# 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge

The 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda is the thirteenth season of the IMSA Lites series and its successors and the second season as the IMSA Prototype Challenge. The season features 6 races across 6 weekends.

## Series news

* 2018 is the final season Fox Sports will televise the series, NBC Sports Group becomes the series' broadcaster, starting in 2019.
* 2018 is also the final season that Continental Tire will be the tire supplier, Michelin will take over that role for the 2019 season.
* 2018 will be the final season of the Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC) class, with LMP3 to become to sole class from 2019 onwards.

## Classes

* Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3)
* Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC)

## Calendar
### Race schedule

The 2018 schedule was released on 24 August 2017 and features six rounds.
| Rnd | Circuit | Location | Date | Duration | Supporting |
| 1 | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, Florida | January 6 | 1 hour 45 mins | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 2 | Sebring International Raceway | Sebring, Florida | March 16 | 1 hour 45 mins | 12 Hours of Sebring |
| 3 | Barber Motorsports Park | Birmingham, Alabama | April 22 | 1 hour 45 mins | Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama |
| 4 | Canadian Tire Motorsport Park | Bowmanville, Ontario | July 8 | 1 hour 45 mins | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 5 | Virginia International Raceway | Alton, Virginia | August 18 | 1 hour 45 mins | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship |
| 6 | Road Atlanta | Braselton, Georgia | October 12 | 1 hour 45 mins | Petit Le Mans |
| NC | Sebring International Raceway | Sebring, Florida | November 9 | 4 hours | IMSA Michelin Encore$^1$ |
$^1$ LMP3 will participate in this race with the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's GT Daytona class and the Grand Sport and TCR cars from the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge as one single four-hour race. This race will preview the 2019 IMSA rules package and new tyre supplier Michelin.

### Calendar Changes

* The race weekend format has been changed to feature a single 1 hour 45-minute race instead of two 45 minute races as was the case in 2017.
* The rounds at Watkins Glen International, Lime Rock Park and Circuit Trois-Rivières were removed from the calendar and replaced by rounds at Daytona International Speedway and Virginia International Raceway, this reduced the number of events from seven down to six.

