It's official. The announcement was made in the run-up to the 12 Hours of Sebring. Starting next season, the combination of the American Le Mans Series and the NASCAR Grand Am will be called United SportsCar Racing. I think it's notable that Le Mans no longer appears in the name.
There will be 5 classes:
• The lead Prototype (P) class, combining GRAND-AM’s Daytona Prototypes plus the ALMS’ P2 and DeltaWing cars;
• Prototype Challenge (PC), retained from the current ALMS class structure;
• GT Le Mans (GTLM), consisting of the ALMS’ current GT class;
• GT Daytona (GTD), consisting of GRAND-AM’s current GT class and the ALMS’ current GTC class;
• GX, coming over from the current GRAND-AM structure.
This leaves a few questions. Since even the ALMS Prototype Challenge cars are several seconds per lap faster than the low-tech Daytona Prototypes when raced on the same track, how will they slow down the LMP2 cars to equalize the class. Also, will NASCAR leave tire choice open as the ALMS did or require a spec tire ala Grand Am?
The
International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) will be the official sanctioning body. A number of the current support series will remain, too.
http://www.alms.com/articles/united-sportscar-racing-debut-2014