GTWC America Set for Three-Hour Races in 2026

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

GT World Challenge America powered by AWS is set to undergo a format change for next year, with its current two 90-minute races being merged into a single three-hour race on most events.

Announced as part of SRO Motorsports Group’s annual press conference at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday, the series also plans to shift to three-day event weekends, as part of an effort for further costs savings to teams.

Despite longer races, competitors will maintain, or in some cases have an increased amount of track time on weekends, although in a more compressed format.

The three-hour races will be featured at all events except the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS, which will remain the championship’s lone long-distance endurance race, while also continuing to also serve as the season finale of Intercontinental GT Challenge.

The season will again kick off at Sonoma Raceway in late March, followed by a return trip to Circuit of The Americas in late April and Sebring International Raceway in mid-May.

Two to-be-announced venues are on the provisional schedule, the first falling on the same weekend as the 24 Hours of Le Mans in mid-June. Sportscar365 understands that long-standing SRO America venue Virginia International Raceway is in the mix.

The second TBA, in late August, is believed to be earmarked for Road America, which has historically been held earlier in the month.

It will be followed by a new date for the event at Barber Motorsports Park, in late September, before again ending with the Indy 8 Hour on Oct. 8-10.

The calendar does not have any clashing events with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, as well as for the first time, Ferrari Challenge, where there is also a considerable amount of crew crossover.

However, there are three conflicting weekends with the FIA World Endurance Championship, including both series’ season openers and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

2026 GT World Challenge America powered by AWS Schedule:
March 27-29 — Sonoma Raceway
April 24-26 — Circuit of The Americas
May 15-17 — Sebring International Raceway
June 12-14 — TBA
Aug. 28-30 — TBA
Sept. 25-27 — Barber Motorsports Park
Oct. 8-10 — Indianapolis 8 Hour

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John