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International Motor Sports Association    Lamborghini Super Trofeo series

International Motor Sports Association 

super trofeo series

 

  www.imsa.com 

photos courtesy Imsa

About the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)

International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, as well as four one-make series: Ferrari Challenge North America, Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America and Porsche Carrera Cup North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

 

Entry List Notebook – TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks

Final IMSA Sprint Race of 2026 Features All Four Classes in Indianapolis


 

September 9, 2026

By Tony DiZinno

IMSA Wire Service

Entry List (Click Here)

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The lone sprint race for all four IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship classes shifts to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2026, with the two-hour, 40-minute event set to amplify the drama in the penultimate round of the campaign.


 

All four gaps between first and second in the championship are within 118 points. The 23-point Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) margin is closest, followed by 36 in both Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD), and 118 in Grand Touring Prototype (GTP).


 

There are 44 cars in all four classes (11 GTP, 10 LMP2, 10 GTD PRO, 13 GTD) entered, with one interesting tweak.


 

In pursuit of the GTP championship, second-placed driver Laurin Heinrich moves back to Porsche Penske Motorsport one race early. He’ll race alongside Kevin Estre in the team’s No. 6 Porsche 963 at Indianapolis. In his stead at JDC-Miller MotorSports, Nico Mueller returns for a second year at Indianapolis alongside Tijmen van der Helm in the No. 5 car. 


 

Additionally, past LMP2 champion, Jim Trueman Award winner and two-time Indianapolis polesitter Nick Boulle is set for his first start of the year with Era Motorsport in LMP2. Car Blanche remains in GTD PRO for a second straight race. 


 

Here’s what else you need to know for the Indianapolis round of the season: 

 

Fast Facts

TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks

Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Indianapolis, Indiana

Sept. 18-20, 2026


 

Race Day/Time: Sunday, Sept. 20, 3:10 p.m. ET

NBC Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag 3-6 p.m. 

Peacock Streaming Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at 3 p.m. (available outside the U.S. on IMSA.tv and IMSA Official YouTube channel)

Live Qualifying Stream: Saturday, Sept. 19 – 5 p.m. on Peacock (in the U.S.) and IMSA.tv and IMSA’s Official YouTube channel (globally)

IMSA Radio: Selected sessions live on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com; XM live race coverage on XM 252, Web/App 996

Circuit Type: 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course

Classes Competing: Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), Grand Touring Daytona (GTD)

Race Length: 2 hours, 40 minutes


 

Track Social Media: 

Event Hashtags: #IMSA, #BattleOnTheBricks


 

WeatherTech Championship Track Records

  • GTP: Matt Campbell, Porsche 963, 1:13.672 / 119.182 mph, September 2023 (qualifying)
  • LMP2: Mikkel Jensen, ORECA LMP2 07, 1:16.619 / 114.597, September 2023 (race)
  • GTD PRO: Klaus Bachler, Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), 1:23.140 / 105.609 mph, September 2023 (qualifying)
  • GTD: Madison Snow, BMW M4 GT3, 1:23.075 / 105.692 mph, September 2023 (qualifying)


 

2025 TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks Winners

  • GTP: Jack Aitken/Earl Bamber/Frederik Vesti, No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R
  • LMP2: Steven Thomas/Mikkel Jensen/Hunter McElrea, No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA LMP2 07
  • GTD PRO: Seb Priaulx/Mike Rockenfeller, No. 64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3
  • GTD: Brendan Iribe/Frederik Schandorff/Ollie Millroy, No. 70 Inception Racing Ferrari 296 GT3


 

2025 TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks Motul Pole Award Winners

  • GTP: Jack Aitken, No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R
  • LMP2: Nick Boulle, No. 2 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07
  • GTD PRO: Dan Harper, No. 48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO
  • GTD: Casper Stevenson, No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo


 

