The 2026 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season is the fourth season of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge after being established in 2023 as a replacement for the IMSA Prototype Challenge. The season will begin on January 16 at Daytona International Speedway and will conclude on October 3 at Road Atlanta. This season will mark the debut of the new, third-generation LMP3 cars in this series.[1][2] On October 29, it been announced that the new BMW M2 Challenge cars (BMC) will be added alongside the LMP3 class in the endurance rounds.[3]
Classes
Calendar
The provisional schedule was released on September 16, 2025, at IMSA's annual State of the Sport Address, featuring sixteen rounds split across ten race weekends, which will be made up of 6 Sprint and 4 Endurance rounds. All ten events had confirmed dates.[4]
| Round
|
Circuit
|
Length
|
Classes
|
Date
|
| 1
|
 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
|
2 x 45 minutes
|
LMP3, GSX
|
January 16–19
|
| 2
|
Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
|
2 x 45 minutes
|
LMP3, GTDX, GSX
|
February 27–28
|
| 3
|
Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Florida
|
2 hours
|
LMP3
|
March 6–8
|
| 4
|
Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
|
2 hours
|
LMP3, BMC
|
May 7–9
|
| 5
|
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
|
2 x 45 minutes
|
LMP3, GTDX, GSX
|
June 5–7
|
| 6
|
Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia
|
2 hours
|
LMP3, BMC
|
June 19–21
|
| 7
|
.svg.png) Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
|
2 x 45 minutes
|
LMP3, GTDX, GSX
|
July 10–12
|
| 8
|
Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
|
2 hours
|
LMP3, BMC
|
August 14–16
|
| 9
|
Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia
|
2 x 45 minutes
|
GTDX, GSX
|
August 21–23
|
| 10
|
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
|
2 x 45 minutes
|
LMP3, GTDX, GSX
|
October 1–3
|
Entry list
LMP3
GTDX
GSX
BMC
| Team
|
Car
|
Engine
|
|
Drivers
|
Rounds
|
|
Race results
Bold indicates overall winner.
Championship standings
Points system
Championship points are awarded in each class at the finish of each event. Points are awarded based on finishing positions in the race as shown in the chart below.[18]
| Position
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30+
|
| Race
|
350
|
320
|
300
|
280
|
260
|
250
|
240
|
230
|
220
|
210
|
200
|
190
|
180
|
170
|
160
|
150
|
140
|
130
|
120
|
110
|
100
|
90
|
80
|
70
|
60
|
50
|
40
|
30
|
20
|
10
|
Drivers' Championships
LMP3 Drivers' Championship
|
|
| Colour |
Result
|
| Gold |
Winner
|
| Silver |
Second place
|
| Bronze |
Third place
|
| Green |
Points classification
|
| Blue |
Non-points classification
|
| Non-classified finish (NC)
|
| Purple |
Retired, not classified (Ret)
|
| Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ)
|
| Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
|
| Black |
Disqualified (DSQ)
|
| White |
Did not start (DNS)
|
| Withdrew (WD)
|
| Race cancelled (C)
|
| Blank
|
Did not practice (DNP)
|
| Did not arrive (DNA)
|
| Excluded (EX)
|
Bold - Pole position
Italics - Fastest lap
|
LMP3 Drivers' Sprint Championship
|
|
Drivers
|
DAY
|
AUS1
|
MOH
|
MOS
|
VIR
|
ATL
|
Points
|
| 1
|
 Óscar Tunjo
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
700
|
| 2
|
Brian Thienes
|
5
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
580
|
| 3
|
Lincoln Day
|
4
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
580
|
| 4
|
Brady Golan
|
2
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
530
|
| 5
|
Danny Soufi
|
3
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
530
|
| 6
|
 Mirco Schultis
|
9
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
500
|
| 7
|
Travis Hill
|
8
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
490
|
| 8
|
.svg.png) Jérémy Siffert
|
7
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
480
|
| 9
|
Jon Hirshberg
|
6
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
470
|
| 10
|
Farhan Siddiqi
|
10
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
460
|
|
LMP3 Bronze Drivers' Championship
|
|
Drivers
|
DAY
|
AUS1
|
SEB
|
AUS2
|
MOH
|
VIR
|
MOS
|
ELK
|
ATL
|
Points
|
| 1
|
Brian Thienes
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
700
|
| 2
|
Mirco Schultis
|
4
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
600
|
| 3
|
Travis Hill
|
3
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
600
|
| 4
|
Jon Hirshberg
|
2
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
580
|
| 5
|
Farhan Siddiqi
|
5
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
540
|
|
GSX Drivers' Championship
|
|
Drivers
|
DAY
|
AUS
|
MOH
|
MOS
|
VIR
|
ATL
|
Points
|
| 1
|
Westin Workman
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
700
|
| 2
|
Justin Di Benedetto
|
3
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
620
|
| 3
|
Sean Quinlan
|
4
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
580
|
| 4
|
Ismaeel Ellahi
|
2
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
530
|
| 5
|
Courtney Crone
|
7
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
520
|
| 6
|
 Dan Ammann
|
5
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
520
|
| 7
|
 Rafael Martinez
|
6
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