## Entry List
### LMP3

All teams use Nissan VK50VE 5.0L V8 engines.
| Team | Car | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 3 | Max Hanratty | All |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 3 | Michael Whelden | 1 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 3 | Benjamin Waddell | 2–3, 5 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 3 | Garett Grist | 4 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 3 | Harry Gottsacker | 6 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 30 | Kris Wright | All |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 30 | Daniel Morad | 1 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 30 | Michael Whelden | 2 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 30 | Yann Clairay | 3–4 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 30 | Stephen Simpson | 5 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 30 | Niclas Jönsson | 6 |
| Extreme Speed Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 33 | Lance Willsey (M) | 1–4, 6 |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 4 | Roman De Angelis | 1 |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 4 | Dean Baker (M) | 2–6 |
| ANSA Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 4 | Zacharie Robichon | 2–6 |
| Charles Wicht Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 7 | Charles Wicht (M) | 1 |
| Charles Wicht Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 7 | Leo Lamelas | All |
| Charles Wicht Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 7 | Patricio O'Ward | 2 |
| Charles Wicht Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 7 | Will Owen | 3 |
| Charles Wicht Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 7 | Roman De Angelis | 4 |
| Charles Wicht Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 7 | Andrew Evans | 5–6 |
| Mazzoni | Ginetta-Juno P3-15 | 12 | Bill Mazzoni | 2 |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 17 | Corey Lewis | All |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 17 | Matt Dicken | All |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 25 | Kenton Koch | All |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 25 | Joel Janco (M) | All |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 42 | Jim Garrett (M) | All |
| P1 Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 42 | Robby Foley | All |
| Baker Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 19 | Brad Baker (M) | 2–4 |
| Baker Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 19 | Jan Heylen | 2–4 |
| Gilbert LMP3 Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 23 | Henry Gilbert (M) | 1 |
| Gilbert LMP3 Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 23 | Andy Pilgrim (M) | 1 |
| Gilbert LMP3 Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 23 | Mike Skeen | 2 |
| Gilbert LMP3 Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 23 | Shane Lewis | 2 |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 26 | James McGuire Jr (M) | 2 |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 26 | Matthew Bell | 2 |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 51 | Rob Hodes (M) | All |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 51 | Sean Rayhall | 1–4 |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 51 | Scott Andrews | 5 |
| K2R Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 51 | Garett Grist | 6 |
| Polestar Motor Racing Inc. | Ligier JS P3 | 40 | Keith Grant | 3–6 |
| Polestar Motor Racing Inc. | Ligier JS P3 | 40 | David Grant | 3–6 |
| Ave Motorsports | Riley-Ave AR-2 | 44 | Josh Hurley | 1–3 |
| Ave Motorsports | Riley-Ave AR-2 | 44 | Gary Gibson (M) | 1–3 |
| Forty 7 Motorsports | Norma M30 | 47 | Austin McCusker | All |
| Forty 7 Motorsports | Norma M30 | 47 | David Droux | 1 |
| Forty 7 Motorsports | Norma M30 | 47 | TJ Fischer | 2–6 |
| Forty 7 Motorsports | Norma M30 | 74 | Anthony Simone | 2–4, 6 |
| Forty 7 Motorsports | Norma M30 | 74 | Rodrigo Pflucker | 2–4, 6 |
| JDC Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 55 | Gerry Kraut (M) | 2, 6 |
| JDC Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 55 | Scott Andrews | 2, 6 |
| Wulver Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 60 | Bruce Hamilton | 5–6 |
| Wulver Racing | Ligier JS P3 | 60 | Tõnis Kasemets | 5–6 |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 75 | Cameron Cassels (M) | All |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | Ligier JS P3 | 75 | Trent Hindman | 4 |
| Five Miles Out Racing | Norma M30 | 87 | Nicholas Colyvas (M) | 3 |
| Five Miles Out Racing | Norma M30 | 87 | Jay Howard | 3–4 |
| Five Miles Out Racing | Norma M30 | 87 | Hanna Zellers | 4–6 |
| Five Miles Out Racing | Norma M30 | 87 | Daniel Swanbeck | 5 |
| Five Miles Out Racing | Norma M30 | 87 | Nicholas Colyvas | 6 |
| Five Miles Out Racing | Norma M30 | 88 | Charles Chi (M) | 3–6 |
| Five Miles Out Racing | Norma M30 | 88 | Memo Gidley | 3–6 |
| Source: |||||
Note: A driver with a (M) is participating in the Amateur Masters Category.

### Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC)

All teams use Elan DP02 chassis and Mazda MZR 2.0L 4 cylinder engines.
| Team | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | 11 | Robert Masson | All |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | 11 | Kyle Masson | 4–6 |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | 18 | Wyatt Schwab | 1–3 |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | 18 | John DeAngelis | 6 |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | 22 | Stephen Dawes | All |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | 77 | Howard Jacobs | All |
| Performance Tech Motorsports | 77 | James French | 4–6 |
| ODU Motorsports | 21 | Stuart Rettie | 1 |
| ODU Motorsports | 46 | Jay Salmon | 1 |
| Eurosport Racing | 24 | Tim George | 1–2 |
| Eurosport Racing | 31 | Michal Chlumecky | 1, 3–6 |
| Eurosport Racing | 34 | Jon Brownson | All |
| Wolf Motorsports | 28 | Bart Wolf | All |
| Wolf Motorsports | 28 | Tazio Ottis | All |
| ONE Motorsports | 32 | Gerhard Watzinger | 6 |
| ONE Motorsports | 36 | Paul LaHaye | All |
| ONE Motorsports | 86 | Dave House | All |
| ONE Motorsports | 86 | Mikel Miller | 1, 5–6 |
| Source: ||||

## Results
### Race Results

Bold indicates overall winner.
| Round | Circuit | LMP3 Winning Car | MPC Winning Car |
| Round | Circuit | LMP3 Winning Drivers | MPC Winning Drivers |
| 1 | Daytona | No. 4 ANSA Motorsports | No. 11 Performance Tech Motorsports |
| 1 | Daytona | Roman De Angelis | Robert Masson |
| 2 | Sebring | No. 7 CWR | No. 86 ONE Motorsports |
| 2 | Sebring | Leo Lamelas Patricio O'Ward | Dave House |
| 3 | Barber | No. 30 Extreme Speed Motorsports | No. 31 Eurosport Racing |
| 3 | Barber | Yann Clairay Kris Wright | Michal Chlumecky |
| 4 | Mosport | No. 47 Forty 7 Motorsports | No. 77 Performance Tech Motorsports |
| 4 | Mosport | TJ Fischer Austin McCusker | James French Howard Jacobs |
| 5 | Virginia | No. 30 Extreme Speed Motorsports | No. 77 Performance Tech Motorsports |
| 5 | Virginia | Stephen Simpson Kris Wright | James French Howard Jacobs |
| 6 | Road Atlanta | No. 47 Forty 7 Motorsports | No. 34 Eurosport Racing |
| 6 | Road Atlanta | TJ Fischer Austin McCusker | Jon Brownson |

