The REPORTER
Sports car racing returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks on Sept. 15-17, with the unique, “race within a race” format of class racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Michelin Pilot Challenge series.
Just one type of race car competes either on the 2.5-mile oval or the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at the Racing Capital of the World during NTT INDYCAR SERIES and NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series competition. The length of those series’ races also is measured by laps.
IMSA is different.
Five different classes of cars will race simultaneously when the featured WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race starts at 1:10 p.m. ET Sunday on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course. And the race is not measured by laps; it’s measured by time – two hours and 40 minutes, in this case.
Drivers from all over the world compete for overall victory but also for first place within their respective class. That unique format always keeps the racing interesting, and the varying speeds of the five classes of machines creates intense racing within classes and plenty of traffic for the fastest classes to navigate for most of the race.
The five classes of cars in the series are comprised of two styles of cars – prototype, which showcases the latest automotive technology and are designed uniquely for the racetrack; and GT, based on road-going production models.
So, let’s take a look at the five classes of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship:
Grand Touring Prototype (GTP): The newest and most technologically advanced Prototype race car debuted in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this season, featuring a common hybrid powertrain for all entries that takes kinetic energy gained in braking and stores it in batteries for later use when needed. Four global automotive manufacturers – Acura, BMW, Cadillac and Porsche – are entered in the class. Each manufacturer developed its unique internal combustion engine and bodywork styling.
Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2): The Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) is a closed-cockpit car developed by four approved constructors. In addition to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, LMP2 cars are eligible to compete in other global series such as the FIA World Endurance Championship, which includes the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3): The Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) is an entry-level closed-cockpit car developed by four approved constructors. In addition to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, LMP3 cars are also eligible to compete in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge – one of IMSA’s driver development series – as well as other international series such as the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO): GTD PRO, which debuted in 2022, includes race cars built to FIA GT3 technical regulations and offers the opportunity for factory teams and driver lineups to compete in the class. Manufacturers competing in this class in 2023 include Aston Martin, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
GT Daytona (GTD): The GT Daytona cars are enhanced – not defined by – technology and use the global FIA GT3 specification. The GTD class consists of cars from leading manufacturers such as Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
The Michelin Pilot Challenge also is racing this weekend at IMS. That series also features a “race within a race,” but with just two classes of production-based sports cars and touring cars.
There will be two unique aspects of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 240 race Saturday at IMS.
First, it’s the longest race of the weekend – four hours. Second, since the race starts at 4:30 p.m. ET, it will finish at 8:30 p.m. under the cloak of darkness with the cars’ headlights illuminating the track. That doesn’t happen with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES or NASCAR.
A look at the two classes:
Grand Sport (GS): The Grand Sport class consists of SRO GT4-homologated cars with engines tuned to produce between 400 and 450 horsepower. Competition is equalized by adjustments to fuel-tank capacities, ride height, power and weight. Eligible cars include the Aston Martin Vantage GT4, Audi R8 GT4, BMW M4 GT4, Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R, Ford Mustang GT4, McLaren 570S GT4, Mercedes-AMG GT GT4, Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport and Toyota Supra GT4.
Touring Car (TCR): The Touring Car class consists of WSC TCR-homologated cars with engines tuned to produce between 300 and 350 horsepower. Competition is equalized by adjustments to fuel-tank capacities, ride height, power and weight. Eligible cars include the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR, Audi RS3 LMS DSG, Audi RS3 LMS SEQ, Honda Civic FK7 TCR, Hyundai Elantra N TCR and Hyundai Veloster N TCR.
This exciting event weekend also will feature two single-make series in which competitors race the same brand of car, placing the skill of the driver in the spotlight.
The Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America features a 50-minute race at 11:50 a.m. Saturday and another 50-minute event at 10:40 a.m. Sunday. Drivers compete in machines from the exotic Italian marque.
Porsche enthusiasts also can see the evocative German machines compete in identical 911 GT3 Cup race cars in two Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America races this weekend. Both races are 40 minutes each. Race 1 is at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, with Race 2 at 9:40 a.m. Sunday.
Tickets and information for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks are available at IMS.com.
TIRERACK.COM BATTLE ON THE BRICKS SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 15
10-10:30 a.m.: Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Practice 1
10:45-11:30 a.m.: Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Practice 1
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge Practice 1
1:45-2:25 p.m.: Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Practice 2
2:40-4:10 p.m. WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Practice 1 (all classes)
4:30-5:15 p.m.: Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Practice 2
5:30-6 p.m.: Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Qualifying
7:15-8:30 p.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge Practice 2
Saturday, Sept. 16
8-8:15 a.m.: Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Qualifying 1
8:20-8:35 a.m.: Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Qualifying 2
8:55-10:25 a.m. WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Practice 1 (GTD, LMP2, LMP3)
9:10-10:40 a.m. WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Practice 1 (GTP, GTD PRO)
11-11:15 a.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge Qualifying (TCR)
11:20-11:35 a.m. Michelin Pilot Challenge Qualifying (GS)
11:50 a.m.-12:40 p.m. Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Race 1
1-1:15 p.m. WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Qualifying (GTD PRO, GTD)
1:25-1:40 p.m. WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Qualifying (LMP2, LMP3)
1:50-2:10 p.m. WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Qualifying (GTP)
2:30-3:10 p.m. Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Race 1
4:30-8:30 p.m. Indianapolis Motor Speedway 240 Michelin Pilot Challenge Race
Sunday, Sept. 17
9:40-10:20 a.m. Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Race 2
10:40-11:30 a.m. Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Race 2
1:10-3:50 p.m. TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Race