DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — IMSA’s annual summer stretch of fun feature four traditional, historic, natural terrain road courses that form how the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season narrative comes together.
The trips to Watkins Glen International, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Road America and Virginia International Raceway all showcase an aspect of the IMSA calendar unique to each venue.
“Once you get to Watkins Glen, Mosport and beyond, it’s my favorite part of the year,” said Roman De Angelis, co-driver of the No. 23 Aston Martin THOR Team Aston Martin Valkyrie in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s flagship Grand Touring Prototype class.
“Once you get past Daytona and Sebring, it gets more aggressive in the sprint races, the races come quicker, and you’re finally in a good rhythm.”
Four track leaders of the upcoming quartet of races weighed in on why their date is a “hot ticket.” Two of the six at Watkins Glen and Road America feature six-hour WeatherTech Championship races, while CTMP and VIR have different class structures for standard-length two-hour, 40-minute WeatherTech Championship races.
The anticipation is high and sales are strong for each, starting with the first of the four events, next week’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International. It’s the third of five IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.
“The entire weekend is looking great,” said WGI president Dawn Burlew, who noted Watkins Glen’s historic aspect in the community as the birthplace of road racing and Sahlen’s longstanding commitment. “Going into it, our year-over-year with tickets, sales and camping is right on where it needs to be.”
Next up is the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, for IMSA’s annual trip to Canada and its host of rabid yet quintessentially polite fans. The WeatherTech Championship Le Mans Prototype 2 is the headliner for the third consecutive year along with both GT classes.
“CTMP is anticipating the largest crowd in the IMSA history at the track with reserved RV camping spots sold out months ago,” said CTMP president and general manager Myles Brandt.
Then comes Road America, with the Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix. IMSA fans have long desired this race’s expansion from the two-hour, 40-minute standard race length up to six hours, where it will serve as the fourth IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup round.
“I think the demand is high and everything we’re seeing is pointing in the right direction,” said Road America president and general manager Mike Kertscher, who was keen to thank Motul for its increased presence. “Fans are excited and people are talking about it. It’s just energy. People have been asking for this in our fan surveys, the IMSA event included, asking what does a full-scale endurance race look like at Road America and when can it happen? In this particular instance the stars fell into place, and we get to do it here in ’26.”
The last of the four in the summer stretch is the WeatherTech Championship’s lone GT-only showcase, the Michelin GT Challenge for Grand Touring Daytona Pro and Grand Touring Daytona, and a staple on IMSA’s calendar for the region.
“This is truly a year for motorsports all around,” said VIR CEO Connie Nyholm. “We’re headed into our IMSA race this August with an increase in ticket purchases over this time last year and expect a great turnout. We can’t wait to share another amazing weekend with fans!”
