Prototype Lites season The 2011 IMSA Prototype Lites season is the sixth season of the International Motor Sports Association's Prototype Lites championship. The season consisted of fourteen rounds at seven race meetings, beginning at Sebring International Raceway on March 17, and concluding at Road Atlanta on September... |
L1 | Puerto Rico Ricardo Vera | United States Daniel Mancini | United States Eurosport |
L2 | Canada Robert Sabato | United States Alan Wilzig | Canada 6th Gear Racing | |