Cooper has formed a partnership with the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), and the sanctioning body’s developmental racing series will now be known as the Cooper Tire Prototype Lites Championship.
It will feature an expanded schedule and a points-scoring restructuring to encourage tighter competition.
“Being involved with a prestigious road racing organization such as IMSA allows Cooper’s research and development efforts to be showcased both on the track and on the road,” says Chris Pantani, the company’s motorsports director.
“Driving business back to our dealers is an integral part of our motorsports program,” adds Pantani. “It’s an example of what wins on Sunday, sells on Monday.
“A two-race weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca ranks among the highlights of next season’s calendar, one that sees eight visits to the continent’s premier permanent road courses,” Pantani points out.
“Known for its dramatic elevation changes and rigorous turns, including the famous ‘Corkscrew,’ the track consistently proves challenging for drivers and cars alike,” says IMSA Series Manager Mike Simons, referring to the Laguna Seca site.
“It allows participants to experience the racing of the American Le Mans Series first-hand. The additional track time will give each driver the ability to learn more about the car, to help them identify what changes can be made to achieve optimal results,” Simons continues. “And it gives them the opportunity to recognize their areas of strength as well as those areas where they need to improve.”
He goes on to stress that “driver and team development is essential to the series. These participants are the future of racing.”
Cooper’s motorsports involvement includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To aid in developing drivers for a potential move into the American Le Mans Series, the new championship will feature a multi-class format – L1, L2 and L3. The L1 class features Elan Motorsports Technologies’ DP02 prototype powered by a 2.3-liter Mazda MP2 engine. West Racing’s WX10 and WR1000 chassis are eligible in the L2 class, powered by 1.0-liter motors from Kawasaki or Suzuki. Elan’s DP08 with a 2.3-liter Mazda MZR-R competes in the L3 class.
Each round of the 2010 Cooper Tire Prototype Lights Championship will be held in support of Le Mans with the exception of the June 26-27 event in New Jersey.
The partnership with Cooper also allows IMSA to continue developing new and up-and-coming road racing talent in North America. The platform “will play its role in accomplishing that aim for the fifth consecutive season through promotional programs such as the $500 Cooper Tire Pole Position Award to the fastest qualifier on each event weekend,” says Pantani.
The company will institute a discount program for series teams to purchase tires for their trucks, transporters and company cars.
In addition, IMSA drivers will count their best 13 races of the season toward the championship standings. “The move ensures the closest and hotly contested title race the series has seen,” Pantani asserts.
The schedule includes:
• March 18-19 – Sebring International Raceway; Sebring, Fla.
• May 21-23 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca; Monterey, Calif.
• June 26-27 – New Jersey Motorsports Park; Millville, N.J.
• July 9-11 – Miller Motorsports Park; Salt Lake City
• July 23-24 – Lime Rock Park; Lakeville, Conn.
• Aug. 20-22 – Road America; Elkhart Lake, Wis.
• Aug. 27-29 – Mosport International Raceway; Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
• Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Road Atlanta (Petit Le Mans); Braselton, Ga.
For more information, visit www.imsa-lites.com and www.coopertire.com.
