During today’s SRO Press Conference in Spa-Francorchamps, the provisional 2026 calendar for GT World Challenge America powered by AWS was revealed – along with the introduction of a new three-hour endurance race format, replacing the previous format of two 90-minute sprints per weekend.
The new format will be used in most GT World America rounds, beginning with the customary opening round at Sonoma Raceway in California on 27-29 March, followed by the 24-26 April meeting at Circuit of the Americas, and Sebring International Raceway on 15-17 May.
Following that, there are two dates on the calendar set for 12-14 June and 28-30 August, at venues to be announced later. These calendar slots are held in 2025 by VIRginia International Raceway and Road America, respectively.
Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama will host the sixth and penultimate round on 25-27 September, followed by the season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour on 8-10 October, which is also the final round of the 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge.
The change for GT World America brings all SRO America events back to a ‘true three-day format’ after the addition of McLaren Trophy America forced weekends to be extended to four days. “Next year, all GT World Challenge America races will run to a true three-hour duration, bringing strategy, stamina, and teamwork to the forefront. This change aligns the American championship with global endurance traditions while maintaining the sprint-style intensity that fans and competitors have come to know and love from SRO America,” the series said in a press release issued today.
“The extended race length will demand greater collaboration between co-drivers, add a strategic layer to pit stop execution, and showcase the durability and performance of cutting-edge GT3 machinery from the world’s leading automotive marques.”
Expanding on the changes, SRO boss Stephane Ratel said: “The main complaint we had from our US clients was that the events went on for too many days. Moving to one three-hour race, it doesn’t cost any more than the two 90-minute events, and it brings in a bit of a strategic element, as we’ve stuck with two-driver crews.”
Pirelli GT4 America, GT America powered by AWS, and TC America (which moves to a two-race, 35-minute format) will have the same schedule of venues and dates as GT World Challenge America in 2026. For GT4 America, the popular ‘Lone Star Enduro’ 3-hour race at COTA will also return.
GT America, meanwhile, will welcome the introduction of a new Cup class for one-make racers including Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, and Ferrari Challenge vehicles – similar to the ‘GTC’ category in SRO Japan Cup. Super Trofeo cars had previously raced in GT America in the GT2 category.
This change was made in response to a profound decrease of entries for the single-driver, multi-class sprint series in 2025.
Further details for SRO America in 2026, including the two TBA venues, will be announced in a State of the Series Press Conference at Road America in August.
2026 SRO America Provisional Calendar (GT World Challenge America, GT4 America, GT America)
- 27-29 March: Sonoma Raceway
- 24-26 April: Circuit of the Americas
- 15-17 May: Sebring International Raceway
- 12-14 June: TBA
- 28-30 August: TBA
- 25-27 September: Barber Motorsports Park
- 8-10 October: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (8 Hours)
Images © SRO Motorsports America
