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 Series (ALMS). The mission is to develop future drivers and teams for the ALMS, now called the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda.

Initially, the series featured three classes of purpose-built sports racing prototypes – Lites 1, Lites 2 and Lites 3. However, Lites 3 entries were declining each year and the 2010 championship was conducted for the Lites 1 and 2 categories.

  • Lites 1 (L1) – This is the fastest category and is comprised exclusively of 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 230-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder Mazda MZR motor mounted to a six-speed sequential transmission.
  • Lites 2 (L2) – The L2 category was changed in 2013 to adopt the Elan DP-02. This class uses the 2.3-liter four-cylinder Mazda engine, which produces 200-horsepower.

The 2014 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda Championship consisted of seven race weekends, with doubleheaders at each event.

  • March 13-14 – Sebring International Raceway
  • June 7 – Kansas Speedway
  • June 27-28 – Watkins Glen International
  • July 12-13 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
  • August -9-10 – Road America
  • August 23-24 – Virginia International Raceway
  • October 2-3 - Road Atlanta

Rounds seven and eight for the 2014 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda championship was held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Drivers would compete on the ten turn 2.459-mile road course in two forty-five-minute contests.

Remo Ruscitti made his series debut in rounds seven and eight. He qualified sixth in L1 for Saturday's contest. Many of the faster cars encountered issues during the race, allowing Ruscitti to grab the win. He also collected a victory in the SportsCar Challenge event on the same day. In the finale, Ruscitti moved from the sixth starting spot to the lead in just two laps and captured his third win of the weekend.
The L2 championship leader, Brian Alder, had four wins and two runner-up results in six starts. During the qualifying session at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, he put the No. 22 BAR1 Motorsports Elan DP-02 on the class pole. In round seven, he was challenged by the previous round's winner, Jerome Mee. Alder prevailed and collected the victory. Competing in wet conditions, Alder scored his second win on Sunday.
The No. 9 Performance Tech Motorsports Elan DP-02 was driven by Robert Alon in the L1 category. Alon had his best result to date, a second place, at Watkins Glen International. In race one at Canadian Tire, he would match this result. Like Ruscitti, Alon benefited from the issues other competitors experienced for his runner-up result. He wasn't as fortunate the next day and finished in the ninth position.
The L1 points leader entering rounds seven and eight was Mikhail Goikhberg. He qualified third fastest for the weekend's first contest, driving the No. 10 Elan DP-02. Unfortunately, contact with Hayden Duerson eliminated both of them from the race. With repairs made, Goikhberg started the final contest on the pole, but he was no match for Remo Ruscitti and finished second by 16.749-seconds.
Jerome Mee, piloting the No. 95 Alta Velocita Racing Elan DP-02, was the most recent L2 category winner. Mee was victorious in round six at Watkins Glen International. He qualified behind the L2 point's leader, Brian Alder, for Saturday's event and challenged him during the race but would finish in the runner-up spot. On Sunday, Mee encountered problems in the wet conditions and retired on lap-9.
Todd Slusher was making his first L2 start in the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Slusher drove the No. 62 Elan DP-02 prepared by ONE Motorsports. He was one of three entries in his division. Slusher qualified and finished third in class in the weekend's first contest. On Sunday, he profited from Jerome Mee's problems to finish in the runner-up position.

POS.CLASSDRIVERSCARLAPSRETIREMENTS
1L1Remo RuscittiElan DP-0220-
2L1Robert AlonElan DP-0220-
3L1Christian PotolicchioElan DP-0220-
4L1Andrew NovichElan DP-0220-
5L1Lamont HarrisElan DP-0220-
6L1Michal ChlumeckyElan DP-0220-
7L1Tony BullockElan DP-0220-
8L1John FalbElan DP-0220-
9L2Madison SnowElan DP-0220-
10L1Brian AlderElan DP-0220-
11L1Lee AlexanderElan DP-0220-
12L2Jerome MeeElan DP-0220-
13L2Todd SlusherElan DP-0220-
14L1Don YountElan DP-0220-
15L1Joel JancoElan DP-0216Did Not Finish
16L1Craig DuersonElan DP-0212Did Not Finish
17L1Matt McMurryElan DP-0212Did Not Finish
18L1Hayden DuersonElan DP-020Did Not Finish
19L1Mikhail GoikhbergElan DP-020Did Not Finish
-L1Guy LaporteElan DP-02-Did Not Start
-L1Darryl ShoffElan DP-02-Did Not Start

POS.CLASSDRIVERSCAR / ENTRANTLAPSRETIREMENTS
1L1Remo RuscittiElan DP-0229-
2L1Mikhail GoikhbergElan DP-0229-
3L1John FalbElan DP-0229-
4L2Madison SnowElan DP-0229-
5L1Christian PotolicchioElan DP-0229-
6L1Andrew NovichElan DP-0229-
7L1Tony BullockElan DP-0229-
8L1Matt McMurryElan DP-0229-
9L1Robert AlonElan DP-0229-
10L1Michal ChlumeckyElan DP-0228-
11L1Brian AlderElan DP-0227-
12L1Lee AlexanderElan DP-0227-
13L2Todd SlusherElan DP-0227-
14L1Joel JancoElan DP-0226-
15L1Craig DuersonElan DP-0213Did Not Finish
16L1Don YountElan DP-0210Did Not Finish
17L2Jerome MeeElan DP-029Did Not Finish
18L1Hayden DuersonElan DP-026Did Not Finish
-L1Lamont HarrisElan DP-02-Did Not Start
-L1Guy LaporteElan DP-02-Did Not Start
-L1Darryl ShoffElan DP-02-Withdrawn

Copyright Notice:
All content (photographs and text) appearing on this website are the exclusive property of © www.zoompics.com and are protected under International copyright laws. The subject matter on this website may not be reproduced, copied, stored or manipulated.

© Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017

Return to home page.