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 2015 IMSA Prototype Lites Championship consisted of seven race weekends, with doubleheaders at each event.

  • March 18-20 – Sebring International Raceway
  • April 10-12 – NOLA Motorsports Park
  • June 25-27 – Watkins Glen International
  • July 9-12 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
  • August -7-9 – Road America
  • August 28-29 – Virginia International Raceway
  • September 30 - October 2 - Road Atlanta

Rounds seven and eight of the 2015 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda took place at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Drivers would compete in two contests around the ten turn 2.459-mile road course.

The L1 Prototype Lites points leader, Kenton Koch, won his sixth consecutive race in seven starts on Saturday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The record for consecutive victories is eight, set by Robby Pecorari in 2006. Koch qualified second for the weekend's first contest but snatched the lead on the opening lap. On Sunday, he started second but was no match for Clark Toppe and finished in the runner-up spot.
Ludovico Manfredi made his last appearance in the Prototype Lites division last March at Sebring, where he collected two podium results. He returned to the series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park driving the No. 30 ANSA Motorsports Elan DP-02 in the L2 class. Manfredi qualified fifth in class for race one, but he inherited the lead when the faster cars had issues and grabbed the victory. On Sunday, he finished fifth.
Rookie Clark Toppe prevented his JDC Motorsports teammate, Kenton Koch, from tying the record for most consecutive victories in a season. Toppe qualified fourth fastest for round seven at Canadian Motorsport Park and finished in the runner-up position. The next day the driver of the No. 10 Elan DP-02 was gridded third, but at the start, he shot by the front row qualifiers into the lead and held the spot to the checker.
The defending L2 champion, Brian Alder, drove the No. 22 Bar1 Motorsports prepared Elan DP-02. Alder qualified on the class pole for the weekend's first contest at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Early in the race, he tangled with the other title contender Todd Slusher and finished in the runner-up spot. The next day Alder was gridded first in L2 and collected the win, which tied him at the top of the standings with Slusher.
Robert Alon was fresh off his best result of 2015 – a second place in L1 at Watkins Glen International. He was third fastest in qualifying for Saturday's contest in the No. 00 Performance Tech Motors Elan DP-02. During the race, Alon was passed by Clark Toppe, but issues for Matt McMurry meant Alon finished where he started. In the finale, Alon started and finished fourth. He left round eight, third in the points chase.
Matt McMurry, driving the No. 10 JDC Motorsports Elan DP-02 qualified on the overall and L1 pole for round seven at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Unfortunately, he had contact will his teammate and the points leader, Kenton Koch, on lap-1 and fell to second-last place. McMurry would finish tenth in class and twelfth overall. In the weekend's final race, he was passed by Clark Toppe and finished third.

POS.CLASSDRIVERCARLAPSRETIREMENTS
1L1Kenton KochElan DP-0217-
2L1Clark ToppeElan DP-0217-
3L1Robert AlonElan DP-0217-
4L1Austin VersteegElan DP-0217-
5L1John FalbElan DP-0217-
6L1Joel JancoElan DP-0217-
7L1Don YountElan DP-0217-
8L2Gerhard WatzingerElan DP-0217-
9L1Dave HouseElan DP-0217-
10L2Ludovico ManfrediElan DP-0217-
11L2Brian AlderElan DP-0216-
12L1Matt McMurryElan DP-0216-
13L1Michal ChlumeckyElan DP-0215-
14L2John SalmonElan DP-0214Did Not Finish
15L2Max DeAngelisElan DP-0212Did Not Finish
16L1Tony BullockElan DP-027Did Not Finish
17L2Todd SlusherElan DP-027Did Not Finish

POS.CLASSDRIVERCARLAPSRETIREMENTS
1L1Clark ToppeElan DP-0235-
2L1Kenton KochElan DP-0235-
3L1Matt McMurryElan DP-0235-
4L1Robert AlonElan DP-0235-
5L1Austin VersteegElan DP-0235-
6L1John FalbElan DP-0234-
7L1Don YountElan DP-0234-
8L2Gerhard WatzingerElan DP-0234-
9L1Tony BullockElan DP-0234-
10L2Brian AlderElan DP-0234-
11L1Dave HouseElan DP-0234-
12L2Max DeAngelisElan DP-0234-
13L2John SalmonElan DP-0234-
14L2Todd SlusherElan DP-0234-
15L2Ludovico ManfrediElan DP-0233-
16L1Joel JancoElan DP-0219Did Not Finish
17L1Michal ChlumeckyElan DP-0217Did Not Finish

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