The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship launches this weekend at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, marking the 13th season under the WeatherTech banner and the 56th overall IMSA-sanctioned campaign. Porsche Penske Motorsport enters as back-to-back Rolex winners seeking a hat-trick, while Cadillac ramps up aggression amid hybrid refinements and cross-series synergies with its nascent F1 project.
Key Team and Driver Changes
Cadillac bolsters its four-car GTP assault: Wayne Taylor Racing (Nos. 10/40) retain core lineups, adding F1 test driver Colton Herta (No. 10, three rounds) and NASCAR’s Connor Zilisch (No. 31 Daytona debut). Jack Aitken/Earl Bamber (No. 31) double with WEC. Chip Ganassi and Whelen Action Express hold steady, with aero upgrades prioritising stability.
Porsche Penske eyes three-peat with unchanged Nos. 6/7 rosters (Kevin Estre/Felipe Nasr et al.), leveraging IMSA-WEC data sharing.
Acura/Honda fields Meyer Shank (No. 93), Wayne Taylor Acura (No. 78), and HPD-backed entries, emphasising hybrid efficiency post-2025 gains.
BMW M pairs Team WRT (Nos. 24/25 GTP) with Turner Motorsport’s GTD return (No. 96 M4 GT3 Evo: Robby Foley/Patrick Gallagher/Francis Selldorff endurance).
2026 Schedule Highlights
Eleven WeatherTech weekends, five Michelin Endurance Cup rounds (Daytona, Sebring 18–21 March, Watkins Glen, Road America 10–12 July, Petit Le Mans 2–3 October). Sprints include Long Beach GP (17–18 April), Laguna Seca (1–3 May), Detroit (29–30 May), Mosport (10–12 July), VIR (22–23 August), Indianapolis (11–13 September). Road America elevates to endurance status. GTP remains LMDh-only; LMGT3 evolves GTD/GTD Pro.
Title Favourites and Storylines
Porsche Penske leads GTP manufacturers; Cadillac chases with F1 halo effect. GTD pits Mercedes vs. Corvette/Ferrari. AO Racing defends LMP2; deeper fields intensify traffic wars. Hybrid BoP tweaks favour consistency over peak power; crossovers like Herta/Zilisch add intrigue. Daytona’s 64th edition — live on NBC/Peacock — sets the reset tone.
