IMSA has confirmed 54 entries for the 27th running of Petit Le Mans, a 10-hour SportsCar Championship endurance at Road Atlanta on 12 October.
The 11th and final round of the 2024 season will decide championship titles across all four categories.
It will be the last of five Endurance Cup events this year which began with the 24 Hours of Daytona in January, and the 12 Hours of Sebring in March.
Looking at the 11 GTP competitors, all teams will bring their respective Endurance Cup drivers.
Previously at the Battle on the Bricks, most opted for their duo of full-season drivers for the hectic six-hour race in Indianapolis.
Porsche Penske faced a disqualification for their #6 963 at Indy following an in-depth technical inspection.
In a pre-event media call, the managing director at Porsche Penske – Jonathan Diuguid – explained that the heavy rain caused an issue with the electronics and therefore the power steering system with the #7 Porsche.
The driver at the time, Felipe Nasr, shared the difficult of dealing with the power steering problem prior to his temporary stoppage on the start-finish straight.
Despite the #7 championship-leaders’ winless performance at the Brickyard, they reside in a positive place at 124 points on the sibling #6.
A finish of P4 or better for the #7 Porsche will secure their first championship title since Penske reignited the partnership with Porsche with LMDh.
Nick Tandy has four Petit Le Mans victories to his name which is more than any other driver.
His wins came from GT-specification machinery, however, so he will chase his first prototype Petit win next week in the #6.
LMP2 – 10 entries
The #52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports team and their drivers Nick Boulle, Jakub Smiechowski and Tom Dillmann lead the LMP2 standings.
Their 98-point lead will mean that a P3 or higher race finish will earn them a back-to-back championship title.
Ten Oreca 07s will compete for glory at Road Atlanta as Tower Motorsports’ John Farano will chase his fourth consecutive LMP2 win after winning from 2020-22. He was injured last year.
Boulle is in the lead of the Jim Trueman Award which awards the highest-rated Bronze-graded LMP2 driver an invitation to the following year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
GTD Pro – 13 entries
The title fight in IMSA’s premier GT category is close and tight with the fan-favourite Rexy in the lead, also known as the #77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3.R.
Julien Andlauer joins Laurin Heinrich, Michael Christensen in this endeavour, having initially replaced a departed Seb Priaulx.
After a post-qualifying penalty denied them pole position at the Brickyard, Heinrich and Christensen charged to victory from the back row.
They have a 99-point lead on the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and only need to finish third or higher to take the title.
Speaking of Heart of Racing, they will continue running a second car in the category since doing so at the Brickyard.
After debuting their #56 Ferrari 296 GT3 at Indianapolis, DragonSpeed will also compete in GTD Pro with only Toni Vilander confirmed in their #82 Ferrari.
GTD – 20 entries
Finally, the GTD category once again boasts the most competitors in comparison to the other classes.
The Bob Atkin award winner grants a GTD Bronze driver a Le Mans invitation for next year, and is led by Orey Fidani.
The Battle on the Bricks brought back those competing in the Endurance Cup and so the respective teams will fight for the Endurance Cup honours.
Winward Racing and their #57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 has run a dominant campaign from the beginning.
Drivers Russell Ward, Philip Ellis and Indy Dontje will need to finish 14th or higher to secure the championship title.
Whilst it has been an unmatched title story for Winward, they will find greater challenge in earning their first Petit Le Mans class win.
SEE MORE: The full provisional entry list for the 27th running of Petit Le Mans
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