Storylines 

  • Aitken vs. Heinrich in GTP: The dramatic end to Road America condensed the GTP title fight with Jack Aitken in the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R to only 118 points ahead of Laurin Heinrich in the No. 5 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963. Heinrich, now in the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 this race, will race in pursuit to try to close the gap. 
  • CrowdStrike and Inter Europol vs. AO and United in LMP2: What is looking like a two-car race in LMP2 between the No. 04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR and No. 43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA LMP2 07s may expand if either or both have issues at Indianapolis. These two cars have a combined three wins in five races and seven of the 15 possible podiums. But if they stumble, defending LMP2 champions AO Racing and perennial contenders United Autosports USA are lurking.
  • 67 is the Magic Number in GTD PRO Among Five Cars: Just 67 points cover the top five in GTD PRO. The No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO leads the No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R by 23 points. Pfaff Motorsports’ No. 9 Lamborghini Temerario GT3 is third, 56 back, with both the No. 65 Ford Racing Ford Mustang GT3 and No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) tied for fourth at 67 back. AO (2024) and Ford (2025) have the last two GTD PRO wins at Indy, and a win for either team this year would help their championship charge.
  • The Winward Triple Threat: Winward Racing’s No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 likes the number three. Russell Ward and Philip Ellis started third at VIR and progressed to win their third straight GTD race, which moves them back to the GTD points lead in pursuit of a third straight title. 
  • Bob Akin Award Battle: Brendan Iribe regained this lead over Orey Fidani by 20 points as Iribe and Frederik Schandorff were third at VIR in the No. 70 Inception Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO. Iribe, Schandorff and Ollie Millroy won at Indianapolis last year.
  • Manufacturer Title Battles: With two races to go, it’s also worth taking stock of the manufacturer championship battles. Cadillac leads Porsche by 112 points in GTP, Chevrolet leads BMW by 87 in GTD PRO and Mercedes-AMG leads Ferrari by 20 in GTD. 
  • A Brickyard Sprint: After two years as an endurance race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway round is back to two-hours, 40-minutes – a race length on par with the iconic Indianapolis 500 on the track’s oval. 


 

Who’s Good Here?

  • Mikkel Jensen: Jensen is a perfect 3-for-3 in LMP2 at the Brickyard with TDS Racing, all three with Steven Thomas and the last two with Hunter McElrea. Now with United Autosports USA and Phil Fayer, Jensen goes for his fourth Brickyard win aboard the No. 2 ORECA LMP2 07.
  • Cadillac Whelen: The team added its second Indianapolis win in 2025 to its first in 2014. 
  • Porsche: The manufacturer’s four Indianapolis wins are split one GTP (2023) and three in various GT classes from AO Racing, Wright Motorsports and Magnus Racing. 


 

Who’s Hot?

  • No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: With three straight wins in GTD, Winward Racing has resumed its spot atop the charts. No WeatherTech Championship team has won four straight races in any class since Riley in the former LMP3 class in 2023 (Sebring, Watkins Glen, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Road America).
  • No. 43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA LMP2 07: Back-to-back LMP2 wins have Jeremy Clarke and Tom Dillmann within striking range of the LMP2 points lead.
  • No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Temerario GT3: Back-to-back GTD PRO wins have lifted Andrea Caldarelli, Sandy Mitchell and Pfaff’s new Temerario into championship contention.
  • No. 5 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963: In GTP, the No. 5 Porsche 963 is the only car riding back-to-back podium finishes, achieved with the trio of van der Helm, Heinrich and Kaylen Frederick. 


 

Previous IMSA Winners at Indianapolis in 2026 Field (13)

  • Mikkel Jensen (3): LMP2 – 2023, 2024, 2025
  • Adam Adelson (1): GTD – 2024 
  • Jack Aitken (1): GTP – 2025 
  • Earl Bamber (1): GTP – 2025 
  • Chris Cumming (1): PC – 2014
  • Philip Ellis (1): GTD – 2023 
  • Philipp Eng (1): GTP – 2024 
  • Jack Hawksworth (1): PC – 2014
  • Laurin Heinrich (1): GTD PRO - 2024
  • Brendan Iribe (1): GTD – 2025 
  • Frederik Schandorff (1): GTD – 2025 
  • Nick Tandy (1): GTP – 2023 
  • Russell Ward (1): GTD – 2023 


 

Previous IMSA Pole Winners at Indianapolis in 2026 Field (7)

  • Nick Boulle (2): LMP2 – 2024, 2025 
  • Jack Aitken (1): GTP - 2025
  • Colin Braun (1): PC – 2014
  • Dane Cameron (1): GTD – 2014 
  • Nicky Catsburg (1): GTD PRO – 2024 
  • Casper Stevenson (1): GTD – 2025 
  • Jordan Taylor (1): DP – 2013 


 

Previous IMSA Winning Teams at Indianapolis in 2026 Field (9)

