GRIDLIFE and World Racing League announce return of legendary 25 Hours of Thunderhill

GRIDLIFE and World Racing League (WRL) today announced GRIDLIFE Thunderhill, a new motorsports event at Thunderhill Motorsports Park in Willows, CA scheduled for April 2-4, 2027.

The innovative event format will serve as the opening round of the 2027 GRIDLIFE National Championship season. And the event will mark the highly anticipated return of the legendary 25 Hours of Thunderhill, which last ran in 2023.

WRL, in partnership with GRIDLIFE, will revive the best-known grassroots endurance racing event and surround it with a full GRIDLIFE competition program, creating a motorsports celebration that will continue long after the sun sets.

“Bringing back the 25 Hours of Thunderhill is a big deal for grassroots motorsports, and we want the whole weekend to match that,” explained Chris Stewart, GRIDLIFE President and Co-Founder. “With WRL leading the endurance race, we’re building a full GRIDLIFE experience around it. We want Thunderhill Raceway Park to feel alive across the whole site, with fans and drivers coming together, and the energy carrying on long after dark. It’s the kind of weekend we’d want to spend at the track ourselves, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone as we kick off the 2027 season!”

Return of grassroots endurance racing

For years, the 25 Hours of Thunderhill occupied a unique place in American grassroots endurance racing. Its extended duration put an enormous strain on drivers, teams and machinery, helping to establish it as the defining challenge for grassroots endurance racing. And after a four-year absence, the race is set to return in 2027.

The 25 Hours race is scheduled to begin Saturday afternoon, run through the night and conclude 25 hours later.

“The 25 Hours of Thunderhill has always been the ultimate test of endurance, strategy, and sheer determination," said RJ Till, WRL President. "After a four-year hiatus, WRL is excited to revive this legendary race alongside GRIDLIFE, introducing a new generation of drivers and fans to the world of endurance racing."

The return of the big race will be the centerpiece of a larger motorsports experience, designed to connect endurance racing competitors to GRIDLIFE drivers, enthusiasts, families, and the surrounding community.

Six motorsports disciplines, one unforgettable event

GRIDLIFE Thunderhill will deliver the full GRIDLIFE National Championship competition experience alongside the World Racing League 25-hour endurance race.

The weekend will feature:

Eibach GRIDLIFE Touring Cup (GLTC) — GRIDLIFE's wheel-to-wheel touring car racing series.

GRIDLIFE Grand Touring (GLGT) — Grand Touring competition as part of the GRIDLIFE racing program.

GRIDLIFE TrackBattle Time Attack — Drivers competing against the clock to record their fastest lap.

GRIDLIFE Drift — Drift action showcasing car control, driving style, and the excitement of grassroots motorsports.

WRL Grand Touring (GT) – WRL’s Grand Touring competition as part of the WRL endurance racing program.

WRL General Production (GP) - WRL’s General Production competition as part of the WRL endurance racing program.

GRIDLIFE and WRL will simultaneously activate all these motorsports activities at Thunderhill Motorsports Park, using all race tracks and surfaces throughout the weekend.

The result will be an immersive environment where spectators can experience a broad spectrum of motorsports in one destination, from wheel-to-wheel competition to time attack, drifting and around-the-clock endurance racing.

A motorsports destination

GRIDLIFE Thunderhill will combine national-level competition with the welcoming atmosphere of a grassroots automotive gathering. The planned attractions include on-site camping, the GRIDLIFE Arcade, automotive vendors, drifting, racing, and more. Everything is intended to engage enthusiasts and families alike.

The event is being developed for both longtime racing fans and first-time attendees to experience motorsports from multiple perspectives at an event where there is always something happening, both on and off the tracks.

Start of 2027 GRIDLIFE season

As the opening round of the 2027 GRIDLIFE National Championship, GRIDLIFE Thunderhill will establish the stage for the season ahead. Additional information regarding the event schedule, competition registration, camping, and spectator experiences will be announced in the coming months.

Driver registration and spectator tickets are coming soon.

For the latest event announcements, visit grid.life/news or follow @gridlifeofficial on Instagram and Facebook.

Rules, and event specifics for the WRL 25 Hours of Thunderhill will be announced soon at racewrl.com. For team inquiries, contact race@racewrl.com