IMSA extends Road America to an endurance round for 2026

It is pretty secure to say that the world of sportscar racing is in one among 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.

The large change you will not see simply by trying on the calendar was made to the Street America spherical in July. The gorgeous, 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 is usually added to the Michelin Endurance Cup (5 races which can be 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 Street Atlanta). The brand new endurance race additionally positive aspects 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 Street 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 might 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 palms, earmuffs defending little ears. You are beginning to see the subsequent technology come out.

“I believe one of many issues by way of the pandemic that basically gave us a lift, in addition to convergence and all of the issues, is the concept you possibly can come to an IMSA race and pull your loved ones highway automotive, 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.

“Street 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 slightly boy, once more, to not make it private, however I went to Street 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 Street 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