# 2017 IMSA Prototype Challenge

The 2017 IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda is the twelfth season of the IMSA Lites series. The season features seven double header weekends.

## Regulations

For the 2017 season the series had a make-over. The series name was changed from IMSA Lites to the IMSA Prototype Challenge. The classes were also changed. The L2 class was dropped after eleven seasons of service. The series was divided over two classes, LMP3 and MPC. The LMP3 class open to all LMP3 specification cars. Various chassis manufacturers have built LMP3 specification chassis. All chassis are equipped with a Nissan VK50VE, 5,0L, V8 engine. The MPC class is filled by Élan DP02, the former L1 class. All cars are shod with Continental tires.

## Entry list
### LMP3

| Team | Chassis | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 4 | Matt Dicken | All |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 20 | Nico Jamin | 1 |
| ASC Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 2 | Michael Watt | 4, 7 |
| Ave Motorsports | Ave-Riley AR-2 | 44 | Paul Fix (M) | 1–5 |
| Ave Motorsports | Ave-Riley AR-2 | 44 | Tony Ave | 7 |
| CWR | Ligier JS P3 | 75 | James Dayson | 3 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 3 | Naj Husain (M) | All |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 33 | Lance Wilsey | 7 |
| Forty 7 Motorsports | Norma M30 | 47 | Garrett Kletjian | 5-6 |
| HP-Tech | Ligier JS P3 | 87 | Doug Peterson (M) | 1 |
| HP-Tech | Ligier JS P3 | 87 | Roberto La Rocca | 2 |
| JDC MotorSports | Ligier JS P3 | 25 | Joel Janco (M) | 1–2 |
| JDC MotorSports | Ligier JS P3 | 55 | Gerry Kraut (M) | 1 |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 51 | Rob Hodes (M) | 1–2 |
| Kelly-Moss Road and Race | Norma M30 | 14 | Colin Thompson | All |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 12 | Andrés Gutiérrez | 1–3 |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Ginetta-Juno P3-15 | 23 | Alan Wilzig (M) | 1 |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 8 | Kenton Koch | 2-7 |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 17 | Lonnie Pechnik (M) | 1–2 |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 17 | Robby Foley | 3, 5, 7 |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 17 | Stefan Rzadzinski | 6 |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 71 | Juan Perez | 1–2, 4 |
Note: A driver with a (M) is participating in the Amateur Masters Category.

### Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC)

| Team | Chassis | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
| BAR1 Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 22 | Brian Alder | 1–2 |
| BAR1 Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 22 | Don Yount | 3 |
| De Angelis Racing | Élan DP02 | 78 | Max DeAngelis | 7 |
| Eurosport Racing | Élan DP02 | 24 | Tim George | 3, 7 |
| Eurosport Racing | Élan DP02 | 31 | Michal Chlumecky | 2-7 |
| Eurosport Racing | Élan DP02 | 34 | Jon Brownson | 1–4 |
| Eurosport Racing | Élan DP02 | 42 | Jim Garrett | 2, 7 |
| JDC MotorSports | Élan DP02 | 7 | Kris Wright | All |
| JDC MotorSports | Élan DP02 | 25 | Joel Janco | 3-4 |
| JDC MotorSports | Élan DP02 | 72 | Tazio Ottis | All |
| ODU Engineering | Élan DP02 | 21 | Stuart Rettie | All |
| ODU Engineering | Élan DP02 | 46 | Jay Salmon | 2–3, 6-7 |
| ONE Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 32 | Paul La Haye | 1, 3, 7 |
| ONE Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 32 | Gerhard Watzinger | 7 |
| ONE Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 86 | Dave House | 1, 7 |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 11 | Robert Masson | All |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 18 | Kyle Masson | All |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 38 | Stephen Dawes | All |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 77 | Howard Jacobs | All |
| Team Perfect Pedal | Élan DP02 | 13 | Gary Gibson | All |
| Wolf Motorsports | Élan DP02 | 28 | Bart Wolf | 7 |
Note: All Élan DP02s are running with the Mazda MZR 2.0 L Engine.

