IMSA 2026 Season Update: Team Confirmations and Competitive Insights
Porsche Penske Motorsport has officially committed to the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GTP category, while two Ferrari GT customer teams have confirmed their participation in the GTD class.
Inception Racing will enter its sixth season in GTD with a driver lineup that includes Brendan Iribe, Frederik Schandorff, and Ollie Millroy. The team will pilot the #70 Ferrari 296 GT3, with Iribe and Schandorff vying for points across the full season, and Millroy competing in the Michelin Endurance Cup events. Plans for their additional driver at the 2026 Rolex 24 At Daytona will be announced later.
Inception Racing has shown marked improvement since its transition from McLaren to Ferrari, securing its first IMSA WeatherTech Championship victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team currently leads the GTD Michelin Endurance Cup standings, backed by a strong performance that includes a win in the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks and podium finishes at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Iribe also competes for the 2025 Bob Akin Award, recognizing the top Bronze driver in the GTD category. Tied with competitor Orey Fidani ahead of the season’s final event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the award winner earns an invitation to the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Conquest Racing, led by driver Manny Franco, will return for its third season in GTD, also planning to announce co-drivers for 2026. The #34 Ferrari has achieved three podium finishes this season, placing them seventh in the GTD Drivers’ Championship as they head into Petit Le Mans. Franco expressed confidence in his growth, emphasizing the team’s progress and performance improvements.
Team Owner Eric Bachelart echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our team has taken important steps forward in 2025, both in performance and consistency. We are ready to apply those lessons to our 2026 season.” Both squads are anticipated to upgrade to the new Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo for the upcoming season.
In the expanding LMP2 class, Era Motorsport has confirmed its entry for 2026 with the #18 ORECA 07-Gibson. The team is recognized for its performances in the Rolex 24, where it secured class wins in 2021 and 2024. This year, Era has recorded three top-five finishes, with notable contributions from Bronze driver Tobias Lütke.
The complete entry list for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is set to be unveiled during the upcoming “State of the Series” press conference at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Thursday.