  • TDS Racing (3): LMP2 – 2023, 2024, 2025
  • Action Express Racing (2): P – 2014, GTP – 2025 
  • AO Racing (1): GTD PRO – 2024
  • Ford Racing (as Ford Multimatic Motorsports) (1): GTD PRO – 2025 
  • Inception Racing (1): GTD - 2025 
  • Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (1): GTP – 2024 
  • Porsche Penske Motorsport (1): GTP – 2023 
  • Winward Racing (1): GTD – 2023 
  • Wright Motorsports (1): GTD – 2024 


 

Previous IMSA Winning Manufacturers at Indianapolis in 2026 Field (7)

  • Porsche – 4
  • Ferrari – 3
  • BMW – 2
  • Ford – 2
  • Mercedes-AMG – 2 
  • Cadillac – 1 
  • Chevrolet – 1 

 

 

Winward Racing Is Riding Hot Streaks into Indianapolis

Three Straight Wins Have Propelled Two-Time Defending GTD Champs Back to Points Lead


 

September 8, 2026

By John Oreovicz

IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – No matter how you look at it, Russell Ward, Philip Ellis and the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 are on a hot streak as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks.


 

This summer, Ellis and Ward have driven to the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class victory in the last three WeatherTech Championship races, moving them into the championship lead with two races remaining in the 2026 season. It’s been three years since anyone achieved four straight wins in IMSA competition, most recently by the Riley team in the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) category.


 

The Winward duo’s hot streak also translates to the long term, because they are seeking their third consecutive GTD championship. Ironically, the momentum sustained over the last three years started at Indianapolis, where Ward and Ellis earned their only race win of a challenging 2023 season where Ward finished a distant tenth in the GTD standings.


 

The No. 57 Mercedes-AMG came out of the gate strong in 2024, as Ellis and Ward (partnered at IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup races with Indy Dontje) won four of the first five races including the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and added two more podiums to run away with the GTD crown.


 

In 2025, the trio repeated at Sebring and Ellis and Ward posted additional wins at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and VIRginia International Raceway to notch a second consecutive championship. 


 

This year again started strongly with another Daytona victory, but they found themselves sixth in the standings and 300 points behind leader Eduardo “Dudu” Barrichello (No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo) after the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International in June.

But the last three years have shown that it’s never wise to count out the No. 57 Winward Mercedes-AMG. Ward and Ellis have swept to GTD class wins in the last three races – the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, the Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix at Road America, and the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR – putting them back atop the standings by 36 points over Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (No. 96 Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO) as they arrive at IMS. Barrichello is third, 56 points back.


 

The Indianapolis race was run as a six-hour round of the Michelin Endurance Cup the last two years, but this year it reverts to a two-hour, 40-minute sprint format. Ellis and Ward won the last Indianapolis sprint race in 2023 before finishing fifth the last two years in the six-hour contests. 


 

Winward’s successful ’23 weekend at the Brickyard also included a win in the four-hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race in the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT4 with Bryce Ward, Russell’s father and Winward Racing co-owner, and Daniel Morad. Russell Ward also serves as the team principal. A Mercedes-AMG GT3 fielded by WeatherTech Racing also claimed the GTD PRO class win at Indianapolis in 2023.


 

In retrospect, Bryce Ward’s comments after that 2023 Indianapolis whitewash for Mercedes-AMG were very prescient. The Battle on the Bricks represented top-level sports car racing’s return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after nearly a decade’s absence. 


 

“It hasn’t sunk in, how important the track is, how important the events are,” Ward said. “To get two wins, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, is absolutely amazing. We were racing against some of the best cars in the world, guys from the top levels who are just top notch. But we put our mark on IMSA, and I hope to be doing this with Mercedes-AMG for many, many years to come. I’m truly proud of the team, they did a magnificent job, they worked so hard. 


 

“Let’s get everything together, and when Daytona comes around, I promise you we’ll be working for that top step again.”

Of course, the Winward Mercedes-AMG won the 2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona, kicking off that blazing start to an effort that has resulted in two consecutive GTD championships and counting. It’s no surprise that nobody panicked when the No. 57 duo dropped into a 300-point deficit after Watkins Glen, and no surprise that Winward fought back with three straight wins.


 

Porsche Penske Motorsport started the 2025 season with three consecutive overall and Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class wins, while Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports put together two separate three-race win streaks during the 2021 campaign in the now-defunct Grand Touring Le Mans (GTLM) class. 


