IMSA’s Annual GT Showcase Has Intense GTD PRO, GTD Title Battles
By Tony DiZinno
Entry List (Click Here)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The championship battles are intense as the two GT classes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship take the spotlight in the Michelin GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway. Just 21 points cover the top three in Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) while 45 points cover the top four in Grand Touring Daytona (GTD). Crucially, both champions in 2025 won their class at VIR last year. It’ll be interesting to see if history repeats itself in either or both classes in 2026.
The 23-car field features 10 GTD PRO and 13 GTD entries racing at VIR. Car Blanche, which has scored podiums in both its GTD starts, returns to GTD PRO this race with Valentin Hasse Clot and Marco Sorensen sharing the team’s No. 68 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.
Fast Facts
Michelin GT Challenge at VIR
VIRginia International Raceway – Alton, Virginia
Aug. 21-23, 2026
Race Day/Time: Sunday, Aug. 23, 12:10 p.m. ET
NBC Network Coverage: LIVE – 12-3 p.m. ET
Peacock Streaming Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at noon (available outside the U.S. on IMSA.tv and IMSA Official YouTube channel)
Live Qualifying Stream: Saturday, Aug. 22, 4:45 p.m. (on Peacock in the U.S., internationally on IMSA.tv and IMSA Official YouTube channel)
IMSA Radio: Select sessions live on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com; SiriusXM live race coverage begins at noon Sunday, Aug. 23 (XM 206, Web/App 996)
Circuit Type: 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course
Classes Competing: GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), GT Daytona (GTD)
Race Length: Two hours, 40 minutes
Track Social Media:
Event Hashtags: #IMSA, #MichelinVIR
WeatherTech Championship Track Records
- GTD PRO: Madison Snow, BMW M4 GT3, 1:43.206 / 114.062 mph, August 2024
- GTD: Ross Gunn, Aston Martin Vantage GT3, 1:43.356 / 113.897 mph, October 2021
2025 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR Winners
- GTD PRO: Antonio Garcia/Alexander Sims, No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R
- GTD: Russell Ward/Philip Ellis, No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3
2025 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR Motul Pole Award Winners
- GTD PRO: Giacomo Altoè, No. 81 DragonSpeed Ferrari 296 GT3
- GTD: Jack Hawksworth, No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3
Storylines
- GTD PRO Title Battle: Just 21 points cover the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO in first, the No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R in second and No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) in third. Four other cars are also within 151 points of the lead.
- And the GTD Title Battle: Dudu Barrichello is hanging on to the GTD championship lead by a thread, as the top four in GTD are covered by just 45 points. Beyond Barrichello’s No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO, the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 EVO and No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3 are in hot pursuit.
- Plus the Bob Akin Award Bronze Cup Battle: It’s looking to be another back-and-forth battle for the Bob Akin Award Bronze Cup in GTD, as Orey Fidani (No. 13 13 Autosport Corvette Z06 GT3.R) now leads Brendan Iribe (No. 70 Inception Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO) by just 10 points.
- GT Classes Front and Center: The FIA GT3-homologated spec cars covering the two GT classes take center stage in their first and only WeatherTech Championship race without prototypes this season.
- CrowdStrike Endurance, Teamwork and Speed Award: The No. 21 Af Corse USA Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo (WeatherTech Championship) and No. 26 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO (Michelin Pilot Challenge) won the CrowdStrike Endurance, Teamwork and Speed Award at Road America. Both will be recognized for wins during pre-race ceremonies at their next event they race (VIR for Heart of Racing Team, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta anticipated for Af Corse USA).
Who’s Hot?
- No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: Russell Ward and Philip Ellis have risen like a phoenix with back-to-back wins at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Road America in pursuit of their third straight GTD title. With Winward’s back-to-back, all four classes have now had at least one car win consecutive races this season.
- No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992): Quietly, the Nick Tandy/Harry King No. 77 Porsche has banked four podiums this season including two straight. Might a first win for “Rexy” in 2026 be in the offing at VIR?
Who’s Good Here?
- Antonio Garcia: At IMSA’s GT-showcase events, one of the best GT drivers of this generation leads the way in wins with five.
- Nick Tandy: Back at VIR for the first time in several years, Tandy knows how to win here with three past GT wins at the facility.