2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship



The 2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship was the 47th season of International Motor Sports Association GT Championship that traces its lineage to the 1971 IMSA GT Championship. It was the fourth season of the United Sportscar Championship and second under the name as the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It began on 28 January with the 24 Hours of Daytona, and ended on 7 October with the Petit Le Mans.

Classes

The class structure remained largely unchanged from 2016.

Race schedule

The 2017 schedule was released on 5 August 2016 and features twelve rounds.
RaceLengthClassesCircuitLocationDate
1Rolex 24 at Daytona24 hoursAllDaytona International SpeedwayDaytona Beach, FloridaJanuary 28–29
2Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring12 hoursAllSebring International RacewaySebring, FloridaMarch 18
3BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix at Long Beach1 hour 40 minutesP, GTLM, GTDLong Beach Street CircuitLong Beach, CaliforniaApril 8
4Advance Auto Parts Sportscar Showdown2 hours 40 minutesAllCircuit of the AmericasAustin, TexasMay 6
5Chevrolet Sports Car Classic1 hour 40 minutesP, PC, GTDThe Raceway on Belle IsleDetroit, MichiganJune 3
6Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen6 hoursAllWatkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen, New YorkJuly 2
7Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix2 hours 40 minutesAllCanadian Tire Motorsport ParkBowmanville, OntarioJuly 9
8Northeast Grand Prix2 hours 40 minutesGTLM, GTDLime Rock ParkLakeville, ConnecticutJuly 22
9Continental Tire Road Race Showcase2 hours 40 minutesAllRoad AmericaElkhart Lake, WisconsinAugust 6
10Michelin GT Challenge at VIR2 hours 40 minutesGTLM, GTDVirginia International RacewayAlton, VirginiaAugust 27
11America's Tire 2502 hours 40 minutesP, GTLM, GTDMazda Raceway Laguna SecaMonterey, CaliforniaSeptember 24
12Motul Petit Le Mans10 hoursAllRoad AtlantaBraselton, GeorgiaOctober 7

Calendar changes

The first 3 hours of the 24 Hours of Daytona and Long Beach were broadcast on Fox. The other rounds were all broadcast on Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, and Fox Sports GO.

Entries

Prototype

The Prototype class is made up of LMP2 cars both in LMP2 trim, with the ACO specification Gibson V8 engine, and in Daytona Prototype International trim, where manufacturers are allowed to alter certain body panels designed to reflect the automaker's design language, and run their own engines. Mazda, Cadillac, and Nissan run chassis from the respective constructors featuring manufacturer-specific bodywork.
TeamChassisEngineDriversRounds
Tequila Patrón ESMNissan Onroak DPiNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V62 Ryan DalzielAll
Tequila Patrón ESMNissan Onroak DPiNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V62 Scott SharpAll
Tequila Patrón ESMNissan Onroak DPiNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V62 Pipo Derani1–2, 6
Tequila Patrón ESMNissan Onroak DPiNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V62 Brendon Hartley1, 12
Tequila Patrón ESMNissan Onroak DPiNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V622 Johannes van OverbeekAll
Tequila Patrón ESMNissan Onroak DPiNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V622 Ed Brown1–5
Tequila Patrón ESMNissan Onroak DPiNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V622 Bruno Senna1–2, 6, 12
Tequila Patrón ESMNissan Onroak DPiNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V622 Brendon Hartley1–2
Tequila Patrón ESMNissan Onroak DPiNissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V622 Pipo Derani7, 9, 11–12