 

After Winward completed IMSA’s most recent three-peat in the Michelin GT Challenge, Russell Ward reflected on what it took to turn the No. 57 car’s 2026 season around and the challenge of holding on at the top for a third consecutive GTD title.


 

“I think it’s just a combination of some clean racing and a swing in luck,” Ward said after he and Ellis led Foley and Gallagher and the No. 96 BMW to the checkered flag at VIR. “But there’s still two races to go and everyone is really tight in the points. Everybody is within two or three (race finishing) positions, to be honest. There’s still a lot of fight left, and I don’t want to comment too much on it because you never know what can happen in the next two races.


 

“One thing I can say is over the past couple of years, it’s really been a pleasure to compete against these guys in the Turner car,” he added. “Everyone wants to win, there’s a lot of egos coming through the paddock, but at the end of the day, the teams that tend to be successful are the ones that just really race the racetrack.”


 

While Ellis and Ward have mixed a pair of DNFs with their four wins in 2026, Gallagher and Foley have played the consistency card, finishing all eight races with three podiums and only once coming lower than seventh in class. Their finishes at Indianapolis the last three years are fifth, second, and fourth. Aston Martin’s top GTD class finish at Indianapolis is fourth in 2023 (best of second in GTD PRO in 2023).


 

Gallagher called the No. 96 Turner BMW’s Road America result “the most blue collar second place finish you could get.” 


 

“As Patrick said, it’s a great day for our group,” added Foley. “On those days where you’re not quite quick enough to win, then P2 feels damn good.  Going into Indy, we just have to have the same mentality, and maximize everything because, as we all know, anything could happen at Petit Le Mans. The car count goes up there and everybody in the endurance races is super strong.”


 

All four IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar classes are back in action for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks, which will be broadcast live on NBC from 3-6 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 20. Streaming is available through IMSA.TV and the official IMSA YouTube channel.

 

Bronze Cup Battles Beckon Down the Stretch

Five Different IMSA Bronze-Specific Championships to be Decided by Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta


 

September 4, 2026

By Tony DiZinno

IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bronze-rated drivers make up a key part of multiple IMSA-sanctioned championships. Ahead of the final two race weekends of the year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, here’s a look at the Bronze-specific battles across the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge.

 

WeatherTech Championship Jim Trueman Award


 

Points for the Jim Trueman Award mirror the finishing results for Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) drivers in the WeatherTech Championship and the winner receives an invitation to the following year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.


 

The top four Bronze-rated drivers in LMP2 have a realistic shot to claim the Jim Trueman Award in 2026, which would also coincide with them and their pro-rated co-driver winning the LMP2 title outright. Two past Jim Trueman Award winners in George Kurtz and PJ Hyett are among the contenders.


 

Kurtz leads with 1,701 points in his No. 04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA LMP2 07, 36 clear of Jeremy Clarke in his No. 43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA. Kurtz has both Rolex 24 At Daytona and 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins to his name in 2026 and three straight runner-up finishes in IMSA. But Clarke is on a roll with back-to-back wins at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Road America.


 

Last year’s champion Hyett, in the No. 99 AO Racing ORECA, sits third and 119 points in arrears, with Daniel Goldburg, in the No. 22 United Autosports USA ORECA in fourth and 184 back.


 

There’s upwards of 150 points that can be gained in a single race weekend among 11 full-season cars, with more possible based on qualifying points. Though Kurtz and Clarke have the best chance, a strong Indianapolis for either or both of Hyett and Goldburg could propel them back into contention.

 

WeatherTech Championship Bob Akin Award


 

For most of 2026, the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) battle for the Bob Akin Award, and one of IMSA’s subsequent invitations to the following year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans that goes with it, has been a four-car battle. In recent rounds, the last two winners have emerged once again as the primary combatants.


 

Past Bob Akin Award winner Brendan Iribe, in the No. 70 Inception Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, has just moved ahead of longtime rival Orey Fidani, the two-time defending winner who is seeking a three-peat in his No. 13 13 Autosport Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Through eight races, Iribe holds a 20-point lead on Fidani. There’s an intriguing divide in their scores in the four sprint rounds versus four IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.


