IMSA Eyes Convergence with ACO and FIA by 2030
Road Atlanta, GA – IMSA President John Doonan has expressed strong confidence in the ongoing strategic alliance with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and the FIA, recently renewed through 2028. During the IMSA State of the Series presser at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, he indicated aspirations for a unified technical regulation platform for top-tier prototype racing by 2030.
“We’ve transitioned from small gatherings to full boardrooms with 13 OEMs discussing the future,” Doonan remarked. “I left feeling excited and confident about the path towards convergence with a potential single set of regulations.”
Doonan further emphasized that any steps towards a regulatory merger must consider the development plans of existing and future Hypercar manufacturers, including significant players like Ford, Genesis, and McLaren. “It’s crucial we remain good stewards and prevent major disruptions to their investment,” he stated.
The IMSA executive highlighted the unanimous commitment from industry stakeholders to advance the sport responsibly. “We want to ensure that whatever we implement aligns with a development roadmap that manufacturers can rely on,” Doonan added.
Support for a single platform in prototype racing has rapidly gained traction within the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) paddock. The target year for this proposed convergence aligns with the 2030 extension of the Hypercar rules, currently set to run until 2032. This evolution is expected to build upon the existing LMDh framework, potentially allowing greater manufacturer flexibility in chassis design beyond the current limitations of four provided “spines” from ORECA, Dallara, Multimatic, or Ligier.
As IMSA leads these conversations, the motorsports community watches closely for the next steps that could reshape prototype racing on a global scale.