### Points system

| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Race | 35 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |

### Drivers' Championships
#### LMP3

| Pos. | Driver | DAY | SEB | BAR | MOS | VIR | ATL | Points |
| 1 | Kris Wright | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 194 |
| 2 | Austin McCusker | 2 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 174 |
| 3 | Max Hanratty | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 163 |
| 4 | Leo Lamelas | 7 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 150 |
| 5 | TJ Fischer | | 2 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 142 |
| 6 | Matt Dicken Corey Lewis | 12 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 140 |
| 7 | Cameron Cassels | 8 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 133 |
| 8 | Rob Hodes | 11 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 130 |
| 9 | Robby Foley Jim Garrett | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 129 |
| 10 | Zacharie Robichon Dean Baker | | 13 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 124 |
| 11 | Kenton Koch Joel Janco | 6 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 118 |
| 12 | Keith Grant David Grant | | | 5 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 97 |
| 13 | Lance Willsey | 13 | 10 | 12 | 14 | | 10 | 96 |
| 14 | Sean Rayhall | 11 | 16 | 7 | 5 | | | 85 |
| 15 | Rodrigo Pflucker Anthony Simone | | 17 | 2 | 15 | | 15 | 78 |
| 16 | Benjamin Waddell | | 8 | 4 | | 5 | | 77 |
| 17 | Charles Chi Memo Gidley | | | 10 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 77 |
| 18 | Scott Andrews | | 12 | | | 3 | 7 | 73 |
| 19 | Yann Clairay | | | 1 | 2 | | | 67 |
| 20 | Gary Gibson Josh Hurley | 5 | 7 | 17 | | | | 64 |
| 21 | Michael Whelden | 4 | 3 | | | | | 58 |
| 22 | Hanna Zellers | | | | 9 | 12 | 14 | 58 |
| 23 | Brad Baker Jan Heylen | | 15 | 14 | 11 | | | 53 |
| 24 | Roman De Angelis | 1 | | | 16 | | | 50 |
| 25 | Andrew Evans | | | | | 4 | 13 | 46 |
| 26 | Bruce Hamilton Tõnis Kasemets | | | | | 10 | 6 | 46 |
| 27 | Garett Grist | | | | 3 | | 16 | 45 |
| 28 | Gerry Kraut | | 12 | | | | 7 | 43 |
| 29 | Jay Howard | | | 15 | 9 | | | 38 |
| 30 | Patricio O'Ward | | 1 | | | | | 35 |
| 31 | Stephen Simpson | | | | | 1 | | 35 |
| 32 | Nicholas Colyvas | | | 15 | | | 14 | 33 |
| 33 | David Droux | 2 | | | | | | 32 |
| 35 | Daniel Morad | 3 | | | | | | 30 |
| 36 | Will Owen | | | 3 | | | | 30 |
| 37 | Matthew Bell James McGuire Jr | | 4 | | | | | 28 |
| 38 | Harry Gottsacker | | | | | | 4 | 28 |
| 39 | Charles Wicht | 7 | | | | | | 24 |
| 40 | Trent Hindman | | | | 7 | | | 24 |
| 41 | Shane Lewis Mike Skeen | | 9 | | | | | 22 |
| 42 | Henry Gilbert Andy Pilgrim | 10 | | | | | | 21 |
| 43 | Daniel Swanbeck | | | | | 12 | | 19 |
| Pos. | Driver | DAY | SEB | BAR | MOS | VIR | ATL | Points |
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Retired (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Red | Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Withdrew (WD) |
| White | Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
| Blank | Did not arrive (DNA) |
| Blank | Excluded (EX) |

