IMSA Challenge, Single-Make Series Calendars Revealed

Photo: Peter Burke/IMSA

In addition to the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA has confirmed calendars for Michelin Pilot Challenge, Prototype Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by the Cayman Islands and others for its respective 2022 seasons.

The schedules were announced during Friday’s ‘State of the Sport’ address by IMSA President John Doonan.

Bronze Cup Introduced in Michelin Pilot Challenge

Pilot Challenge will continue with a largely unchanged schedule, mirroring the WeatherTech Championship calendar for all but the two street races. 

A Bronze Cup, meanwhile, has been introduced to the GS class, which will be open for cars made up entirely of Bronze-rated driver lineups.

The Bronze Cup winners will be recognized on the podium at each event along with recognition and a season-ending award for the highest placing Bronze Cup combination in the championship standings.

The season will open up with its traditional four-hour enduro at Daytona International Speedway followed by trips to Sebring International Raceway, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio prior to an early summer break.

Action picks back up at Watkins Glen, followed by a return to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the first time since 2019, and trips to Lime Rock Park, Road America and Virginia International Raceway before closing out the season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

While Daytona remains a four-hour race, the second four-hour contest has been moved from Watkins Glen to Road America for 2022.

2022 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Schedule
Jan. 21-23 — Roar Before the Rolex 24
Jan. 27-30 — Daytona International Speedway (4 hours)
March 16-19 — Sebring International Raceway 
April 29-May 1 — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
May 13-15 — Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
June 23-26 — Watkins Glen International
July 1-3 — Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
July 15-16 — Lime Rock Park
Aug. 5-7 — Road America (4 hours)
Aug. 26-28 — Virginia International Raceway
Sept. 28-Oct. 1 — Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

IPC to Continue as Standalone Series for 2022

Despite rumors of its potential consolidation into the WeatherTech Championship, IPC will continue next year as a standalone series, with a reduced five-round calendar having been announced.

The LMP3 series opens with a three-hour race as part of the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona weekend on Jan. 21-23.

All other races will be 1 hour and 45 minutes in length, beginning with Mid-Ohio on May 13-15, followed by Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on July 1-3, Virginia International Raceway on Aug. 26-28 and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Sept. 28-Oct. 1.

Unlike this year, only 2020-spec LMP3 machinery will be permitted in 2022, with previous-gen cars to be phased out at the end of this season.

The 2022 IMSA Prototype Challenge driver champion will earn a $100,000 IMSA credit applicable toward entry fees for any 2023 WeatherTech Championship event.

If there are co-champions, the $100,000 award will be divided equally among them.

2022 IMSA Prototype Challenge Schedule
Jan. 21-23 — Daytona International Speedway (3 hours)
May 13-15 — Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
July 1-3 — Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Aug. 26-28 — Virginia International Raceway
Sept. 28-Oct. 1 — Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

Photo: Jamey Price/Lamborghini

Four of Five Domestic Rounds Confirmed for Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America will return for its 10th season in 2022 with a new car and schedule that once again features six doubleheader rounds to determine champions in four classes.

The single-make series includes five North American rounds plus the season finale at a site and date to be determined that coincides with the World Final gathering Lamborghini Super Trofeo competitors from the North American, European and Asian series.

The season will open at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on April 29-May 1. The second domestic round will be at a site and date to be announced. Succeeding rounds will take place at Watkins Glen International (June 23-26), Road America (Aug. 6-7) and Virginia International Raceway (Aug. 26-28).

“We’re very excited to start the 2022 season at the famed WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca,” said Chris Ward, Senior Manager, Motorsports, Automobili Lamborghini America. “I can’t think of a better venue for us to kick off the 10th season of Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America.

“Also, it will be the debut of the new Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2, which has already been so well received with a wealth of pre-orders. We cannot wait to welcome back our current drivers and teams as well as new competitors for what looks to be another record grid for the year.”

2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Schedule
April 29-May 1 — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
TBA
June 23-26 — Watkins Glen International
Aug. 5-7 — Road America
Aug. 26-28 — Virginia International Raceway
Fall — World Final

Photo: Porsche

Porsche Carrera Cup North America Sets Sets Second Season Calendar

The second season of Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by The Cayman Islands will again kick off at Sebring International Raceway in March, followed by return visits to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Road America and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

The single-make series has two Canadian rounds currently scheduled for the streets of Toronto, with the NTT IndyCar Series in July as well as a to-be-determined date at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

A to-be-announced event is slated to take place between Sebring and Laguna Seca in the spring.

The series’ visit to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, set for next month, is currently not on the 2022 schedule.

2022 Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by The Cayman Islands Schedule
March 16-19 — Sebring International Raceway
TBA
April 29-May 1 — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
June 23-26 — Watkins Glen International
TBA — Streets of Toronto
Aug. 5-7 — Road America
TBA — Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Sept. 28-Oct. 1 — Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

Photo: Mazda

Mazda MX-5 Cup Back for More in 2022

For its second year under IMSA sanctioning, Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires will compete on the majority of WeatherTech Championship weekends but with two exceptions.

The series will be part of the Road America weekend with the NASCAR Cup Series on July 1-3, while also returning to the streets of St. Petersburg, in support of IndyCar in March.

Daytona will again serve as the kickoff race for the championship, as part of the Rolex 24 at Daytona weekend, followed by trips to Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, Road America, Virginia International Raceway before closing out the season at Road Atlanta, in support of the Motul Petit Le Mans. 

2022 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires Schedule
Jan. 27-30 — Daytona International Speedway
March — Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
May 13-15 — Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
June 23-26 — Watkins Glen International
July 1-3 — Road America
Aug. 26-28 — Virginia International Raceway
Sept. 28-Oct. 1 — Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

Photo: Ferrari

Seven Rounds on Ferrari Challenge North America Schedule

Confirmed prior to the State of the Sport address, the 2022 Ferrari Challenge North America season will kick off at Circuit of The Americas in early March, followed by a standalone trip to Daytona International Speedway in April, instead of being part of the Rolex 24 weekend. 

Additional races are confirmed at Watkins Glen, Montreal, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Sonoma Raceway prior to its World Final, with the date and location yet to be announced.

2022 Ferrari Challenge North America Schedule
March 2-6 — Circuit of The Americas
April 6-10 — Daytona International Speedway
May 18-22 — Watkins Glen International
June — Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 
July 13-17 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sept. 7-11 — Sonoma Raceway
Fall — Finali Mondiali

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