The significance of the next step in WEC/IMSA convergence

Following the latest convergence connection permitting Le Mans Hypercars from the FIA World Endurance Championship to compete against LMDh entries in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship from 2023, it could open up enticing options not only to manufacturers but also for the calendar and race formats

Gary Watkins Jul 13, 2021, 2:00 PM

Upd: Sep 17, 2021, 5:10 PM

Many were euphoric that day 18 months ago when the LMDh category was announced on the eve of the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January 2020. Finally, they cried, we had one set of regulations straddling the WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

That was true. But crucially what we didn't have were two sets of regulations crossing over between the series. So to my mind there wasn't a true convergence. That changed last week.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 32nd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 75 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Autoweek, Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.