 

The 13 Autosport team has excelled in getting key results in the races with more Bronze-entered drivers; Fidani has 1,300 Bronze points in the four longest races so far, while Iribe has 1,100. The results flip the other way in the sprint rounds, where Iribe has 1,400 points as the top finishing Bronze-rated driver in all four, with Fidani scoring 1,180 points.


 

The more points you can bank in a race with more Bronze entries, the better your chances are of securing the full-season honor as you have the ability to expand the in-race gap. With two races remaining, one sprint and one endurance round apiece, the Bronze-rated entries will fluctuate. Three are anticipated at Indianapolis but at least six are anticipated for the season finale at Motul Petit Le Mans. The Inception crew won in GTD at Indianapolis last year but lost the Bob Akin Award at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta after being caught up in a first-lap incident.

 

Michelin Pilot Challenge GS Bronze Cup

There’s an under-the-radar but intense rivalry brewing among the two full-season Bronze Cup entries in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS). Hugh Plumb and Ted Giovanis have won the last two Bronze Cup titles aboard their No. 64 Team TGM entry, then an Aston Martin. They’re now trying to defend it with a Ford Mustang GT4. They won the first three Bronze Cup races of the year, and a key fourth win at VIR has netted them a 40-point lead.


 

Until VIR, series newcomers VRC Motorsports Group, LLC with Dan Ammann and Owen Trinkler in their No. 91 Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS, were surging. Ammann and Trinkler won the Bronze Cup in four straight races from Mid-Ohio through Road America to get within 10 points – or one position – of Plumb and Giovanis.


 

Trinkler, who has more than 200 Michelin Pilot Challenge starts as the championship’s active starts leader, is a former Team TGM driver. Now with Ammann, a Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) endurance champion co-driver in his first IMSA season, Trinkler is looking to beat his former squad.


 

VP Racing Challenge LMP3 Bronze Cup

Bronze-rated drivers have been a regular part of IMSA’s Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) competition in 2026, across both VP Racing SportsCar Challenge 45-minute, single-driver sprint races and IMSA Airbnb Endurance Challenge two-hour, two-driver endurance races. After 12 rounds, there is a dead heat between the two top LMP3 drivers in the championship.


 

Multiple-time Bronze Cup champion Brian Thienes is trying to defend his crown aboard Forte Racing’s No. 77 Ligier JS P325. But he’s had strong competition all year from Travis Hill in the TWOth Autosport-prepared No. 2 Shopify Racing Ligier JS P325.


 

They’re deadlocked on 3,750 points with two rounds to go. Thienes has four Bronze Cup wins, although none since the COTA endurance round in May. Hill has five Bronze Cup wins, including a sprint sweep at his home track of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in June.


 

Put simply, whichever driver finishes ahead in the two races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta will claim this title.


 

VP Racing Challenge GSX Bronze Cup

The GSX Bronze Cup in VP Racing Challenge turned on its head at VIR. Heading into VIR, Ammann (No. 91 VRC Motorsports Group, LLC Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS), led Rafa Martinez (No. 68 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2) by 30 points and Jon Brel (No. 81 Kingpin Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2) by 40.


 

Full-timers Ammann and Brel secured their first Bronze wins of the season at CTMP, bucking an unusual run where part-time GSX entries swept the first six races of the year.


 

But Brel had a dynamic VIR weekend with two Bronze wins while both Martinez and Ammann encountered weekend issues. Leaving the weekend, Brel now holds a 110-point lead on Martinez and 380 on Ammann.


 

VP Racing Challenge only has one more weekend at Michelin Raceway with two races, while both Michelin Pilot Challenge and the WeatherTech Championship have two more weekends left to settle these titles. 

 

 

IMSA Resilient Racers Program Returns, Expands for Second Year at Indianapolis

Teams Embrace Opportunities to Highlight Children Whose Names Adorn Their Race Cars

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 3, 2026) – IMSA’s Resilient Racers program returns for a second consecutive year at the next IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Done in collaboration with IMSA's two proud charity partners, the Austin Hatcher Foundation and Camp Boggy Creek, the program looks to build on a successful 2025 debut.

 

September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the IMSA Resilient Racers program was created to raise awareness and funds so both charities can continue providing vital resources, programs, and care to children and families who are bravely facing pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses.

 

A total of 25 of the 42 Resilient Racers families will attend the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, giving them the chance to be a part of an IMSA race weekend with opportunities to meet the team and drivers they’ve been paired with and see their name on the race car (and also in IMSA’s Fan and Spotters Guides).