## Race calendar and results

Bold indicates overall winner.
| Round | Round | Circuit | Date | Pole position | Fastest lap | LMP3 winner | MPC winner | Supporting |
| 1 | R1 | Sebring International Raceway | 16 March | Nico Jamin | Nico Jamin | Nico Jamin | Kyle Masson | 12 Hours of Sebring |
| 1 | R2 | Sebring International Raceway | 17 March | Nico Jamin | Nico Jamin | Nico Jamin | Kyle Masson | 12 Hours of Sebring |
| 2 | R1 | Barber Motorsports Park | 21 April | Kenton Koch | Kenton Koch | Kenton Koch | Kyle Masson | Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama |
| 2 | R2 | Barber Motorsports Park | 22 April | Colin Thompson | Colin Thompson | Andrés Gutiérrez | Kyle Masson | Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama |
| 3 | R1 | Watkins Glen International | 1 July | Colin Thompson | Colin Thompson | Colin Thompson | Kris Wright | 6 Hours of the Glen |
| 3 | R2 | Watkins Glen International | 2 July | Colin Thompson | Colin Thompson | Andrés Gutiérrez | Kyle Masson | 6 Hours of the Glen |
| 4 | R1 | Canadian Tire Motorsport Park | 8 July | Kenton Koch | Kenton Koch | Kenton Koch | Kyle Masson | SportsCar Grand Prix |
| 4 | R2 | Canadian Tire Motorsport Park | 9 July | Kenton Koch | Kenton Koch | Kenton Koch | Kyle Masson | SportsCar Grand Prix |
| 5 | R1 | Lime Rock Park | 22 July | Colin Thompson | Colin Thompson | Colin Thompson | Kyle Masson | Northeast Grand Prix |
| 6 | R1 | Circuit Trois-Rivières | 12 August | Kyle Masson | Naj Husain | Kenton Koch | Gary Gibson | Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières |
| 6 | R2 | Circuit Trois-Rivières | 13 August | Kyle Masson | Kenton Koch | Kenton Koch | Kyle Masson | Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières |
| 7 | R1 | Road Atlanta | 6 October | Kenton Koch | Kenton Koch | Kenton Koch | Kyle Masson | Petit Le Mans |
| 7 | R2 | Road Atlanta | 7 October | Kenton Koch | Colin Thompson | Kenton Koch | Kyle Masson | Petit Le Mans |

## Final standings
### LMP3

| Color | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | 4th & 5th place |
| Light Blue | 6th–10th place |
| Dark Blue | 11th place or lower |
| Purple | Did not finish |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Brown | Withdrawn (Wth) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| Blank | Did not participate (DNP) |
| Blank | Driver replacement (Rpl) |
| Blank | Injured (Inj) |
| Blank | No race held (NH) |
| Pos. | Driver | SEB 1 | SEB 2 | BAR 1 | BAR 2 | WGL 1 | WGL 2 | MOS 1 | MOS 2 | LRP | TRO 1 | TRO 2 | ATL 1 | ATL 2 | Points |
| 1 | Colin Thompson | 11 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 217 |
| 2 | Kenton Koch | | | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 209 |
| 3 | Naj Husain | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 162 |
| 4 | Matt Dicken | 9 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 126 |
| 5 | Andrés Gutiérrez | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | 108 |
| 6 | Paul Fix | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | | | | | 81 |
| 7 | Robby Foley | | | | | 4 | 8 | | | 3 | | | 2 | 4 | 70 |
| 8 | Lonnie Pechnik | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 54 |
| 9 | Nico Jamin | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 42 |
| 10 | Michael Watt | | | | | | | 4 | 6 | | | | 8 | 6 | 42 |
| 11 | JC Perez | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | | | 7 | DNS | | | | | | 42 |
| 12 | Garrett Kletjian | | | | | | | | | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | 34 |
| 13 | Tony Ave | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 2 | 32 |
| 14 | Stefan Rzadzinski | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | | | 32 |
| 15 | Rob Hodes | 6 | 11 | 8 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | 31 |
| 16 | James Dayson | | | | | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | 30 |
| 17 | Roberto La Rocca | | | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | 30 |
| 18 | Doug Peterson | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 22 |
| 19 | Lance Willsey | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | 7 | 18 |
| 20 | Gerry Kraut | 12 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 |
| 21 | Joel Janco | 13 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 |
| 22 | Alan Wilzig | 10 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 |

### Mazda Prototype Challenge

| Pos. | Driver | SEB 1 | SEB 2 | BAR 1 | BAR 2 | WGL 1 | WGL 2 | MOS 1 | MOS 2 | LRP | TRO 1 | TRO 2 | ATL 1 | ATL 2 | Points |
| 1 | Kyle Masson | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 259 |
| 2 | Kris Wright | 2 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 177 |
| 3 | Tazio Ottis | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 170 |
| 4 | Stuart Rettie | 6 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 154 |
| 5 | Robert Masson | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 139 |
| 6 | Gary Gibson | 3 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 127 |
| 7 | Stephen Dawes | 9 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 94 |
| 8 | Michal Chlumecky | | | 2 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 7 | | | | 14 | 10 | 89 |
| 9 | Jon Brownson | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | 87 |
| 10 | Howard Jacobs | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 86 |
| 11 | Brian Alder | 4 | 2 | 13 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | 49 |
| 12 | Paul Lahaye | 8 | 6 | | | 9 | 8 | | | | | | 13 | 7 | 45 |
| 13 | Joel Janco | | | | | 10 | 11 | 9 | 3 | | | | | | 34 |
| 14 | Dave House | 11 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | 7 | 5 | 34 |
| 15 | Jay Salmon | | | 9 | 11 | 15 | 15 | | | | 4 | DNS | 15 | 15 | 30 |
| 16 | Jim Garrett | | | 10 | 9 | | | | | | | | 8 | 14 | 23 |
| 17 | Don Yount | | | | | 4 | 14 | | | | | | | | 16 |
| 18 | Max DeAngelis | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | 8 | 12 |
| 19 | Tim George | | | | | 11 | 12 | | | | | | DNS | 13 | 12 |
| 20 | Gerhard Watzinger | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 17 | 10 |
| 21 | Bart Wolf | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 16 | 6 |