The Daytona Prototype name will be kept from the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season onwards, following the series’ announcement of a new specification to run in the top Prototype class.
Based on the new-for-2017 LMP2 formula, DPi will allow manufacturers more freedom, with a wide range of engines allowed on the four approved LMP2 chassis: ORECA, Onroak, Dallara and Riley/Multimatic. This comes in contrast to the standard LMP2 version which features a single engine provided by Gibson Technology.
Moreover, the rules will allow for teams to create their own bodywork and styling, which is attractive for major car manufacturers seeking to enter the series.
These cars will be homologated for a minimum of four years, seeing them through to the end of 2020 at least. In order to maintain fairness between teams running DPi cars and standard LMP2s, IMSA will control the Balance of Performance between the two specifications.
A further announcement today is that closed-cockpit LMP2 cars built between 2014 and 2016 will be able to enter the series during the 2017 season, but open-cockpit P2s and current generation Daytona Prototypes will only be permitted through the 2016 season.
