Class Review: Sports Prototype Classes

Class Review: Sports Prototype Classes

Here's an in-depth look at the IMSA Sports Prototype Class

As the 2025 IMSA season begins, lets review the four main classes of vehicles in the Weathertech Sports Car Championship series. These classes are made up of two types of cars, Prototype and GT. Prototype’s display race car technology for the track, while GT’s are based off the road going versions.

Sports Prototype Classes

  1. Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) – Beginning in 2023, the GTP class features five global automotive manufacturers, such as Porsche, Lamborghini, BMW, Acura and Cadillac. With hybrid powertrains, styling ques from their road cars and unique engines, these cars are the most technologically advanced.
  2. Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) - Utilizing one of four approved manufacturer chassis and the same V8 engine by Gibson, the LMP2 class is represented by teams around the world. Eligible to compete in other series like WEC, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driver lineups consists of both pro and amateur drivers. These cars have closed cockpit designs.
  3. GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) – Built to GT3-spec, the GTD Pro class is both a newer edition to the grid and highly competitive. Factory teams, with the likes of Porsche, Lexus, Lamborghini, BMW, Aston Martin, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford and Merecedes-AMG, show off their best pro drivers, displaying an exciting race. These cars look just like their road going counterparts.
  4. GT Daytona (GTD) – As a Pro-Am class, and the largest on the grid, these cars are also GT3 -spec, which was adopted in 2016. With it’s diversity, teams are usually funded through sponsorship's and is a pathway many amateurs take to become pro. Like the LMP2 class, GTD cars can race in other GT3 series around the world. Many of the same manufacturers in the GTD Pro class are also represented here.