By Mark Robinson
We’ve reached the homestretch of 2020 for the IMSA-sanctioned series. One series’ season is complete, and the others are closing in fast on the end of their schedules. Let’s take a quick look at the leaders (and champions) in each series.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Daytona Prototype international (DPi)
No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R – Ryan Briscoe and Renger van der Zande
With the help of third driver Scott Dixon, Briscoe and van der Zande picked up their second win of the season Oct. 17 in the Motul Petit Le Mans. It follows the trio’s win in the Rolex 24 At Daytona back in January. Briscoe and van der Zande hold an eight-point edge (215-207) over No. 7 Acura Team Penske Acura DPi drivers Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor. Lurking close behind are Pipo Derani (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac) with 203 points and Sebastien Bourdais (No. 5 Mustang Sampling/JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac) with 199.
Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2)
No. 52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA 07 – Patrick Kelly
His ability to compete in each points-paying LMP2 race thus far in 2020 (the Rolex 24 At Daytona did not count toward WeatherTech Championship points for the class) has allowed Kelly to build a substantial 34-point lead. Kelly can clinch the championship at the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
GT Le Mans (GTLM)
No. 3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R – Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor
Garcia and Taylor are the class of 2020 in GTLM, winning five races and finishing second twice to open a 28-point advantage (293-265) over their No. 4 Corvette teammates, Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner. Garcia and Taylor could sew up the GTLM crown if things go their way at WeatherTech Raceway.
GT Daytona (GTD)
No. 14 AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 – Aaron Telitz
The GTD chase is a three-way battle with an asterisk at the moment. Aaron Telitz and Jack Hawksworth are in the No. 14 through the end of the season, but because Telitz drove a pair of races earlier in the sister No. 12 Lexus, he has accumulated 228 points to Hawksworth’s 226. If they remain together in the No. 14 for the final two races, Telitz will retain that edge. Hot on their heels, however, are Patrick Long and Ryan Hardwick (No. 16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R) with 224 points and Mario Farnbacher and Matt McMurry (No. 86 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Acura NSX GT3) at 221. Farnbacher is looking to repeat as the GTD champion.
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
Grand Sport (GS)
No. 60 KohR Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4 – Kyle Marcelli and Nate Stacy
In the past three races that include two victories, Marcelli and Stacy have turned a one-point deficit into a 20-point lead over Tyler McQuarrie and Jeff Westphal (No. 39 CarBahn with Peregrine racing Audi R8 GT4). But considering six different manufacturers have won this season – none more than twice – it’s still a wide-open affair with two races to go.
Touring Car (TCR)
No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Hyundai Veloster N TCR – Mason Filippi and Michael Lewis
Bryan Herta Autosport is dominating the standings with the top three entries in points. Filippi and Lewis took the lead on the strength of their Oct. 16 win in the Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. They lead No. 33 teammates Gabby Chaves and Ryan Norman by eight points (230-222), while No. 21 BHA drivers Harry Gottsacker and Mark Wilkins are third with 219 points.
IMSA Prototype Challenge
No. 64 K2R Motorsports Norma M30 – Matthew Bell and Naveen Rao – Champions
Bell and Rao punctuated their championship by winning the three-hour season finale Oct. 16 at Michelin Raceway. They fashioned two victories and a runner-up finish in the last three races to end up with a 16-point advantage (190-174) over Dakota Dickerson (No. 54 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P3).
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama
No. 16 Kelly-Moss Road and Race Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car – Jeff Kingsley
Kingsley put himself on the doorstep of clinching the Platinum Cup class championship by winning both races over the weekend on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The Canadian has built a 31-point cushion (478-447) on Riley Dickinson (No. 53 Moorespeed Porsche) with just two races left – both to be run Friday, Nov. 13 as part of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts weekend that concludes the 2020 IMSA season. Alan Metni (No. 99 Kelly-Moss/AM Motorsports Porsche) has led the Platinum Masters class for drivers 45 and older from the outset and is 27 points up on Charlie Luck (No. 45 Wright Motorsports Porsche). In Gold Cup for cars built between 2014 and 2016, Curt Swearingin (No. 17 ACI Motorsports Porsche) has won six of the last eight to pull an 18-point gap on Efrin Castro (No. 65 TPC Racing Porsche).
Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America
No. 16 Change Racing Lamborghini Charlotte Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO – Madison Snow
The series will return from a nearly two-month hiatus with a doubleheader this week at WeatherTech Raceway. Riding a two-race win streak, Snow holds an 11-point lead (79-68) over Jacob Eidson and Steven Aghakhani (No. 6 US RaceTronics Lamborghini Beverly Hills Huracán). Corey Lewis and McKay Snow (No. 63 Change Racing Lamborghini Charlotte Huracán) head up the ProAm standings; Victor Gomez IV has won every Am race to dominate that class; and Randy Sellari (No. 03 Change Racing Lamborghini Charlotte Huracán) has won four of six to control the LB Cup points race.
Ferrari Challenge North America
No. 63 Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO – Cooper MacNeil – Champion
MacNeil made it a three-peat, capturing his third straight Trofeo Pirelli class season title in the North American finale last month at WeatherTech Raceway. Dave Musial leads the Trofeo Pirelli Am class and Bradley Horstmann leads in Coppa Shell. Justin Weatherill clinched the Coppa Shell Am title, even with the international season finale at Misano, Italy, still on the schedule for Nov. 5-8.