SRO America Unveils Provisional 2026 GT World Challenge Calendar and New Race Format
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – During a press conference today, SRO Motorsports America announced the provisional calendar for the 2026 GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, which will feature a new three-hour endurance race format. This shift replaces the previous structure of two 90-minute sprint races per weekend, aligning the series more closely with international endurance racing standards.
The inaugural race will take place at Sonoma Raceway in California from March 27-29, followed by events at Circuit of the Americas on April 24-26 and Sebring International Raceway on May 15-17. Two additional dates in June and August are scheduled at venues yet to be confirmed, expected to replace current allocations at VIRginia International Raceway and Road America. The penultimate round will occur at Barber Motorsports Park from September 25-27, culminating in the season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour on October 8-10.
Key Highlights of the New Format:
- Endurance Focus: The series emphasizes a "true three-day format," enhancing strategic elements and teamwork among co-drivers. According to SRO, this change is designed to integrate more strategic depth into the racing experience while maintaining the intensity fans expect.
- Executive Insight: SRO Motorsport’s CEO, Stéphane Ratel, stated, "The main complaint from our US clients was that events were overly lengthy. A single three-hour race does not incur additional costs but introduces a vital strategic component."
In tandem, Pirelli GT4 America, GT America powered by AWS, and TC America will follow the same schedule in 2026, with GT4 America reintroducing the popular ‘Lone Star Enduro’ 3-hour race at COTA.
GT America Updates: A new Cup class will debut, featuring single-make vehicles such as the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, and Ferrari Challenge, addressing a noted decline in entries for the single-driver, multi-class format.
2026 SRO America Provisional Calendar:
- March 27-29: Sonoma Raceway
- April 24-26: Circuit of the Americas
- May 15-17: Sebring International Raceway
- June 12-14: TBA
- August 28-30: TBA
- September 25-27: Barber Motorsports Park
- October 8-10: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (8 Hours)
Further details, particularly regarding the two yet-to-be-announced venues, will be disclosed at a State of the Series Press Conference at Road America in August.
