BMW M2 Challenge Class Added to VPRC Enduros

Photo: BMW

The BMW M2 Racing will be added as a class within the expanded IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge series next year for its endurance schedule, IMSA President John Doonan has confirmed.

Revealed on the latest IMSA Endurance Hour Podcast hosted by Matt Yocum, Doonan said the new entry-level race car from BMW M Motorsport will make its North American debut as part of the two-hour VP Racing Challenge races next year.

IMSA previously teased that a production-based race car platform could join LMP3 at the longer-distance races when the endurance expansion was initially announced.

Powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 313 horsepower, the M2 Racing, fitted with a seven-speed ZF transmission and non-adjustable KW shock absorbers based on GT3 technology, reaches a top speed of 167 mph.

Dubbed the BMW M2 Challenge class, the cars will compete in a two-class format alongside new-look LMP3 machinery in a four-race season kicking off at Sebring International Raceway in early March, prior to stops at Circuit of The Americas, Virginia International Raceway and Road America, all on USAC-sanctioned weekends.

The existing VP Racing Challenge sprint races, meanwhile, will retain its existing format of LMP3, GTDX (one-year old GT3 cars) and GSX (GT4) machinery, with LMP3 cars running for an overall championship as well when combining the sprint and endurance rounds.

“The VP Racing SportsCar Challenge has been so great because teams that don’t necessarily have the experience of multi-class racing and things like that, the VPRC series, whether it’s a LMP3 car, GTDX… and GSX… it’s given people an opportunity to learn about IMSA, be on track in multi-class racing,” said Doonan.

“In addition to the six sprint races, which are two 45-minute races on a weekend, we’ve added four enduros. In those enduros, two hours each at tracks like Circuit of The Americas, VIR, Road America, Sebring, it will give the LMP3 folks a chance to share a car.

“And we’re very pleased that the BMW M2 Challenge will be coming to IMSA. It’s another sort of single-make car, but to put that car into a multi-class racing environment is great for entry level [racers].

“Immediately, somebody’s in a multi-class learning opportunity. You’ve got a much faster prototype chasing after a [BMW M2 Racing].

“We’re excited about it. BMW has embraced us kicking it off in North America.

“The first race that runs in early 2026 at Sebring in march when the VPRC enduro series kicks off, that will be the first M2 Challenge race in North America.”

2026 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Endurance Schedule:
March 6-8 — Sebring International Raceway
May 7-9 — Circuit of The Americas
June 19-21 — Virginia International Raceway
Aug. 14-16 — Road America

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