2026 IMSA Weathertech Sportscar ChampionshipSports Cars 

  • Thread starter Thread starter NotThePrez
  • 84 comments
  • 5,115 views
Messages
4,203
United States
Florida
Messages
NotThePrez
Messages
NotThePrez
1760237632436.webp




Events in bold are part of the 2026 Michelin Endurance Cup.

RaceTrackDurationClasses ParticipatingRace Weekend
Roar Before the 24Daytona International SpeedwayPre-Season Testing & Practice; Rolex 24 QualifyingAll Classes PresentJanuary 16-18
Rolex 24 at DaytonaDaytona International Speedway24 HoursAll Classes PresentJanuary 21-25
Mobil 1 12 Hours of SebringSebring International Raceway12 HoursAll Classes PresentMarch 18-21
Acura Grand Prix of Long BeachLong Beach Street Circuit1 Hour 40 MinutesGTP, GTDApril 17-18
Motul Corse de MontereyWeathertech Raceway Laguna Seca2 Hours 40 MinutesGTP, GTD Pro, GTDMay 1-3
Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car ClassicStreets of Detroit1 Hour 40 MinutesGTP, GTD ProMay 29-30
Sahlen's Six Hours of The GlenWatkins Glen International6 HoursAll Classes PresentJune 25-28
Chevrolet Grand PrixCanadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport)2 Hours 40 MinutesLMP2, GTD Pro, GTDJuly 10-12
IMSA Sportscar WeekendRoad America6 HoursAll Classes PresentJuly 30 - August 2
Michelin GT Challenge at VIRVIRginia International Raceway2 Hours 40 MinutesGTD Pro, GTDAugust 20-23
Tirerack.com Battle on the BricksIndianapolis Motor Speedway2 Hours 40 MinutesAll Classes PresentSeptember 18-20
Motul Petit Le MansMichelin Raceway Road Atlanta10 HoursAll Classes PresentOctober 1-3

Entries in bold are full-season entires. All others are either part-time or MEC-only entries.

TeamCar
#6 Porsche Penske MotorsportPorsche 963
#7 Porsche Penske MotorsportPorsche 963
#10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor RacingCadillac V-Series.R
#40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor RacingCadillac V-Series.R
#23 Aston Martin THOR TeamAston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH
#24 BMW M Team WRTBMW M Hybrid V8
#25 BMW M Team WRTBMW M Hybrid V8
#31 Cadillac WhelenCadillac V-Series.R
#60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-AgajanianAcura ARX-06
#93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-AgajanianAcura ARX-06
#85 JDC-Miller MotorsportsPorsche 963

Entries in bold are full-season entries. All others are either part-time or MEC-only entries.

TeamCar
#04 Crowdstrike Racing by APREveryone Gets an Oreca 07!!!
#2 United Autosports USA
#22 United Autosports USA
#8 Tower Motorsports
#11 TDS Racing
#18 Era Motorsport
#37 Intersport Racing
#43 Inter Europol Competition
#52 Bryan Herta Autosport w/ PR1/Mathiasen
#61 Team Tonis
#73 Pratt Miller Motorsports
#83 AF Corse USA (Daytona only)
#99 AO Racing
#343 Inter Europol Competition (Daytona only)

Entries in bold are full-season entries. All others are either part-time or MEC-only entries.

TeamCar
#1 Paul Miller RacingBMW M4 GT3 Evo
#3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller MotorsportsChevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
#4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller MotorsportsChevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
#9 Pfaff MotorsportsLamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2/Temerario GT3
#14 Vasser Sullivan RacingLexus RCF GT3 (possibly replaced by the Next-Gen Lexus GT3)
#033 Triarsi CompetizioneFerrari 296 GT3 Evo 2026
#48 Winward Racing (Daytona and Sebring only)Mercedes AMG-GT3 Evo
#59 RLL Team McLarenMcLaren 720S GT3 Evo
#62 Risi CompetizioneFerrari 296 GT3 Evo 2026
#64 Ford Multimatic MotorsportsFord Mustang GT3 Evo
#65 Ford Multimatic MotorsportsFord Mustang GT3 Evo
#69 GetSpeed Performance (Daytona only)Mercedes AMG-GT3 Evo
#75 75 ExpressMercedes AMG-GT3 Evo
#77 AO RacingPorsche 911 GT3 R(exy)
#911 Manthey RacingPorsche 911 GT3 R 992.2

Entries in bold are full-season entries. All others are either part-time or MEC-only entries.

