IMSA extends Highway America to an endurance spherical for 2026

It is pretty secure to say that the world of sportscar racing is in one in all 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 every year. 

Thursday, IMSA introduced its full 2026 season schedule throughout the 12 Hours of Sebring, full with a couple of changes to higher accommodate groups and tracks, whereas persevering with to push the expansion of the sequence.

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The massive 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 adjustments to a 6-hour endurance spherical, as it’s also added to the Michelin Endurance Cup (5 races which are a part of the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship sequence’ 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 positive factors Motul as a title accomplice.

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 actually 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 sequence, particularly within the Midwest, John Doonan, president of the sequence mentioned, “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 mother and father strolling with their youngsters holding their fingers, earmuffs defending little ears. You are beginning to see the following era come out.

“I believe one of many issues by way of the pandemic that actually gave us a lift, moreover convergence and all of the issues, is the concept you may come to an IMSA race and pull your loved ones street 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 a giant spark to bringing out households.

“Highway America, amongst so many different locations, has put the infrastructure in place. My hope can 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 a little bit 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 many years. 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
Length
Fashion
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 Seaside Avenue Circuit

100 minutes

Dash

GTP, GTD Professional, GTD

Could 1-3

Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca

2 hours 40 minutes

Dash

GTP, GTD Professional, GTD

Could 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

 

 

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