Seven-Event Schedule Planned for 2027 with Events Ranging From 1.5 to 3 Hours
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) officials today announced the long-running IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge will return to an all-endurance racing format for the multi-class series in 2027.
The Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) class will continue to race for overall victories. All competitors will be required to use third-generation homologated LMP3 cars powered by Toyota V35A 3.5-liter engines as part of IMSA’s continued commitment to the class through an exclusive long-term partnership with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO).
The LMP3 machines will be joined once again by the Grand Sport X (GSX) class for SRO GT4-homologated cars. A third class made up entirely of BMW M2 Racing cars is also planned.
Two drivers per car are required and each car must have a minimum of one driver with an FIA Driver Categorization of either Bronze or Silver. Platinum-rated drivers are prohibited from competition, with Gold-rated drivers restricted to pairings with Bronze co-drivers only. Silver/Gold combinations are prohibited.
“Endurance racing is woven into the DNA of sports car competition,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “By returning VP Racing Challenge to an all-endurance format, we’re creating an even stronger platform for driver development while showcasing competitive, multi-class racing featuring LMP3, GT4 and BMW M2 Racing machinery. We’re confident this next chapter will provide tremendous value for our competitors and help strengthen the future of the series.”
2027 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Schedule Unveiled
The 2027 season will feature seven IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge races ranging in length from 90 minutes to three hours, with a majority running as part of event weekends organized by the United States Auto Club (USAC).
The season will open at Sebring International Raceway on the weekend of Feb. 26-28 for a two-hour race as part of a USAC weekend, followed by a second two-hour event to be announced.
The VP Racing Challenge makes its first of two appearances on IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge-headlined weekends on June 11-13 with a two-hour race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Watkins Glen International will host the season’s first three-hour race on the USAC weekend of July 2-4, followed by a two-hour race at Road America alongside USAC on a date to be confirmed.
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta will host the second and final three-hour race of the season as part of the USAC-organized weekend on Sept. 10-12. The season will close at Lime Rock Park with a 90-minute race on Sept. 23-25 once again alongside Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Each event weekend will include two, 50-minute practice sessions along with one 15-minute qualifying session for LMP3 and another 15-minute session combining GSX and BMW M2. Competitors will be subject to a minimum pit stop time with three crew members allowed to work on the car during pit stops.
Driver and team championships will be recognized in each of the three classes, with a manufacturer championship awarded in the GSX class. The GSX driver champion will earn $50,000 in IMSA scholarship credit.
Bronze-rated drivers will compete for dedicated Bronze Cup podiums in each race as well as a season-long Airbnb Bronze Cup in all three classes. The LMP3 Airbnb Bronze Cup driver champion will earn an invitation to participate in the following year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona. A single Bronze-rated driver is required for Bronze Cup points eligibility.
All races will be streamed live on the IMSA YouTube channel. With more than 1.8 million subscribers, the channel is the most subscribed of any motorsports sanctioning body in North America.
