IMSA: LMP3 now doubtful for Continental Challenge

IMSA's desire to introduce an LMP3 class into its Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series has been met with considerable resistance since it was broached in April, and according to multiple sources, P3 is no longer expected to race within the tin-top series.

LMP3 would have joined Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) and expanded the Continental Tire Series to three classes, but it's believed GS and ST will remain as the only classes going forward. IMSA declined to provide specifics when asked by RACER on Monday.

"IMSA continues to engage with key stakeholders regarding the future class structure of the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge," a series spokesperson said. "The process involves other related topics including the best way to integrate LMP3 into one of our platforms. We expect to announce our plans in the near future."

Of the two Continental Tire series classes, GS is in need of a major boost with cars counts holding steady in the single digits; ST raced with 27 entries at the most recent round in Canada while GS was comprised of four cars. Fixing the GS problem and skipping the addition of a new prototype class, as Continental Tire director of marketing Travis Roffler says, should be the number one priority.

"The line I've towed with IMSA is anything that's sportscars, I'm interested," he told RACER in reference to production-based vehicles. "Anything that looks like the cars we run around in, that's really where we wanted to hang our hat. Where we really think the brand speaks to the sportscar fans is in the Continental Tire series, and our focus is to get GS back to where it was a few years ago."

Roffler is a firm believer that prototypes are a better fit for IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship than the CTSCC.

"From a standpoint of what our opinion is, we've been very vocal with the IMSA group that we want it to remain cars," he said. "It's not that [P3s] wouldn't fit, it's that they're not sportscars and we believe that as we're trying to get GS back to its swagger, the entry of that prototype car into the series would be detrimental to re-establishing the growth rate for the GS class. It's always been the 'sportscar challenge,' we've always wanted it to be 'sportscars,' and we want to continue down that road."

IMSA and Continental continue to look at adopting new rules for its GS class, and ST has also been under review for potential changes to ensure it does not encounter a steep decline like GS. Roffler would prefer to wait for GS to recover than add prototypes to bolster the series' numbers, but says he will stand by whatever decision the sanctioning body makes.

"If that means we have to deal with a lack of car count while we restructure GS, I'm OK with that," he added. "I want to look at it logically, methodically, at what car manufacturers are doing in the U.S. and internationally, and we're working very close with IMSA to see what the opportunities are, where we think they can grow. Ultimately we're a sponsor, and at the end of the day, I put the keys in IMSA's hands and they'll make the call."

American P3 constructor Ave-Riley isn't sure where its cars will compete within IMSA's numerous series, but with the news likely to come in a few weeks at Road America, an answer will be forthcoming.

"It's a great class and rule package and obviously IMSA has some challenges on where to put it," Bill Riley said. "I think they're going to announce their choice soon, and I know they like the value and safety P3 offers. I hope they're going to find a home for it."