IMSA Updates: Teams Commit to 2026 Season Amidst Performance Highlights
Porsche Penske Motorsport has confirmed its commitment to the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GTP category, while two Ferrari customer teams have solidified their plans for the GTD class next season.
Inception Racing is set to return for a sixth season with a driver lineup featuring Brendan Iribe, Frederik Schandorff, and Ollie Millroy. They will pilot the No. 70 Ferrari 296 GT3, targeting their performance after a productive inaugural season with the model. Notably, the team secured its first IMSA win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, rectifying a prior disqualification from the 2022 Mid-Ohio race due to car weight issues.
Heading into the season finale at Motul Petit Le Mans, Inception Racing leads the GTD Michelin Endurance Cup standings, thanks to a victory at Indianapolis, a second-place finish at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, and a fourth at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Iribe is currently competing for the 2025 Bob Akin Award, which honors the top Bronze driver in the GTD category, and is locked in a tie with AWA’s Orey Fidani heading into the final event.
Meanwhile, Conquest Racing, led by driver Manny Franco, is also gearing up for its third year in the GTD. Their 2026 co-drivers will be announced later. This season, Franco and co-driver Daniel Serra have achieved three podium finishes, ranking seventh in the GTD Drivers’ Championship. Franco expressed pride in his development and the team’s progress, while Team Owner Eric Bachelart emphasized the importance of the lessons learned in building towards consistent podium finishes.
Both Inception and Conquest are expected to upgrade to the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, which makes its competitive debut in 2026.
In the burgeoning LMP2 class, Era Motorsport has confirmed their 2026 entry with the No. 18 ORECA 07-Gibson. The team, which has clinched class victories at the Rolex 24 in 2021 and 2024, has secured three top-five finishes this year, with a consistent performance from first-year Bronze driver Tobias Lütke.
The complete entry list for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will be announced on Thursday during the annual State of the Series press conference at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
