IMSA Moves Watkins Glen Forward to Avoid 24H Spa Clash

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

IMSA has moved the date of next year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen one week forward, to June 20-23, to eliminate a clash with the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

Confirmed on Thursday, the new date will represent the third round of the Michelin Endurance Cup, including support races from Michelin Pilot Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America and the new Ford Mustang Challenge on the 3.4-mile circuit.

The 24 Hours of Spa had been one of several date conflicts with the WeatherTech Championship calendar, which was initially released in August.

SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO Stephane Ratel told Sportscar365 last month that he was “cautiously optimistic” of reaching a resolution for the overlap between its flagship GT3 race and the IMSA Watkins Glen event.

The new Watkins Glen date is now placed one week following the 24 Hours of Le Mans on the international sports car racing schedule.

“IMSA has elected to make this adjustment to our 2024 schedule for the benefit of many of our global automotive partners and drivers who not only compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, but also in many other prestigious 24-hour races,” said IMSA President John Doonan.

“We were able to accommodate this change through a spirit of collaboration with our partners at NBC Sports and Watkins Glen International, and we are grateful to all involved for their cooperation.

“IMSA expects to return to its traditional and longstanding date on the last weekend of June in 2025 and beyond.”

No other date changes have been announced or are expected for the 2024 schedule.

2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Schedule (Revised):
Jan. 19-21 — Roar Before Rolex 24
Jan. 25-28 — Rolex 24 at Daytona*
March 13-16 — Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring*
April 19-20 — Long Beach Street Circuit (GTP/GTD)
May 10-12 — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (GTP/GTD Pro/GTD)
May 31-June 1 — Detroit Grand Prix (GTP/GTD Pro)
June 20-23 — Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen*
July 12-14 — Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (LMP2/GTD Pro/GTD)
Aug. 2-4 — Road America
Aug. 23-25 — Virginia International Raceway (GTD Pro/GTD)
Sept. 20-22 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway*
Oct. 9-12 — Motul Petit Le Mans*

*Michelin Endurance Cup races

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