TeamCar
#12 Vasser Sullivan RacingLexus RCF GT3 (possibly replaced by the Next-Gen Lexus GT3)
#13 13 MotorsportsChevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
#16 Myers Riley MotorsportsFord Mustang GT3
#19 van der Steur RacingAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo
#21 AF Corse USAFerrari 296 GT3 Evo 2026
#023 Triarsi CompetizioneFerrari 296 GT3 Evo 2026
#27 Heart of Racing TeamAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo
#28 RS1Porsche 911 GT3 R
#34 Conquest RacingFerrari 296 GT3 Evo 2026
#36 DXDT RacingChevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
#44 Magnus Racing (Daytona Only)Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo
#45 Wayne Taylor RacingLamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2
#57 Winward RacingMercedes AMG-GT3 Evo
#66 Gradient RacingFord Mustang GT3
#70 Inception RacingFerrari 296 GT3
#80 Lone Star RacingMercedes AMG-GT3 Evo
#81 DragonspeedChevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R
#96 Turner MotorsportsBMW M4 GT3 Evo
#120 Wright MotorsportsPorsche 911 GT3 R
#123 Mühlner Motorsports (Daytona only)Porsche 911 GT3 R 992.2
#912 Manthey 1st PhormPorsche 911 GT3 R 992.2

Live Timing

Live Telemetry
 
Last edited:
Bartone Bros will once again partner with GetSpeed Performance for the 2026 Rolex 24 in the GTD Pro Class (with what may already be the best livery in GTD Pro).

Bartone1.webp


Bartone2.webp



Also, Pfaff Motorsport will be testing the Temerario GT3 at Daytona in November as part of an IMSA-sanctioned test session. The car is expected to make its competition debut in Sebring.


What I would give to see the new Lambo GT3 in the flesh, but the hotel prices for the Sebring weekend are unfortunately a little too steep. :scared:
 
Last edited:
I'm gonna probably camp for Sebring like I did last year lol
Otherwise it is a nearly 2 hour drive from my friends place I usually stay at for Daytona 24.
Can't wait to see the new cars coming over the next couple years lol
 
Last edited:
Well...this one is a bit of a surprise.


I'm very curious to see how this one works out. Perhaps if things go well over the next couple of years, RLL might find themselves back in GTP as a McLaren customer entry (I have a very hard time seeing anyone but United USA run the Works entry in IMSA).

This just leaves the question of who (if anybody) will represent BMW in GTD Pro. The rumor for a while is that it's been a toss-up between RLL, Paul Miller Racing and Random Vandals Racing. With RLL teaming up with McLaren, I have a feeling that some kind of decision has either been made, or is very close to being made in that regard.

Edit:

IMSA has released the entry list for the Daytona Pre-Season test.

Seems like Paul Miller will be running an M4 GT3 Evo at the Daytona test session. I'm not sure if that 100% confirms that they'll be running an M4 in the 2026 championship, but at this point it would be a major surprise if they didn't.

Also, Winward is apparently bringing two AMG GT3 Evos to the Daytona test, one of which is being run in GTD Pro.
 
Last edited:
Well...this one is a bit of a surprise.


I'm very curious to see how this one works out. Perhaps if things go well over the next couple of years, RLL might find themselves back in GTP as a McLaren customer entry (I have a very hard time seeing anyone but United USA run the Works entry in IMSA).

This just leaves the question of who (if anybody) will represent BMW in GTD Pro. The rumor for a while is that it's been a toss-up between RLL, Paul Miller Racing and Random Vandals Racing. With RLL teaming up with McLaren, I have a feeling that some kind of decision has either been made, or is very close to being made in that regard.

Edit:

IMSA has released the entry list for the Daytona Pre-Season test.

Seems like Paul Miller will be running an M4 GT3 Evo at the Daytona test session. I'm not sure if that 100% confirms that they'll be running an M4 in the 2026 championship, but at this point it would be a major surprise if they didn't.

