2008 Road Atlanta - IMSA Lites

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. Three years later, the series was exceeding IMSA's expectations.

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.

2008 IMSA Lites Championship consisted of six race weekends, with doubleheaders at each event.

March 13-14 – Sebring International Raceway
May 17-18 – Miller Motorsports Park
July 11-12 - Lime Rock Park
August 23-24 – Mosport International Raceway
October 2-3 - Road Atlanta
October 18-19 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

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

The penultimate weekend rounds nine and ten of the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship were conducted at Road Atlanta. Drivers would compete in two races around the twelve turn 2.54-mile road course.

Twenty-one IMSA Lites competitors started round nine of the championship at Road Atlanta. Leading the field through the track’s corners three and four combination is the pole-sitter, Jonathan Goring, in the No. 14 Inspire Motorsports Elan DP-02. Behind Goring is the second-fastest qualifier, Matt Downs, driving the No. 17 Eurosport Racing Elan DP-02. Trailing the leaders is the No. 7 Elan DP-02 of Joel Feinberg.

Another weekend of the 2008 IMSA Lites Championship and another sweep for the L1 competitor Jonathan Goring. The L1 points leader was piloting the No. 14 Inspire Motorsports Elan DP-02. Goring qualified on the class and overall pole for round nine and led flag-to-flag and set a new race lap record. The next day, he delivered the same results with the exception of a new race lap record.

The L2 points leader, Tom Drewer, had another dominant weekend. Driving the No. 45 Daily Planet Racing West WR1000, he qualified on the class pole both days and led from start to finish and set a new race lap record. His performance during the season meant that with the two victories at Road Atlanta, he secured the title before the final event, two races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Last season, L3 competitor, Chris Doyle, made his IMSA Lites Championship debut and had no wins or podium results to show for his efforts. He returned this year campaigning the familiar No. 62 Trench Shoring Services sponsored Van Diemen DP-06. Doyle collected two wins as he was the only driver at Road Atlanta entered in the L3 category.

The No. 17 Eurosport Racing DP-02 was driven by Matt Downs. Downs joined the IMSA Lites Championship in 2007 and only competed in four L1 races but finished on the podium twice and was eleventh in the final standings. In race one at Road Atlanta, he qualified second fastest and chased Jonathan Gore to finish in the runner-up spot by 9.591-seconds. In the finale, he started second but finished fourth.

Pursuing the new L2 champion, Tom Drewer, all weekend was Jim Garrett. Garrett, one of Drewer’s teammates, was driving the No. 42 PVM Racing WR1000. He qualified third in class in the weekend’s first event at Road Atlanta but passed another teammate Eric Vassian for a second-place. In race two, Garrett started behind Vassian but got by him and finished in the runner-up position.

POS.	CLASS	DRIVERS	CAR	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	L1	Jonathan Goring	Elan DP-02	23	-
2	L1	Matt Downs	Elan DP-02	23	-
3	L1	Joel Feinberg	Elan DP-02	23	-
4	L1	Jon Brownson	Elan DP-02	23	-
5	L1	Lucas Downs	Elan DP-02	23	-
6	L1	Jonathan Gore	Elan DP-02	23	-
7	L1	Gary Gibson	Elan DP-02	23	-
8	L1	Jarrett Boon	Elan DP-02	23	-
9	L1	Richard Fant	Elan DP-02	23	-
10	L1	Anthony Nicolosi	Elan DP-02	23	-
11	L1	Dan Weyland	Elan DP-02	22	-
12	L1	Richard Berry	Elan DP-02	22	-
13	L2	Tom Drewer	West WR1000	22	-
14	L1	Tommy Thompson	Elan DP-02	22	-
15	L1	Don Yount	Elan DP-02	21	-
16	L2	Jim Garrett	West WR1000	20	-
17	L3	Chris Doyle	Van Diemen DP-06	20	-
18	L1	Charlie Shears	Elan DP-02	17	Did Not Finish
19	L1	Johnny Meriggi(	Elan DP-02	16	Did Not Finish
20	L2	Eric Vassian	West WR1000	12	Did Not Finish
21	L3	Wayne Ducote	Elan DP-02	8	Did Not Finish

POS.	CLASS	DRIVERS	CAR / ENTRANT	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	L1	Jonathan Goring	Elan DP-02	20	-
2	L1	Jonathan Gore	Elan DP-02	20	-
3	L1	Lucas Downs	Elan DP-02	20	-
4	L1	Matt Downs	Elan DP-02	20	-
5	L1	Johnny Meriggi(	Elan DP-02	20	-
6	L1	Gary Gibson	Elan DP-02	20	-
7	L1	Charlie Shears	Elan DP-02	20	-
8	L1	Anthony Nicolosi	Elan DP-02	20	-
9	L2	Tom Drewer	West WR1000	20	-
10	L3	Wayne Ducote	Elan DP-02	20	-
11	L1	Richard Fant	Elan DP-02	20	-
12	L1	Richard Berry	Elan DP-02	20	-
13	L1	Jarrett Boon	Elan DP-02	19	-
14	L2	Jim Garrett	West WR1000	19	-
15	L1	Don Yount	Elan DP-02	18	Did Not Finish
16	L1	Jon Brownson	Elan DP-02	17	Did Not Finish
17	L3	Chris Doyle	Van Diemen DP-06	15	Did Not Finish
18	L1	Joel Feinberg	Elan DP-02	9	Did Not Finish
19	L2	Eric Vassian	West WR1000	8	Did Not Finish
20	L1	Dan Weyland	Elan DP-02	3	Did Not Finish
21	L1	Tommy Thompson	Elan DP-02	-	Did Not Start

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