In 2006, the International Motor Sport Association (IMSA) introduced IMSA Lites. The series was created to provide an opportunity for drivers competing at the amateur level to advance to a professional series or to prepare for a category such as the American Le Mans (ALMS). The mission is to develop future drivers and teams for the ALMS.

IMSA Lites features three classes of purpose-built sports racing prototypes – Lites 1, Lites 2 and Lites 3. The primary factor determining the categorization of a car is engine displacement.

  • Lites 1 (L1) – This is the fastest category. The most common vehicle in this group is the Elan DP-02 manufactured by Elan Van Diemen. The DP-02 features a carbon fiber monocoque fitted with an aerodynamic package that includes a front splitter, diffuser and rear wing. The car is powered by a 2.3-liter four-cylinder Mazda MZR motor mounted to a six-speed sequential transmission.
  • Lites 2 (L2) – This group includes several chassis and engine combinations. The West WR1000 is a popular choice powered by a 1000-cc Kawasaki ZX engine. The car also uses an electronic paddle-shift system.
  • Lites 3 (L3) – Only one car competes in this category. The Van Diemen DP-06, introduced by the Sports Car Club of America in 2002, is powered by a 2.3-liter Mazda MZR engine.

2007 IMSA Lites Championship consisted of six race weekends, with doubleheaders at each event.

  • March 16-17 – Sebring International Raceway
  • May 18-19 – Miller Motorsports Park
  • July 6-7 - Lime Rock Park
  • August 25-26 – Mosport International Raceway
  • October 4-5 - Road Atlanta
  • October 20-21 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

In addition to a driver’s championship, there are also titles for Teams and Constructors.

The penultimate weekend of the 2007 IMSA Lites Championship presented by Hankook Performance Tires was held at Road Atlanta during the Petit Le Mans event. Drivers would compete in rounds nine and ten around the twelve turn 2.54-mile road course.

The first lap through corners two and three for round nine of the 2007 IMSA Lites Championship. Leading the field of twenty-six starters is the pole-sitter, Jay Cochran, in the No. 8 Primetime Race Group Elan DP-02. Behind Cochran is the other front row starter and the second-fastest qualifier, Joel Feinberg, driving the No. 7 790 The Ticket Elan DP-02. Trailing the leaders are Kerry Jacobsen and Charlie Shears.
Kerry Jacobsen, driving the No. 38 Inspire Motorsports Elan DP02, was able to capitalize on the misfortune of his competitors to grab his first L1 series victory. Jacobsen qualified third fastest for round nine. The points leader, Gerardo Bonilla, was late to the grid due to an engine change and Jay Cochran retired with a gearbox issue allowing Jacobsen to take the win. The next day he finished third.
Claiming the L2 category victory in the weekend’s first contest was Robby Card driving the No. 45 PVM Racing West WR1000. He qualified thirteenth overall and second class for the weekend’s first event. The class pole-sitter, Mark White, went wide in turn one at the start of the race, allowing Card to take the lead and win. He started on the category pole in round ten but finished second to White.
Richard Spicer won the L3 category the hard way. Spicer started race one from the rear of the field but moved the No. 65 Hagerman RacEngineering Elan DP-06 up the order. With four minutes remaining in the contest, he passed the leader, Richard Mumm, for the victory. The next day, Spicer was gridded third in his group; he and Mumm traded the lead before Spicer finished in the runner-up position.
Jay Cochran entered the Road Atlanta weekend second in the L1 championship standings. He was the fastest in qualifying for round nine and would start three places ahead of his title rival, Gerardo Bonilla. The situation got better when Bonilla was late to the grid due to an engine change. Unfortunately, Cochran’s gearbox failed on lap-2. In the finale, he started eleventh but grabbed the win.
Mark White was driving the No. 02 Accumoto Motorsport West WR1000 in a season-long battle with Robby Card for the L2 championship. White qualified on the pole for the weekend’s first race, but an error in corner one on the opening lap resulted in a victory for Card. Round ten would be an opportunity for White to redeem himself. In wet conditions, he moved from third in class to take the win from Card.
Last year’s L3 champion, Robert Mumm, drove No. 10 Mumm Brothers Racing Van Diemen DP-06. He qualified eighteenth overall and first in class in race one at Road Atlanta. Late in the contest, Richard Spicer caught and passed Mumm. An attempt to retake first place was thwarted when a car spun in front of Mumm; he finished second. Mumm started behind Chris Funk and Spicer in the finale but got by for the victory.

POS.CLASSDRIVERSCARLAPSRETIREMENTS
1L1Kerry JacobsenElan DP-0218-
2L1Charlie ShearsElan DP-0218-
3L1John GreeneElan DP-0218-
4L1Gary GibsonElan DP-0218-
5L1Shelby MershonElan DP-0218-
6L1Jon BrownsonElan DP-0218-
7L2Robby CardWest WR100018-
8L1Johnny MeriggiElan DP-0218-
9L1Chris St MartinElan DP-0218-
10L1Tommy ThompsonElan DP-0218-
11L2Mark WhiteWest WR100018-
12L3Richard SpicerVan Diemen DP-0618-
13L3Robert MummVan Diemen DP-0618-
14L1Claudia PotamkinElan DP-0218-
15L3Paul SchneiderVan Diemen DP-0618-
16L1Bob HumphreysElan DP-0218-
17L3Chris DoyleVan Diemen DP-0618-
18L1Joel FeinbergElan DP-0218-
19L3Chris FunkVan Diemen DP-0618-
20L1Dan WeylandElan DP-0218-
21L3Kelly ToombsVan Diemen DP-0618-
22L1Richard BerryElan DP-0217-
23L2Scott TuckerWest WR100017-
24L2Eric VassianWest WR100015Did Not Finish
25L1Gerardo BonillaElan DP-0215Did Not Finish
26L1Jay CochranElan DP-022Did Not Finish
27L1Chapman DucoteElan DP-02-Did Not Start
28L2Tom SedivyWest WR1000-Did Not Start

POS.CLASSDRIVERSCAR / ENTRANTLAPSRETIREMENTS
1L1Jay CochranElan DP-0217-
2L1Gerardo BonillaElan DP-0217-
3L1Kerry JacobsenElan DP-0217-
4L1John GreeneElan DP-0217-
5L1Joel FeinbergElan DP-0217-
6L1Jon BrownsonElan DP-0217-
7L1Johnny MeriggiElan DP-0217-
8L2Mark WhiteWest WR100017-
9L2Robby CardWest WR100017-
10L1Richard BerryElan DP-0217-
11L1Chapman DucoteElan DP-0217-
12L3Robert MummVan Diemen DP-0617-
13L3Richard SpicerVan Diemen DP-0617-
14L1Chris St MartinElan DP-0216-
15L1Tommy ThompsonElan DP-0216-
16L3Chris FunkVan Diemen DP-0616-
17L3Kelly ToombsVan Diemen DP-0616-
18L3Paul SchneiderVan Diemen DP-0616-
19L2Eric VassianWest WR100016-
20L2Scott TuckerWest WR100016-
21L1Gary GibsonElan DP-0216-
22L1Dan WeylandElan DP-0216-
23L1Claudia PotamkinElan DP-0216-
24L3Chris DoyleVan Diemen DP-0615-
25L1Charlie ShearsElan DP-0215-
26L1Bob HumphreysElan DP-0211Did Not Finish
27L1Shelby MershonElan DP-020Did Not Finish
28L2Tom SedivyWest WR10000Did Not Finish

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