Prototype Challenge

All entries use an Oreca FLM09 chassis powered by a LS3 6.2 L V8 engine.
TeamDriversRounds
Starworks Motorsport8 Chris Cumming1
Starworks Motorsport8 John Falb1
Starworks Motorsport8 Ben Keating1
Starworks Motorsport8 Remo Ruscitti1
Starworks Motorsport8 Robert Wickens1
Starworks Motorsport8 Garett Grist2
Starworks Motorsport8 Max Hanratty2
Starworks Motorsport8 Sean Rayhall2
Starworks Motorsport88 Conor Daly1
Starworks Motorsport88 James Dayson1
Starworks Motorsport88 Scott Mayer1
Starworks Motorsport88 Alex Popow1
Starworks Motorsport88 Sean Rayhall1
BAR1 Motorsports20 Don YountAll
BAR1 Motorsports20 Buddy Rice1–2, 4, 6, 9, 12
BAR1 Motorsports20 Mark Kvamme1–2
BAR1 Motorsports20 Chapman Ducote1
BAR1 Motorsports20 Gustavo Yacamán1
BAR1 Motorsports20 Daniel Burkett2, 6, 12
BAR1 Motorsports20 Ryan Lewis5, 7
BAR1 Motorsports26 David Cheng1
BAR1 Motorsports26 Trent Hindman1
BAR1 Motorsports26 Adam Merzon1
BAR1 Motorsports26 Johnny Mowlem1
BAR1 Motorsports26 Tom Papadopoulos1
BAR1 Motorsports26 Gustavo Yacamán2, 6, 9
BAR1 Motorsports26 Marc Drumwright2
BAR1 Motorsports26 Chapman Ducote2
BAR1 Motorsports26 Colin Thompson2
BAR1 Motorsports26 Nicholas Boulle4
BAR1 Motorsports26 Stefan Wilson4
BAR1 Motorsports26 Tomy Drissi5, 12
BAR1 Motorsports26 Bruno Junqueira5
BAR1 Motorsports26 Brian Alder6
BAR1 Motorsports26 Derek Jones6
BAR1 Motorsports26 Garett Grist7, 12
BAR1 Motorsports26 James Vance7
BAR1 Motorsports26 Mark Kvamme9
BAR1 Motorsports26 John Falb12
Performance Tech Motorsports38 James FrenchAll
Performance Tech Motorsports38 Patricio O'WardAll
Performance Tech Motorsports38 Kyle Masson1–2, 6, 12
Performance Tech Motorsports38 Nicholas Boulle1

GT Le Mans

GT Daytona

Race results

Bold indicates overall winner.

Championship standings

Points systems

Championship points are awarded in each class at the finish of each event. Points are awarded based on finishing positions as shown in the chart below.
Position123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Race3532302826252423222120191817161514131211109876543211

;Drivers points
Points are awarded in each class at the finish of each event. The point for the fastest lap is only awarded in the drivers' championship.
;Team points
Team points are calculated in exactly the same way as driver points, using the point distribution chart. Each car entered is considered its own "team" regardless if it is a single entry or part of a two-car team.
;Manufacturer points
There are also a number of manufacturer championships which utilize the same season-long point distribution chart. The manufacturer championships recognized by IMSA are as follows:
Each manufacturer receives finishing points for its highest finishing car in each class. The positions of subsequent finishing cars from the same manufacturer are not taken into consideration, and all other manufacturers move up in the order.
;North American Endurance Cup
The points system for the North American Endurance Cup is different from the normal points system. Points are awarded on a 5-4-3-2 basis for drivers, teams and manufacturers. The first finishing position at each interval earns five points, four points for second position, three points for third, with two points awarded for fourth and each subsequent finishing position.
Position123Other Classified
Race5432

At Daytona, points are awarded at six hours, 12 hours, 18 hours and at the finish. At the Sebring, points are awarded at four hours, eight hours and at the finish. At Watkins Glen, points are awarded at three hours and at the finish. At Road Atlanta, points are awarded at four hours, eight hours and at the finish.
Like the season-long team championship, North American Endurance Cup team points are awarded for each car and drivers get points in any car that they drive, in which they are entered for points. The manufacturer points go to the highest placed car from that manufacturer, just like the season-long manufacturer championship.
For example: in any particular segment manufacturer A finishes 1st and 2nd and manufacturer B finishes 3rd. Manufacturer A only receives first-place points for that segment. Manufacturer B receives the second-place points.

Drivers' championships

Prototype

;Notes:
  • 1 – Relegated to last in class for violation of minimum drive time requirements.

    Prototype Challenge

GT Le Mans

GT Daytona

Manufacturers' championships

Prototype

GT Le Mans

GT Daytona


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