The 2024 IMSA Battle on the Bricks (officially known as the 2024 Tirerack.com Battle on the Bricks) will be a sports car race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, on September 22, 2024. It will be the tenth round of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship, as well as the fourth round of the Michelin Endurance Cup.
Background
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International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) president John Doonan confirmed the race was part of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in August 2023.[1] It will be the second consecutive year the IMSA SCC hosted a race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the third time a race will be held here since the series' inception in 2014. The 2024 IMSA Battle on the Bricks will be the tenth of eleven scheduled sports car races of 2024 by IMSA.[2] The race will be held at the fourteen-turn 2.439 mi (3.925 km) Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on September 22, 2024.[2]
Balance of performance
editAhead of the event, IMSA published a bulletin regarding the latest balance of performance (BoP) changes in the GTP, GTD Pro, and GTD classes.[3] In the GTP class, the Porsche receives a 3 kilogram weight increase, whilst also receiving an increase of 6 kilowatts in power. The BMW will be up 2 kilograms from Road America, with a power increase of 7 kilowatts. The Acura will receive 1 kilogram of additional ballast, whilst remaining at the highest possible power level of 520 kilowatts. The Cadillac will only see a power increase of 5 kilowatts. Finally, the Lamborghini, which returns for the first time since Watkins Glen, will have the minimum weight of 1030 kilograms, with an power output of 518 kilowatts.[3] In the GTD Pro and GTD classes, the BMW receives a 6.7 horsepower reduction, whilst the Ford loses 8.8 horsepower with a 1 millimeter smaller air restrictor. Furthermore, the Acura will receive a loss in power of 11.4 horsepower. Finally, the Mercedes sees a power boost of 6.7 horsepower, whilst the air restrictor will be opened up by 0.5 millimeters.[3]
Standings before the race
editPreceding the event, Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr lead the GTP Drivers' Championship with 2386 points, 100 ahead of Porsche teammates Mathieu Jaminet and Nick Tandy. Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande sit in third, 185 points behind Cameron and Nasr.[4] The LMP2 Drivers' Championship is currently led by Nick Boulle and Tom Dillmann with 1564 points, 27 points ahead of second-placed Felipe Fraga and Gar Robinson. Ryan Dalziel sits in third, a further 64 points behind.[4] The GTD Pro Drivers' Championship sees Laurin Heinrich leading with 2519 points, only 17 ahead of second-placed Ross Gunn. Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow sit in third, 111 points behind Heinrich.[4] In GTD, Philip Ellis and Russell Ward lead the Drivers' Championship with 2718 points, 284 points ahead of second-placed Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher. Mikaël Grenier sits in third place, a further 256 points behind.[4] The Teams' Championships are led by Porsche Penske Motorsport, Inter Europol by PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, AO Racing, and Winward Racing, respectively, whilst the Manufacturers' Championships are led by Porsche in GTP and GTD Pro, and Mercedes-AMG in GTD.[4]
Entry list
editThe entry list was revealed on September 11, 2024, and features 56 entries: 11 entries in GTP, 10 in LMP2, 12 in GTD Pro, and 23 entries in GTD.[5]
References
edit- ^ Bradley, Charles (August 4, 2023). "IMSA reveals 2024 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar". Motorsport.com. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ a b "2024 IMSA Schedules Revealed at Road America". imsa.com. August 4, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c Dagys, John (September 11, 2024). "BMW, Ford Pegged Back for Indy in Latest Wave of BoP Changes". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "00_Championship Points - Official.pdf" (PDF). imsa.results.alkamelcloud.com. Alkamel Systems. September 9, 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ "Battle on the Bricks – Pre-Event Entry List" (PDF). imsa.com. IMSA. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (September 16, 2024). "Engstler Joins Iron Lynx for Battle on the Bricks". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ O'Connell, RJ (September 11, 2024). "56 Cars Entered For IMSA Battle On The Bricks 6H". Dailysportscar. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (September 11, 2024). "56 Cars for Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved September 12, 2024.