Detroit Round Moves to IndyCar Weekend; GTLM Added

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Detroit has been moved onto the NTT IndyCar Series weekend, allowing for a two-day IMSA show and three-day overall event on Belle Isle.

Announced on Thursday, the widely expected move will see DPi, GT Daytona and GT Le Mans machinery contest the 100-minute race on June 12.

GTLM cars have been added to the race but will not count towards championship points, while LMP2 has been removed from the event, with a replacement venue to be announced at a later date.

As previously announced, GTD cars will only score points towards the WeatherTech Sprint Cup.

The date change takes the WeatherTech Championship off the Nürburgring 24 weekend but now creates a direct clash with the FIA World Endurance Championship 8 Hours of Portimao race, which impacts several drivers.

The IMSA race was originally scheduled for the weekend prior to the IndyCar event due to an initial clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which has since been postponed to August.

It would have resulted in a single-day show for WeatherTech Championship competitors had it remained on the originally announced weekend.

With Detroit being a non-points event for GTLM, Sportscar365 understands that WeatherTech Racing will not be taking part in the event due to the Proton Competition-run squad being in Portugal that weekend for the WEC.

“With the 24 Hours of Le Mans moving to August, we were given the opportunity to continue what has become a tradition – giving race fans a weekend full of on-track action with some of the most talented sports car and open-wheel racing drivers in the world,” said IMSA President John Doonan.

“We look forward to returning to Belle Isle Park June 11-12 for the IMSA Chevrolet Sports Car Classic.”

“We are excited to bring the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear back to Belle Isle in 2021 and return to a traditional one-weekend format June 11th through the 13th, featuring five great races with three incredible racing series,” said event president Michael Montri.

“With the established stars of IndyCar and the rising stars of Indy Lights both racing on Saturday and Sunday and Corvette Racing joining the intense IMSA sports car action on both Friday and Saturday, it’s going to be an incredible weekend in the Motor City.”

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