IMSA Expands 2026 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Grid
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – IMSA President John Doonan has indicated that the entry list for the 2026 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship may exceed the initial 54 full-season and Michelin Endurance Cup entries announced recently. Following the State of the Series press conference, Doonan stated, “There’s a couple—only because folks are finishing up putting their programs together. But everybody you saw on the screen today or in the news release is fully committed to the season, and couldn’t be prouder.”
Notably, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL), ending a 17-year partnership with BMW at the upcoming Motul Petit Le Mans, is expected to retain a position on the 2026 grid, likely in a GTD PRO or LMP2 class, as currently no spots are available in the GTP category.
Random Vandals Racing is also positioning for a full-season entry in 2026. Team principal Paul Sparta expressed confidence in their plans, stating, “We have some unforeseen complications… that don’t relate to BMW and don’t relate to us that have delayed things a little bit… Our hope would be to have a full-time entry, and then maybe a one-off on a couple of other fronts, but we’ll just have to see how it goes.”
Random Vandals has confirmed a full-season IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge GS (GT4) effort for 2026 with driver Nicky Hays, the 2026-27 Diverse Driver Development Scholarship recipient, anticipated to step up from the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series.
Doonan also revealed plans for a capacity grid for the 2026 Rolex 24 At Daytona, potentially reaching the 61-car limit. Interest is notably high, with preliminary entries suggesting numbers in the mid-80s. He remarked, “When you start looking at those kinds of numbers, you start worrying about paddock space and pit lane space, parking and things like that.”
The Rolex 24 entry list will be released at a later date, following the established practice of announcing the season schedule each March. “The fact that we’re doing it here… to announce the entry list is pretty unique,” Doonan added, emphasizing the improving organization within IMSA.
Summary
With growing interest from teams like RLL and Random Vandals, IMSA is poised for an exciting 2026 season. Full-season commitments, evolving class structures, and a robust entry into the iconic Rolex 24 reflect a vibrant future for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
