Chevrolet is still evaluating a new ‘DPi’ program for the IMSA WeatherTech United Sportscar Championship following the ban of the current Daytona Prototypes at the end of this season, Motorsport.com reports.
For 2017, IMSA will implement new rules for the Prototype class that will ban Daytona Prototypes and open-cockpit LMP2 cars. New DPi (Daytona Prototype International) cars will be used in their place, with the chassis being supplied by Dallara, Onroak Automotive, ORECA and Riley/Multimatic.
According to Chevrolet racing director Mark Kent, General Motors is still undecided on whether to go ahead with a new Corvette DPi machine or to focus its road racing efforts specifically on Corvette Racing and GTLM.
“The GTLM Corvettes are our greatest example of technology transfer from racetrack to road, and that program will continue,” Kent told Motorsport.com.
“On the prototype side, with the Daytona Prototypes not being legal next year, internally we’re working on plans. Does it make sense to continue in that class, or should we just focus on the GTLMs? If we were to continue in Prototypes, what brand would be best suited for that? Which teams would we align with?
“We don’t have all those answers today, we’re still studying it, so that’s as far as I can comment.”
Kent said that the new DPi regulations, which offer teams not only a choice of chassis suppliers but also of engines, “create a lot of variables.” GM is also evaluating the idea of a Cadillac DPi entry rather than a Chevy, a report from early March indicated.
Comments
Anything with the napcar guys incharge is a waste
Thought there would be a technology transfer from Daytona Prototypes to a mid-engine Corvette, as GM/Chev/Corvette are always discussing the technology transfer from Pratt & Miller Corvette Racing Team GTLM Corvettes to road going Corvettes. It seemed logical. That written, the fact that there is uncertainty going forward with DPi would question that logic, and therefore a mid-engine Corvette. One never knows what tomorrow will bring, especially with NASCAR/France Family, until it gets here. Still waiting for the other shoe to drop with Adjustment of Power/Balance of Power changes that would negatively impact P&M CR, since they have won the first two [long distance] races.
Chevy should remain in this class but not as a Corvette. They should be just as the others engine suppliers.
Nothing from these cars transfers to a road mid engine car as they are pure race cars.
Now when the Mid engine Corvette arrives it will go to the GTLM to battle the other production based mid engine cars.
Then I would move to make a Stingray into the lower classes or the Camaro to fill out the field.
As for the France family you can complain all you like but road racing in America is a Challenge and all the others have had short lives and are not around because of the challenges they face.
The cost are high here, The coverage is a about as good as it has been but still dismal. The MFG participation is about high as it has been since the 80’s where the cost in the 90’s pushed most MFG to cut back or leave.
I too tire of the weight additions etc but the fact is MFG do not compete unless they have a chance to win. Cars are expensive and most teams do not last with out some kind of factory support, Series like this often die or have to make major changes about every 5-10 years because of the escalation of cost to the teams and lack of real coverage and participation of teams and MFG.
The real Mid Engine Corvette would replace the present car not the prototype. P&M would stay where they are for a production based car. As for this class it is just for the faster more exotic cars on the track and the MFG only really gain exposure with engine technology here.
To Be honest the GTLM class while production based is even pushing it. The cars in this class are extensively modified for racing and bare only their production bones at best.
To me the prototype class is for attention but as a race fan the GTLM is where it all is for me anymore.