It is pretty secure to say that the world of sportscar racing is in one in every of its healthiest of eras, simply famous by its rising crowds each race weekend (most noticeable throughout pre-race grid walks), and the truth that IMSA is ready to announce its subsequent season earlier and earlier annually.
Thursday, IMSA introduced its full 2026 season schedule through the 12 Hours of Sebring, full with just a few changes to higher accommodate groups and tracks, whereas persevering with to push the expansion of the collection.
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The large change you will not see simply by trying on the calendar was made to the Highway America spherical in July. The attractive, sprawling grounds in Wisconsin have performed host to IMSA dash race weekends up to now, however for 2026, that modifications to a 6-hour endurance spherical, as additionally it is added to the Michelin Endurance Cup (5 races which can be a part of the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship collection’ schedule and a separate cup awarded on the finish of the season at Petit Le Mans at Highway Atlanta). The brand new endurance race additionally features Motul as a title associate.
The size change does come at the price of the September Battle of the Bricks IMSA race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which sees a discount from its 6-hour endurance race to a dash race. However with Highway America’s area to higher accommodate the enthusiastic endurance followers (who like to camp), it really makes for a becoming change that ought to profit each races and their respective tracks.
When Motorsport.com requested about these schedule changes and the way they’d profit the collection, particularly within the Midwest, John Doonan, president of the collection stated, “Stroll the Grid Stroll both on the Pilot Problem, Alan Jay 120 tomorrow, or on the 12 Hour Grid Stroll on Saturday. Extra households, extra dad and mom strolling with their youngsters holding their fingers, earmuffs defending little ears. You are beginning to see the following technology come out.
“I believe one of many issues via the pandemic that actually gave us a lift, apart from convergence and all of the issues, is the thought you’ll be able to come to an IMSA race and pull your loved ones highway automobile, your camper, proper as much as the fence and have the motion proper in entrance of you.
“The fan attendance that we have seen at these venues is I believe an enormous spark to bringing out households.
“Highway America, amongst so many different locations, has put the infrastructure in place. My hope could be that we burst the seams of area there, like they’ve been the final a number of years by placing [on] a six hour. As just a little boy, once more, to not make it private, however I went to Highway America with my household and we camped. I believe that have jogs my memory of why we love this a lot. I am tremendous pumped to have the ability to go there. …it was a 500-mile race at Highway America for many years and a long time. Hopefully we’ll make 500 miles in six hours. I believe we’ll perhaps do greater than that.”
2026 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship
*Daring/starred are a part of the Michelin Endurance Cup
Date
Observe
Period
Model
Lessons
January 16-18
Daytona Worldwide Speedway, Roar Earlier than 24
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD, LMP2
January 21-25*
Daytona Worldwide Speedway, Rolex 24 at Daytona
24 hours
Endurance
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD, LMP2
March 18-21*
Sebring Worldwide Raceway
12 hours
Endurance
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD, LMP2
April 17-18
Lengthy Seashore Road Circuit
100 minutes
Dash
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD
Might 1-3
Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca
2 hours 40 minutes
Dash
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD
Might 29-30
Streets of Detroit
100 minutes
Dash
GTP, GTD Professional
June 25-28*
Watkins Glen Worldwide
6 hours
Endurance
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD, LMP2
July 10-12
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
2 hours 40 minutes
Dash
GTD Professional, GTD, LMP2
July 30-August 2*
Highway America
6 hours
Endurance
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD, LMP2
August 21-23
VIRginia Worldwide Raceway
2 hours 40 minutes
Dash
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD
September 18-20
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2 hours 40 minutes
Dash
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD, LMP2
September 30-October 3*
Michelin Raceway Highway Atlanta
10 hours
Endurance
GTP, GTD Professional, GTD, LMP2
Pictures from Sebring 12 Hours – Follow Day
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