IMSA's 2018 WeatherTech calendar released

IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will return in 2018 with many familiar venues that have become centerpieces in the series’ endurance platform.

Twelve events spanning the traditional season opener at Daytona to the classic closer at Petit Le Mans provide continuity for the WeatherTech Championship. The one key change next year, with a switch from Circuit of The Americas to Mid-Ohio in early May, takes the series closer to IMSA’s North American roots.

Barring a slight forward shift in dates for VIR (one week earlier in August) and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (two weeks earlier in September), and the extension of the season to mid-October with the title showdown at Road Atlanta (one week later than 2017), the rest of the IMSA calendar falls in familiar windows.

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“The 2018 WeatherTech Championship schedule again showcases the stability of our platform, while at the same time reaffirming our commitment to the best road racing venues and events in North America. And this time offering a few surprises for our fans,” said IMSA president Scott Atherton. “Each race on our 2018 calendar has a rich history of sports car competition, which we expect to be at an all-time high next season across all three classes.

“The on-track product will include legendary manufacturers and competitors – some of which are returning to IMSA competition in 2018 after a short time away – and we’re confident it will capture the imagination of race fans everywhere.”

With the upcoming deletion of the PC class, IMSA will carry on with three classes next year with cars from Prototype, GT Le Mans and GT Daytona turning their first laps during the Roar Before The 24 At Daytona in early January. Of the class adjustments on the calendar, the all-pro Prototype and GTLM feature at Long Beach leaves GTD off the schedule.