VP Racing SportsCar Challenge shifts from sprint to enduro format for 2027

IMSA has announced the 2027 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge calendar, which sees the sprint-based series shift to an all-endurance format with races between 90 minutes and three hours length.

Following the launch of the Airbnb Endurance Challenge in 2026 as a “championship within a championship” primarily for LMP3 cars, all seven VPRC events in 2027 will adopt the new dual-driver endurance format with most races lasting two hours.

LMP3 will continue to headline the series, with all teams now required to use the current third-generation P3 cars introduced to the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge in 2026. They will be joined by the Grand Sport X (GSX) class for SRO GT4 cars, and the proposed one-make class for BMW M2 Racing cars which was announced for the 2026 AEC rounds.

“Endurance racing is woven into the DNA of sports car competition,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “By returning VP Racing Challenge to an all-endurance format, we’re creating an even stronger platform for driver development while showcasing competitive, multi-class racing featuring LMP3, GT4 and BMW M2 Racing machinery. We’re confident this next chapter will provide tremendous value for our competitors and help strengthen the future of the series."

The 2027 season will begin at Sebring International Raceway on Feb. 26–28, one of several events organized by the United States Auto Club (USAC). The second round in Spring, at a venue to be announced later, will also race alongside USAC-sanctioned series.

VPRC will then head to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 11–13, taking part in the first of two weekends headlined by the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series, before going to Watkins Glen International on July 2–4 for a three-hour race.

Road America follows at a date to be announced later, and then the series visits Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Sept. 10–12, for the second of two three-hour races.

The series will conclude on Sept. 23–25 at Lime Rock Park alongside Michelin Pilot Challenge, for what is currently slated to be a 90-minute race, though RACER is aware of discussions to allow the race to be expanded to two hours.

In all classes, driver combinations will require at least one FIA Bronze or Silver-graded driver. Platinum-graded professional drivers are prohibited, and Gold-graded drivers can only race alongside Bronze drivers.

Each weekend will include two 50-minute practice sessions and two 15-minute qualifying sessions, one combined session for the GSX/M2 classes, and another for LMP3.

In addition, Bronze drivers will be eligible for the new Airbnb Bronze Cup, and the LMP3 Bronze Cup champion at season’s end will receive an invitation to compete in the following year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona. The GSX drivers champion(s) will earn a $50,000 scholarship credit from IMSA.

IMSA’s announcement makes no mention of the GTDX class for late-model GT3 cars, which has had no participation this year.

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