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

TeamChassisNo.DriversRounds
ANSA MotorsportsLigier JS P34United States Matt DickenAll
20France Nico Jamin1
ASC MotorsportsLigier JS P32United States Michael Watt4, 7
Ave MotorsportsAve-Riley AR-244United States Paul Fix (M)1–5
United States Tony Ave7
CWRLigier JS P375Canada James Dayson3
Extreme Speed MotorsportsLigier JS P33United States Naj Husain (M)All
33United States Lance Wilsey7
Forty 7 MotorsportsNorma M3047United States Garrett Kletjian5-6
HP-TechLigier JS P387United States Doug Peterson (M)1
Venezuela Roberto La Rocca2
JDC MotorSportsLigier JS P325United States Joel Janco (M)1–2
55United States Gerry Kraut (M)1
K2R MotorsportsLigier JS P351Canada Rob Hodes (M)1–2
Kelly-Moss Road and RaceNorma M3014United States Colin ThompsonAll
Performance Tech MotorsportsLigier JS P312Mexico Andrés Gutiérrez1–3
Ginetta-Juno P3-1523United States Alan Wilzig (M)1
P1 MotorsportsLigier JS P38United States Kenton Koch2-7
17United Kingdom Lonnie Pechnik (M)1–2
United States Robby Foley3, 5, 7
Canada Stefan Rzadzinski6
71Colombia Juan Perez1–2, 4

Note: A driver with a (M) is participating in the Amateur Masters Category.

Mazda Prototype Challenge (MPC)

TeamChassisNo.DriversRounds
BAR1 MotorsportsÉlan DP0222United States Brian Alder1–2
United States Don Yount3
De Angelis RacingÉlan DP0278Canada Max DeAngelis7
Eurosport RacingÉlan DP0224United States Tim George3, 7
31Canada Michal Chlumecky2-7
34United States Jon Brownson1–4
42United States Jim Garrett2, 7
JDC MotorSportsÉlan DP027United States Kris WrightAll
25United States Joel Janco3-4
72United States Tazio OttisAll
ODU EngineeringÉlan DP0221United Kingdom Stuart RettieAll
46United States Jay Salmon2–3, 6-7
ONE MotorsportsÉlan DP0232United States Paul La Haye1, 3, 7
United States Gerhard Watzinger7
86United States Dave House1, 7
Performance Tech MotorsportsÉlan DP0211United States Robert MassonAll
18United States Kyle MassonAll
38United States Stephen DawesAll
77United States Howard JacobsAll
Team Perfect PedalÉlan DP0213United States Gary GibsonAll
Wolf MotorsportsÉlan DP0228United States Bart Wolf7

Note: All Élan DP02s are running with the Mazda MZR 2.0 L Engine.

Race calendar and results

Bold indicates overall winner.

RoundCircuitDatePole positionFastest lapLMP3 winnerMPC winnerSupporting
1R1United States Sebring International Raceway16 MarchFrance Nico JaminFrance Nico JaminFrance Nico JaminUnited States Kyle Masson12 Hours of Sebring
R217 MarchFrance Nico JaminFrance Nico JaminFrance Nico JaminUnited States Kyle Masson
2R1United States Barber Motorsports Park21 AprilUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kyle MassonHonda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
R222 AprilUnited States Colin ThompsonUnited States Colin ThompsonMexico Andrés GutiérrezUnited States Kyle Masson
3R1United States Watkins Glen International1 JulyUnited States Colin ThompsonUnited States Colin ThompsonUnited States Colin ThompsonUnited States Kris Wright6 Hours of the Glen
R22 JulyUnited States Colin ThompsonUnited States Colin ThompsonMexico Andrés GutiérrezUnited States Kyle Masson
4R1Canada Canadian Tire Motorsport Park8 JulyUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kyle MassonSportsCar Grand Prix
R29 JulyUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kyle Masson
5R1United States Lime Rock Park22 JulyUnited States Colin ThompsonUnited States Colin ThompsonUnited States Colin ThompsonUnited States Kyle MassonNortheast Grand Prix
6R1Canada Circuit Trois-Rivières12 AugustUnited States Kyle MassonUnited States Naj HusainUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Gary GibsonGrand Prix de Trois-Rivières
R213 AugustUnited States Kyle MassonUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kyle Masson
7R1United States Road Atlanta6 OctoberUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kyle MassonPetit Le Mans
R27 OctoberUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Colin ThompsonUnited States Kenton KochUnited States Kyle Masson

Final standings

LMP3

ColorResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
Green4th & 5th place
Light Blue6th–10th place
Dark Blue11th place or lower
PurpleDid not finish
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
BrownWithdrawn (Wth)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
BlankDid not participate (DNP)
Driver replacement (Rpl)
Injured (Inj)
No race held (NH)
Pos.DriverSEB 1SEB 2BAR 1BAR 2WGL 1WGL 2MOS 1MOS 2LRPTRO 1TRO 2ATL 1ATL 2Points
1United States Colin Thompson11243162213233217
2United States Kenton Koch12271121111209
3United States Naj Husain4566843374455162
4United States Matt Dicken99117655565568126
5Mexico Andrés Gutiérrez232131108
6United States Paul Fix81010107664581
7United States Robby Foley4832470
8United Kingdom Lonnie Pechnik345554
9France Nico Jamin1142
10United States Michael Watt468642
11Colombia JC Perez78797DNS42
12United States Garrett Kletjian46634
13United States Tony Ave4232
14Canada Stefan Rzadzinski3332
15United States Rob Hodes6118831
16Canada James Dayson5230
17Venezuela Roberto La Rocca3430
18United States Doug Peterson5622
19United States Lance Willsey7718
20United States Gerry Kraut12713
21United States Joel Janco131313
22United States Alan Wilzig101210

Mazda Prototype Challenge

Pos.DriverSEB 1SEB 2BAR 1BAR 2WGL 1WGL 2MOS 1MOS 2LRPTRO 1TRO 2ATL 1ATL 2Points
1United States Kyle Masson1111311116111259
2United States Kris Wright2127813101022222177
3United States Tazio Ottis123322511539334170
4United Kingdom Stuart Rettie61145845943453154
5United States Robert Masson7766574658546139
6United States Gary Gibson3451366848181612127
7United States Stephen Dawes9912101297117569994
8Canada Michal Chlumecky2314227141089
9United States Jon Brownson55877133287
10United States Howard Jacobs10101112131068677111186
11United States Brian Alder4213449
12United States Paul Lahaye869813745
13United States Joel Janco10119334
14United States Dave House1187534
15United States Jay Salmon91115154DNS151530
16United States Jim Garrett10981423
17United States Don Yount41416
18Canada Max DeAngelis12812
19United States Tim George1112DNS1312
20United States Gerhard Watzinger61710
21United States Bart Wolf10166

External links