IMSA president Scott Atherton has revealed that the dates of the 2017 round at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas will swap slots on the calendar with the six-hour race at Laguna Seca.
That means the end of the ‘Lone Star Le Mans’ double-bill: the race at COTA will be a standalone IMSA event in the spring, with Laguna’s round being pushed to September. Atherton has however assured that the change is not a result of a strain in IMSA and the ACO/FIA’s relationship.
“No [there has been no falling out]. I’ve shared our date information with Gerard [Neveu] and Pierre [Fillon] from the ACO. I think having been around the ACO for 16 or 17 years now, I know that the relationship and the strategic alliance has never been stronger.
“The reality is that we agreed to try and move away from Formula One, tried to move away from college football, it means you’re trying to get out of the fall. IMSA could do it, I don’t know if it still applies to the WEC.
“It isn’t our news to share, but we’ve had conversations with COTA and the WEC many months ago and said that if we had our choice, we would like to race there in the spring, so let’s go our separate ways. Let’s hope it creates two opportunities.”
With the rest of the dates staying the came, the only changes to the calendar are minor. The race at Long Beach will now include the GTD category for the first time, while the PC class will not run at Long Beach, Lime Rock Park or Laguna Seca.
“The Lime Rock weekend pairs up nicely with the VIR weekend, and will be a GT-only showcase like in the past,” said Atherton to IMSA Radio. “The race at Laguna Seca meanwhile will see just one race, with the changes in the class structure. It means the TV package will be better.
“There are no TBDs or TBAs on the schedule,” he continued. “I’m very happy with the schedule.”
All the tracks on the 2016 calendar will feature in 2017.
2017 IMSA WeatherTech Championship schedule:
Jan 26-29 Daytona International Speedway (Daytona 24 Hours)*
Mar 15-18 Sebring International Raceway Sebring 12 Hours)*
Apr 7-8 Long Beach Street Circuit (P, GTLM and GTD only)
May 5-7 Circuit of the Americas
June 2-3 Detroit Belle Isle (P, PC and GTD only)
June 30-July 2 Watkins Glen*
July 7-9 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
July 21-22 Lime Rock Park (GTLM and GTD only)
Aug 4-6 Road America
Aug 25-27 Virginia International Raceway (GTLM and GTD only)
Sep 23-24 Laguna Seca (P, GTLM and GTD only)
Oct 5-7 Road Atlanta (Petit Le Mans)*
*North American Endurance Cup (NAEC) rounds
