DPi V I E W I N G G U I D E
Eight DPi entries will be at the front of the grid here in the premier
class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Cadillac, Mazda and Acura will be represented by some of the
top teams in motorsports.
The Wayne Taylor Racing No. 10 Cadillac scored a victory in
the season-opening 24-hour race, and heads to Sebring for
America’s toughest endurance race. This team won Sebring in
2017 and has also recorded three second places in the 12-hour
classic (2015, 18, 19). The driving lineup for this team will
include Scott Dixon, Ryan Briscoe and Renger van der Zande.
The defending Sebring champion No. 31 Whelen Engineering
Cadillac returns will drivers Pipo Derani (a three-time Sebring
winner), Felipe Nasr and Filipe Albuquerque.
The No. 5 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac entry will feature
former Sebring winners Joao Barbosa, Sebastien Bourdais and
Loic Duval at the wheel. The second entry from the JDC-Miller
team will be the No. 85 Cadillac driven by Chris Miller, Tristan
Vautier and Juan Piedrahita.
Mazda Team Joest heads to Sebring still looking for its fi rst long
distance win in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship. A pole
position and strong performance at Daytona resulting in a second
place fi nish puts Mazda among the favorites with its twocar
entry (No. 55 and No. 77). Drivers include Jonathan Bomarito,
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Harry Tincknell, Oliver Jarvis, Tristan
Nunez and Olivier Pla.
Acura Team Penske is also searching for its fi rst major endurance
race win. The No. 6 will be driven by Dane Cameron, Simon
Pagenaud and Juan Pablo Montoya. The No. 7 will feature
Ricky Taylor, Helio Castroneves and Alexander Rossi driving.
Cadillac certainly has strength in numbers and a stellar record
in endurance racing, but this could be the year Mazda or Acura
earn their fi rst overall Sebring victory.
IMSA CLASSES OF COMPETITION
DAYTONA PROTOTYPE INTERNATIONAL (DPi)
The fastest and most technologically advanced sports
cars in North America, the Daytona Prototype International
(DPi) is specifi cally designed and engineered
for the track. DPi cars use chassis built to international
specifi cations powered by engines from mainstream
automotive manufacturers like Acura, Cadillac, and
Mazda. In addition, DPi bodywork includes styling
cues that align with these engine manufacturers.
LE MANS PROTOTYPE 2 (LMP2)
The Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) is a closed cockpit car
developed by four approved constructors. In addition to
the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, LMP2
cars are eligible to compete in other global series such
as the FIA World Endurance Championship.
GT LE MANS (GTLM)
Utilizing the same technical regulations as the 24
Hours of Le Mans, the GTLM cars are the most elite
and fastest GT cars on the track. Based on production
models, they are engineered to extract the maximum
performance possible. The class serves as a true proving
ground for leading manufacturers such as BMW,
Corvette, Ferrari, and Porsche.
GT DAYTONA (GTD)
The GT Daytona cars are enhanced (not defi ned by)
technology and utilize the global FIA-GT3 specifi cation.
The GTD class consists of cars from leading
manufacturers such as Acura, Audi, BMW, Ferrari,
Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin,
and Porsche.
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