The historic Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course is now booked for the weekend of May 4-6, 2018 for the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship, and Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge.
At a joint press conference with both IMSA president Scott Atherton, and Mid-Ohio president Craig Rust the two announced their plans to have sports car racing return to the legendary road course in the heart of Ohio. It will be the first time since 2013 when the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series ran at the 2.2 mile track (the 2002 ALMS encounter is pictured above).
Atherton brought up the success of both the ALMS and the GRAND-AM Rolex series at Mid-Ohio and explained the “confluence of the merger” as the factor that delayed the return to Mid-Ohio. Adding that amongst Weathertech Championship stake holders Mid-Ohio polled very highly amongst potential tracks for the series.
Both sides were clearly very eager to partner again as Atherton explained. “We went from first phone call to fully executed documents in three weeks, which is unheard of.” Atherton also confirmed that all three classes will be at the track, with a traditional, two hours and 40 minute race.
Mid-Ohio president Craig Rust touched on the impact this announcement has for the people of central Ohio, “I know for a fact that there are thousands of fans around the Mid-Ohio region and throughout the state that are going to be very excited…” When asked on contract length Rust confirmed that Mid-Ohio will be on the IMSA schedule for three years.
Though as one track joins the schedule another one will have to leave, and unfortunately for the people of Texas, the Circuit of the Americas will be dropped from the schedule. The decision for IMSA and COTA to go their separate ways was mutual and the relationship between the two still remains a positive one, in addition to that both sides remain open to any future ventures together.
The full schedule for both the WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and Continental Tire Sportscar challenge will be released on August 4th, at Road America, the next round for the IMSA series.
