WEC vs IMSA: world vs America part 2

Endurance championships are the pinnacle of sports cars racing. The two series that we will be comparing today are both relatively new (IMSA 2014-present) (WEC 2013-present) . Both championships are both trying achieve an endurance season that is focused on 1 race the 24 hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona. Both series are GT/prototype class of cars with amateur and Pro classes of each type of car. Let’s dive into this edition of America vs the World.

The classes

Both championship have GT and prototype cars but each have different type of cars. IMSA consists of DPIs, prototypes challenge cars, GTLM cars (basically GTE cars) and GTD (GT3 spec). The WEC has LMP1, LMP2, GTE pro, and GTE AM. The LMP1 cars are the most iconic cars of the series. They are the shark finned Toyota’s and Porsche’s, but as well as those cars there are LMP1-L cars which are amateur prototype cars. LMP2 are customer cars for amateur teams. GTE pro are factory team GT cars. GTE am are amateur GT teams. IMSA has the Daytona Prototype international (DPI) which are customer cars. The cars come in three flavors, Cadillac, mazada, and Nissan. The prototype challenge class are completed spec cars (the same) to introduce rookies into the sport. GTLM follow the Le Mans GTE regulations hence the name GT L M or GT Le Mans. GTD or GT Daytona are GT3 spec GT3 cars.

The WEC field is smaller than the IMSA field due to high costs. The IMSA field is larger and more cost efficient than WEC with their main goal to cut costs of sports car racing. The DPI was made to look like European prototypes but also made to be inexpensive for teams. IMSA is the only one who has the challenge series in which all cars are the same

Venues

The WEC has the 24 hours of Le Mans as their pride and joy of the championship. This race is held at the iconic circuit de la salle. IMSA is focused around the 24 hours of Daytona and the 12 hours of Sebring. IMSA goes to tracks all across the US. From the tight streets of Long Beach to the hills of Watkins Glen. The WEC goes all over the world from sliverstone to Bahrain. In IMSA the races are in various lengths from 100 minutes to 10 hours. In the WEC every race other than the 24 hours of Le Mans is a 6 hour race.

Availability

Availability is how easy it is to watch races. IMSA is broadcasted on US TV and is streamed on their webpage. The WEC is streamed on their website as well but I have not been able to watch any race on local TV. IMSA also posts the full race after the race is completed. WEC does the same but is weeks afterward instead of the day after.

Final thoughts

Both series are pretty much equal in my opinion, but I’m gonna have to give it to IMSA. IMSA has a bigger car field which means more racing. Also IMSA is less predictable than the WEC. The WEC is a two horse race at the front. IMSA has bigger classes and more variety than the WEC. The WEC has the advantage of going to more well know tracks, but IMSA just seems to be more Focused on fan enjoyment instead of just being fast. That being said, in recent years the WEC has been trying to get more fan involvement as the years go on. Until than IMSA is your best bet for sports car endurance racing

Tell on the comments what do you think?
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