 

Fans can support the Resilient Racers program – and their favorite team – by making a donation at this link which will benefit both the Austin Hatcher Foundation and Camp Boggy Creek. Since race teams – and fans – love competition, fans can assign their donation to their favorite WeatherTech Championship team, providing bragging rights to the team that raises the most money for the IMSA Resilient Racers program.

 

There is also an IMSA Resilient Racers t-shirt available to purchase on the Team IMSA website with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the two charities.

The WeatherTech Championship teams have embraced the IMSA Resilient Racers program beyond just putting a child’s name on their car. Several teams are hosting garage tours for the child and family they are paired with, some conducting virtual meet-and-greets with those not in attendance, including the child on hero/autograph cards or even having their Resilient Racer join the drivers during Saturday’s full-field autograph session.

 

The entire WeatherTech Championship paddock rallied around the program last year, earning all of the teams the IMSA Team Marketing Award for their participation in the inaugural Resilient Racers program.

 

Several manufacturers such as BMW and Ford, and teams such as AO Racing, kept in touch with their 2025 Resilient Racers beyond the Indianapolis race weekend itself.

 

“I don’t think any of us could have imagined how much the Resilient Racers program touched our hearts last year,” said Adam McGregor, BMW North America Motorsport & Customer Racing Manager. “For kids that have experienced so much, it is an honor to be able to give them the experience of being part of our Team for a weekend. The connections we built with these families last year were truly special and go beyond that weekend with us still being in contact to this day. In fact, our Racer from last year, Daniel, has attended multiple races in 2026 so he could visit his team and cheer us on. This truly put a smile on all our faces in a way not even race wins can.” 

Another example of the support teams have shown for the program came when a Cadillac Whelen team member drove to their Resilient Racer's home ahead of the race both this year and last, delivering team shirts and flags. This year, Noah C., who’s being recognized on the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) team’s No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R at Indianapolis, shares a natural connection with the team and brand as his grandfather is a longtime Blackwing enthusiast.

 

Ford won last year’s event in the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class with Mike Rockenfeller and Seb Priaulx sharing the No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3. Rockenfeller specifically called out the Resilient Racers program as he reflected on his 2025 season, where he and Priaulx won both in Indianapolis and in Ford’s home state of Michigan at Detroit.

 

“At Indy, it was special to have the whole family (as part of the new IMSA Resilient Racers program) there enjoying it, taking the pictures, being on the podium,” Rockenfeller said.

 

“Especially as a father of three, you understand what matters in life. You think racing is the most important or when you’re doing it. But there’s a lot more in life, to share emotions and give something back. That’s very special.”

 

Of note, Austin “Hatch” Osborne’s name will be featured on the No. 68 Car Blanche Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. The Austin Hatcher Foundation was founded in December 2006 by Dr. James and Mrs. Amy Jo Osborn months after their son, Austin Hatcher Osborn, passed away from a very rare and aggressive form of brain and spinal tumors. This year marks 20 years since the foundation’s establishment.

 

“The Resilient Racers program is a powerful example of how we merge the world of motorsports with our mission to empower families facing childhood cancer,” said Amy Jo Osborn, CEO and co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation.

 

“At the Austin Hatcher Foundation, we use racing as a platform to teach resilience, teamwork, and perseverance – qualities that our children and families live out every day. Our partnership with IMSA, which has spanned over a decade, allows us to bring this to life on an incredible stage, connecting the racing community with a cause that truly changes lives. Together, we’re not only building champions on the track but also building strength and hope for families across the country.”

 

Camp Boggy Creek will have its co-founder, Paul Newman, featured on the No. 36 DXDT Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. The camp is celebrating 30 years of providing children with serious illnesses the opportunity to experience a free, life-changing camp in a safe, medically-sound environment.

 

“Camp Boggy Creek is incredibly grateful for our partnership with IMSA and the opportunity the Resilient Racers program creates for our campers and families,” said Patrick Chapin, CEO of Camp Boggy Creek.

 

“The Battle on the Bricks is a wonderful opportunity to bring the racing community and our Camp community together, and we are excited to see the teams, drivers and camper families connect and share in such a special experience. Partnerships like this help create the moments of belonging, confidence and joy that are at the heart of Camp Boggy Creek.”