Also, Winward is apparently bringing two AMG GT3 Evos to the Daytona test, one of which is being run in GTD Pro.
That is a bit of a shock. I knew McLaren wanted to come back to GTD but they way it sounded Paul Miller was a first choice. I also believe that United will be the team to run McLaren's GTP program. I don't see RLL in the running for that at all.

It would be a shame if there is no BMW in GTD next year. Hopefully Paul Miller will still run it.
 
It seems like a similar plan as the WEC entry with Garage 59 taking over the GT entry from United Autosport who will develop the McLaren LMDh in '26 instead of racing in WEC. I'm guessing here but with McLaren Indycar moving into the old Andretti shop, which is 3 times larger than their current shop, in January they will have the room to run a GTP program in house.
 
RoGro makes a rousing return to the Rolex with Riley.

 

DSCF0499.webp


DSCF0378.webp


The Cadillac is a lot more curvy overall and has a completely new rear-end by the looks of things. As far as I can tell, the 963 has a different front splitter, and the Acura has minor changes on the front and rear, including the removal of the Acura-branded "mudflaps" at the back.
 
Last edited:
Muhlner Motorsports will attempt the 2026 Rolex 24 with a 911 GT3 R Evo.


Additionally, the M2 Challenge Series will be a part of the VP SportsCar Challenge's endurance rounds.

 
Last edited:
A good number of driver line ups are being confirmed, with the most significant so far being changes in Porsche's GTP roster following their departure from the 2026 WEC season.



Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor will pilot the #6 Porsche Penske 963 full-time, with Matt Campbell being the assigned MEC driver for that crew. The #7 team will see Julien Andlauer and Felipe Nasr pilot their 963 full-time, with Laurin Heinrich stepping up from AO Racing, now operating as the #7 teams designated MEC pilot. Nick Tandy will replace Heinrich at AO Racing, as he and Harry King will pilot Rexy full-time in GTD Pro, with Alessio Picariello joing for the MEC races.

Aston Martin and BMW see unchanged rosters in their prototype teams, meanwhile.



So far, this is shaping up to potentially be a pretty exciting season for GTP. Porsche bringing Estre, who is arguably their fastest factory driver, over to IMSA full-time already makes Porsche strong favorites for the title. At the same time, BMW maintains their already strong driver line-up, and both they and Cadiilac are coming in with significantly updated LMDh cars, which should prove to be interesting. The Valkyrie was also starting to show competitive strides in the second half of the 2025 season, capping the whole thing off with a podium finish at Petit. I'm crossing my fingers that that car and team can pull off another upset or two in 2026.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

It was also announced earlier today that Will Power will be driving the 75 Express Mercedes at Daytona, alongside 2025 V8 Supercars Champion Chaz Mostert.


AF Corse also announced today that they'll be running an Oreca in the LMP2 class at Daytona.

 
Last edited:
Well...this one is a bit of a surprise.


I'm very curious to see how this one works out. Perhaps if things go well over the next couple of years, RLL might find themselves back in GTP as a McLaren customer entry (I have a very hard time seeing anyone but United USA run the Works entry in IMSA).

This just leaves the question of who (if anybody) will represent BMW in GTD Pro. The rumor for a while is that it's been a toss-up between RLL, Paul Miller Racing and Random Vandals Racing. With RLL teaming up with McLaren, I have a feeling that some kind of decision has either been made, or is very close to being made in that regard.

Edit:

IMSA has released the entry list for the Daytona Pre-Season test.

Seems like Paul Miller will be running an M4 GT3 Evo at the Daytona test session. I'm not sure if that 100% confirms that they'll be running an M4 in the 2026 championship, but at this point it would be a major surprise if they didn't.

Also, Winward is apparently bringing two AMG GT3 Evos to the Daytona test, one of which is being run in GTD Pro.
Is that Winward pro car just for Daytona?
 
Last edited:
Is that Winward pro car just for Daytona?
Daytona and Sebring only, it seems. I'm hoping that a full-time entry is in the near future, maybe when Mercedes reveals their next-gen GT3 car.

Also, the Daytona entry list was published on Tuesday, with 61 cars set to take part. Of particular note, it confirms that Paul Miller Racing will continue to run an M4 GT3 in GTD Pro. Inter-Europol will also have a second Oreca 07 for Daytona.
 