#### Mazda Prototype Challenge

| Pos. | Driver | DAY | SEB | BAR | MOS | VIR | ATL | Points |
| 1 | Jon Brownson | 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 172 |
| 2 | Tazio Ottis Bart Wolf | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 170 |
| 3 | Stephen Dawes | 4 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 169 |
| 4 | Howard Jacobs | 11 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 166 |
| 5 | Dave House | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 164 |
| 6 | Paul LaHaye | 9 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 163 |
| 7 | Robert Masson | 1 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 156 |
| 8 | Michal Chlumecky | 12 | | 1 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 104 |
| 9 | James French | | | | 1 | 1 | 5 | 96 |
| 10 | Mikel Miller | 6 | | | | 2 | 10 | 78 |
| 11 | Wyatt Schwab | 7 | 6 | 9 | | | | 71 |
| 12 | Kyle Masson | | | | 8 | 8 | 9 | 68 |
| 13 | Tim George | 8 | 7 | | | | | 47 |
| 14 | Stuart Rettie | 2 | | | | | | 32 |
| 15 | Gerhard Watzinger | | | | | | 6 | 25 |
| 16 | John DeAngelis | | | | | | 7 | 24 |
| 17 | Jay Salmon | 10 | | | | | | 21 |
| Pos. | Driver | DAY | SEB | BAR | MOS | VIR | ATL | Points |

### Team's Championships
#### LMP3

| Pos. | Team | DAY | SEB | BAR | MOS | VIR | ATL | Points |
| 1 | No. 30 Extreme Speed Motorsports | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 194 |
| 2 | No. 47 Forty 7 Motorsports | 2 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 174 |
| 3 | No. 3 Extreme Speed Motorsports | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 163 |
| 4 | No. 4 ANSA Motorsports | 1 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 159 |
| 5 | No. 7 CWR | 7 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 150 |
| 6 | No. 17 P1 Motorsports | 12 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 140 |
| 7 | No. 75 Performance Tech Motorsports | 8 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 133 |
| 8 | No. 51 K2R Motorsports | 9 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 130 |
| 9 | No. 42 P1 Motorsports | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 129 |
| 10 | No. 25 P1 Motorsports | 6 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 118 |
| 11 | No. 40 Polestar Motor Racing Inc. | | | 5 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 97 |
| 12 | No. 33 Extreme Speed Motorsports | 13 | 10 | 12 | 14 | | 10 | 96 |
| 13 | No. 74 Forty 7 Motorsports | | 17 | 2 | 15 | | 15 | 78 |
| 14 | No. 87 Five Miles Out Racing | | | 15 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 77 |
| 15 | No. 88 Five Miles Out Racing | | | 10 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 74 |
| 16 | No. 44 Ave Motorsports | 5 | 7 | 17 | | | | 64 |
| 17 | No. 19 Baker Racing | | 15 | 14 | 11 | | | 53 |
| 18 | No. 60 Wulver Racing | | | | | 10 | 6 | 46 |
| 19 | No. 55 JDC Motorsports | | 12 | | | | 7 | 43 |
| 20 | No. 23 Gilbert LMP3 Racing | 10 | 9 | | | | | 43 |
| 21 | No. 26 K2R Motorsports | | 4 | | | | | 28 |
| Pos. | Team | DAY | SEB | BAR | MOS | VIR | ATL | Points |

#### Mazda Prototype Challenge

| Pos. | Team | DAY | SEB | BAR | MOS | VIR | ATL | Points |
| 1 | No. 34 Eurosport Racing | 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 172 |
| 2 | No. 28 Wolf Motorsports | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 170 |
| 3 | No. 22 Performance Tech Motorsports | 4 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 169 |
| 4 | No. 77 Performance Tech Motorsports | 11 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 166 |
| 5 | No. 86 ONE Motorsports | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 164 |
| 6 | No. 36 ONE Motorsports | 9 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 163 |
| 7 | No. 11 Performance Tech Motorsports | 1 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 156 |
| 8 | No. 31 Eurosport Racing | 12 | | 1 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 127 |
| 9 | No. 18 Performance Tech Motorsports | 7 | 6 | 9 | | | 7 | 95 |
| 10 | No. 24 Eurosport Racing | 8 | 7 | | | | | 47 |
| 11 | No. 21 ODU Motorsports | 2 | | | | | | 32 |
| 12 | No. 32 ONE Motorsports | | | | | | 6 | 25 |
| 13 | No. 46 ODU Motorsports | 10 | | | | | | 21 |
| Pos. | Team | DAY | SEB | BAR | MOS | VIR | ATL | Points |