 

In the lead up to the Sept. 18-20 race weekend, there is a new Resilient Racers component this year that will incorporate the virtual racing world. The IMSA Resilient Racers 240 esports race on iRacing, run in collaboration with Grid Finder and with support from leading esports community outlet Traxion.gg, will be a virtual two-hour, 40-minute race with more than 40 Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) cars that also will feature the children’s names on the cars.

 

This virtual race will run Saturday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET, a week before the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks. There’s a charitable component here too as fans can donate to assign virtual penalties for entertainment purposes. More details to come.

 

Look out for more from IMSA and its charity partners highlighting participating teams and children across their social and digital channels in the run-up to the race. The race runs on Sunday, Sept. 20 on network NBC, live and flag-to-flag from 3 p.m. ET.

 

IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Returns to Barber to Complete 2027 Schedule

New Date for Road America Round Also Confirmed

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 2, 2026) – The IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge has confirmed its seventh event venue and updated one race weekend date to complete its 2027 schedule. The championship is all endurance races next season, featuring multiple-driver lineups in multiple classes.


 

The VP Racing Challenge will race as part of the INDYCAR event weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, April 2-4, with a two-hour race. IMSA has held occasional races for both the VP Racing Challenge’s predecessor, IMSA Prototype Challenge, and other single-make championships at Barber in the past in addition to annual GRAND-AM events from 2003-2013. The most recent P3 races occurred at the track in 2018.


 

Additionally, the Road America two-hour round has been confirmed for the weekend of August 13-15, 2027. The first three events of the 2027 schedule at Sebring International Raceway, Barber Motorsports Park and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course are two-hour races. 


 

Watkins Glen International marks the first of two three-hour races, before the Road America round up next at two hours and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta round back to three hours. The season concludes with a 90-minute round at Lime Rock Park. 


 

New for 2027, LMP3 Bronze drivers will compete in the Airbnb Bronze Cup to earn an invitation to participate in the 2028 Rolex 24 At Daytona. 


 

The updated schedule is below:
 

 

Mack Trucks and IMSA Partner to Add 10 Mack Pioneer™ Trucks to Sports Car Sanctioning Body's Fleet

GREENSBORO, N.C. (September 1, 2026) – Mack Trucks and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), the premier sanctioning body for professional sports car racing in North America, today announced an official three-year partnership. As part of the partnership, IMSA is adding 10 new Mack Pioneer™ models to its fleet.


 

The Pioneer models, built as 76-inch High-Roof Sleepers, will begin rolling out in the IMSA paddock later this year. Once in service, the trucks will travel across North America as part of the series' season-long operations, serving some of the sport's most iconic venues and marquee events.


 

The trucks will support the range of functions that keep an IMSA race weekend running: race control and technical inspection, engineering and data analysis, marketing and business operations and freight and equipment transport. Together, they form the backbone of what IMSA describes as a mobile motorsports city that is rebuilt at every stop. Mack trucks have carried IMSA's operations from track to track for years.


 

“The IMSA paddock, and the operation behind it, never stops moving,” said David Galbraith, Mack Trucks vice president of global brand and marketing. “We are excited about our partnership and proud that Mack is supporting the hauling needs of the IMSA with the Pioneer. Formalizing this partnership recognizes what Mack trucks have already proven on the road. They can handle the miles, rigorous schedule and nonstop demands of an IMSA season.”


 

“IMSA operates at a relentless pace, moving people, equipment and technology across thousands of miles each season,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “Making Mack Trucks an official partner reflects the vital role its vehicles play in our day-to-day operations and our ability to deliver world-class events across North America. The addition of these new Mack Pioneer trucks further strengthens the foundation that supports our teams, manufacturers, partners and fans throughout the season.”


 

Each Pioneer model is equipped with the Mack® MP®13 515 horsepower engine paired with the Mack mDRIVE™ 12-speed automated manual transmission. The trucks also are equipped with the Mack Protect™ suite of driver assistance systems. The interior offers a FlexSuite bunk, onboard refrigerator, microwave prep kit and a high-level audio and navigation system, giving the driver additional comfort features. Mack's MyMack and Mack Integrated Uptime connected services will give both Mack and IMSA visibility into the fleet's performance throughout the season.


 

For more information about Mack Trucks and the Mack Pioneer, visit your local Mack dealer or www.macktrucks.com.
 

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