Created 11 years ago, the IMSA Prototype Lites championship allows drivers to garner experience at the wheel of a prototype before launching into the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. So it's no surprise that the LM P3 class, put in place by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest to serve as a springboard to endurance and to foster young up-and-comers and gentlemen drivers, will join the championship in 2017.

The LM P3s, designed by six constructors designated by the ACO, equipped with the same engine, will form the PC1 class, and the current Elan DP02 chassis will make up the PC2 class. The two classes will compete in two 45-minute races each at every event (only one race at Lime Rock) which will serve as support races for five WeatherTech SportsCar Championship events, allowing the best drivers to get noticed by the teams in the "big" championship. Only the circuit in Birmingham, Alabama and Trois-Rivières, Quebec will not figure on the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar.

Remember, the LM P3s have raced since last year in the European Le Mans Series and the Asian Le Mans Series, but are not approved to take the start at the 24 Hours. On the other hand, a race is reserved for them as a curtain-raiser to Le Mans.

IMSA Prototype Challenge 2017 calendar presented by Mazda

Date                                    Circuit

17-18 March                  Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Florida

21-23 April             Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama

30 June -2 July            Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York

7-9 July                       Mosport, Bowmanville, Ontario

21-22 July                  Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Connecticut

11-13 August                     Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec

5-7 October                    Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia

Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

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