Last edited:
So, MSR adds a crypto sponsor to their #60 Acura...


Acura26Pic1.webp

Acura26Pic2.webp


...Danny Ric & Ford accidentally (probably) leak the new Multimatic Mustang GT3 Livery (curtosey of the IMSA subreddit),...

Mustang GT3 leak.webp


...and JDC-Miller Motorsport has announced that they'll be running the 2025-spec 963, albeit not for the most encouraging of reasons.

 
Last edited:
View attachment 1505756

I'm still not a big fan of asymmetrical liveries.
I still genuinely prefer the old, bigger grille, but the smaller snouts are imo a lot less egregious with an actual livery on the car.

Curious to see if the IMSA cars will be sharing the same liveries as the WEC BMWs. Also kinda hoping that one of the cars at some point will have a unique livery of its own, a la the Shell-Helix livery on the #20 BMW in WEC ast year.

================================

WTR have shown updated liveries for their GTP Caddilacs and GTD Huracan...

WTRLiv1.webp


WTRLiv2.webp


WTRLiv3.webp


WTRLamboLiv.webp


...and Manthey has taken the wraps off of their liveries.

MantheyIMSA.webp


Definitely gonna miss the chrome from the WTR cars, as that made them really stand out from the other cars on the grid.

Edit: RLL just dropped the livery for their 720S GT3.

 
Last edited:
I still genuinely prefer the old, bigger grille, but the smaller snouts are imo a lot less egregious with an actual livery on the car.

Curious to see if the IMSA cars will be sharing the same liveries as the WEC BMWs. Also kinda hoping that one of the cars at some point will have a unique livery of its own, a la the Shell-Helix livery on the #20 BMW in WEC ast year.

================================

WTR have shown updated liveries for their GTP Caddilacs and GTD Huracan...

View attachment 1505946

View attachment 1505947

View attachment 1505948

View attachment 1505945

...and Manthey has taken the wraps off of their liveries.

View attachment 1505944

Definitely gonna miss the chrome from the WTR cars, as that made them really stand out from the other cars on the grid.

Edit: RLL just dropped the livery for their 720S GT3.


Yeah I liked the chrome on the #40 car better. Also made it easier to tell them apart in low light. Now they will look similar.
 
I was shooting in the paddock all weekend, and made some new contacts and friends.

IMG_1877.webp

IMG_1875.webp

IMG_1879.webp

IMG_1882.webp

IMG_1886.webp

IMG_1889.webp

IMG_1894.webp

IMG_1896.webp

IMG_1905.webp


In the Saturday morning test session the Valkyrie’s engine blew. Instead of shooting the cars on track I ended up opting to spend 8-9 hours by the garages watching the crew tear it down and put a new one in.

IMG_1911.webp

IMG_1916.webp

IMG_1930.webp

IMG_1933.webp

IMG_1934.webp

IMG_1935.webp

IMG_1944.webp

IMG_1945.webp

IMG_1947.webp

IMG_1950.webp

IMG_1953.webp

IMG_1959.webp

IMG_1966.webp


Somewhere around ~5 hours into the job once the new engine was mounted and the electronics staff/technicians had to fiddle, a bunch of the guys and gals who’d just finished hoisting the dead engine on a crate started handing out stickers and offering little garage tours to kids and families as they passed by.

IMG_1973.webp

IMG_1974.webp

IMG_1975.webp


They ultimately weren’t able to get the car fully recalibrated in time for a brief glory run in the final night session, but they had the engine power cycled, fired and revving before the doors closed, and pretty much just needed to put on all the panels to have it run in the following day’s morning session.

IMG_1976.webp

IMG_1996.webp


As I was headed to leave one of their pit crew I met and interviewed last year dragged me to the pitlane, since they weren’t running the #27 in the Bronze test session. I got to see their strategy box and viewing area above their pit stall, which I learned is all assembled by their mechanics in a single day.

IMG_2083.webp

IMG_2084.webp

IMG_2077.webp


I love IMSA.
 
I'm excited for the Rolex 24 but I am dejected that only 4 hours of it will be shown non-streaming.
 

Latest Posts

Back