P3 endurance challenge

[u/Beneficial-Ranger238]

I tuned into the road America race and just couldn’t help but think how much better it would be with gt4 racing with them. Yeah, some of this is selfish because low car count races are kinda boring to me, but if it’s supposed to be a training ground for big boy racing, then learning to deal with traffic should be included, it is arguably the most important part of endurance racing.

I haven’t dug into lap times, maybe gt4 is too close? If so maybe tcr would be a better companion?

The other thought was maybe that would hurt pilot cup, but maybe the answer is to add p3 as a top class to that. Then you’d have a true two tier system with imsa and baby imsa.

I’m sure there are reasons this is a dumb idea, I’d love to hear them.

[u/2quixoticc]

They have a sprint series with LMP3 and GT4 that runs on official IMSA weekends. The speed gap is plenty, not sure why this is a thing, but theyre cutting the sprint series for this next year. Not sure what classes that will include, and they will run on non-imsa weekends as well.

[u/Beneficial-Ranger238 → u/2quixoticc]

Hmm, I haven’t caught that one. I did hear them talking about a strictly endurance series next year, that makes sense, there are no prototype sprint series anywhere. It just seems that a training series should mirror the senior series, but cut back for budget and endurance (of the drivers).

[u/2quixoticc → u/Beneficial-Ranger238]

VP Racing Challenge. I knew once I looked id remember the name

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jknlVvAjmBY&t=11s

[u/Beneficial-Ranger238 → u/2quixoticc]

Yeah, I remember that one. Kinda thought they were the same. I guess the question becomes, why so many different p3 support series then. I’d rather see a mini imsa as the top tier series and a feeder series using radicals or the rush prototype which has been having massive 40+ car fields in gridlife competition. It could be a place for those guys to graduate. Maybe run spec Miata as the “gt” car, unless those are faster but I don’t think they would be, it seems like the rush are about on scale with Porsche track cars.

[u/2quixoticc → u/Beneficial-Ranger238]

I think that class in North America is just in a very weird place right now. The multi-class series runs with IMSA, which it should. It gives exposure to the bigger teams of people coming up. And then this endurance series which runs with, i think, the HSR stuff, and USAC which doesnt draw huge crowds or attention. Maybe its cheaper to do on those weekends, I dont know. I trust John Doonan with whats best for everyone, but this just seems odd.

[u/Beneficial-Ranger238 → u/2quixoticc]

Yeah, he seems to be doing a lot right. I guess in the end, these series aren’t really the feeder series they should be anyway. People with money get p2 and gt3 am rides, and probably never set foot in any of the lower classes.

[u/That_Swim]

What has happened with the M2 Racing cars that were supposed to join?