490
|
| 8
|
 Cecilia Rabelo
|
9
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
470
|
| 9
|
Jon Brel
|
8
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450
|
| 10
|
Jim Jonsin
|
12
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
420
|
| 11
|
Mike Fitzpatrick
|
10
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
400
|
| 12
|
Tiger Tari
|
11
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
400
|
|
GSX Bronze Drivers' Championship
|
|
Drivers
|
DAY
|
AUS
|
MOH
|
MOS
|
VIR
|
ATL
|
Points
|
| 1
|
Sean Quinlan
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
700
|
| 2
|
Dan Ammann
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
640
|
| 3
|
Rafael Martinez
|
3
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
600
|
| 4
|
Jon Brel
|
4
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
540
|
| 5
|
Jim Jonsin
|
7
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
520
|
| 6
|
Mike Fitzpatrick
|
5
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
500
|
| 7
|
Tiger Tari
|
6
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
500
|
|
Teams' Championships
LMP3 Teams' Championship
LMP3 Teams' Sprint Championship
GSX Teams' Championship
|
|
Drivers
|
DAY
|
AUS
|
MOH
|
MOS
|
VIR
|
ATL
|
Points
|
| 1
|
#8 RAFA Racing Team
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
700
|
| 2
|
#4 Di Benedetto Racing
|
3
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
620
|
| 3
|
#19 Stephen Cameron Racing
|
4
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
580
|
| 4
|
#25 Czabok-Simpson Motorsport
|
2
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
530
|
| 5
|
#35 CarBahn Motorsports
|
7
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
520
|
| 6
|
#91 Vintage Racing Company
|
5
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
520
|
| 7
|
#68 RAFA Racing Team
|
6
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
490
|
| 8
|
#98 Panam Motorsport
|
9
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
470
|
| 9
|
#81 Kingpin Racing
|
8
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450
|
| 10
|
#808 Goldcrest Motorsports
|
12
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
420
|
| 11
|
#89 89x Motorsports
|
10
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
400
|
| 12
|
#26 Auto Technic Racing
|
11
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
400
|
|
Manufacturers' Championships
GSX Manufacturers'
References
- ^ "ACO announces next-gen LMP3 from 2025". 24 Hours of Le Mans. Automobile Club de l'Ouest. July 11, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ "IMSA Expands, Enhances Next Era of LMP3 Competition". imsa.com. International Motor Sports Association. August 1, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "BMW M2 Challenge Class Added to VPRC Enduros". Sportscar365. John Days Media. October 29, 2025. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "Expanded VP Racing Challenge 2026 Schedule Revealed". Sportscar365. John Days Media. September 16, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- ^ "TWOth Autosport Sets Sights on IMSA LMP3 in 2026 with New Ligier JS P325". IMSA.com. International Motor Sports Association. November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
- ^ Dagys, John (January 8, 2026). "TWOth Autosport Rebrands to Shopify Racing for IMSA Efforts". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ^ a b "IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Set to Start 2026 Season in Daytona". imsa.com. January 13, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Dagys, John (January 7, 2026). "GTDX Remains Eligible Class Despite No Entries for Daytona". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ a b c d Dagys, John (December 31, 2025). "Siffert to Make IMSA Debut in Gebhardt LMP3 Entry at Daytona". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
- ^ a b Grace, Jonathan (October 8, 2025). "Blind Lining Up GT3 Effort After Single-Make Success". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Dagys, John (November 14, 2025). "Rebel Rock Steps Up to Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ a b Dagys, John (January 6, 2026). "Di Benedetto to Continue in Porsche GSX Entry". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ a b Staff (January 6, 2026). "GR Cup Champion Workman Joins RAFA; Set for GSX Debut". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ Staff, Sportscar365 (November 19, 2025). "Quinlan, Liefooghe to Continue in Stephen Cameron Mustang GT4". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- ^ a b "Czabok-Simpson Motorsport Announces Ismaeel Ellahi for VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Program". IMSA.com. International Motor Sports Association. December 17, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ^ RACERS (January 16, 2026). "Courtney Crone returns to IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge with Peregrine Racing for GSX campaign". Racers. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
- ^ a b Dagys, John (January 7, 2026). "Kingpin Signs Brel for Toyota GSX Campaign". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ "2026 VP Racing SportsCar Racing Challenge Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved January 17, 2025.
