GTWC America changes to endurance format in 2026

After years with a stagnated format and no progress in the grid numbers, it was time to act for SRO regarding GT World Challenge America, as the 2026 calendar isn’t the only thing presented at the press conference held at Spa-Francorchamps.
 
It is well known that Stéphane Ratel doesn’t like stagnation, but this was mostly directed to the Intercontinental GT Challenge until now, and this even involved the North American round at some point, with Indianapolis becoming the host as Laguna Seca wasn’t making progress in Ratel’s eyes.Just like the current series passed for changes when WC Vision left it in SRO’s hands, it was time to act again and bring a meaningful change to the format.
 
As Pirelli World Challenge, the main game had two 45-minute races for single driver lineups while having a longer format in the SprintX support race, and once SRO took the reins, the formats were flipped, with GTWC America adopted an unique 90 minute format for two driver lineups, with the same pair of races over a weekend, while GT America kept the old PWC format in honor of the old times, but with gentleman drivers being the only ones allowed in it.
 
As a way to maximize track time, in 2026, GTWC America will adopt a 3 hour endurance format that is well known in GT World Challenge Europe, as the regular races of the calendar use it since the creation of the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2011, with the exceptions being the 1000km race that had different venues and the 24 Hours of Spa. The three hour format is also used in GT World Challenge Australia, with Sydney Motorsport Park hosting the race.
 
Along with the GT3 grid, GTWC America also gets GT Cup cars, just like the newly formed Japan Cup, which opens the door for models like the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 and the Ferrari 296 Challenge. Including other classes with the GT3 is a thing that SRO used since the early Blancpain Endurance Series days in order to increase grid numbers, with the shift to a GT3 only grid happening if the spec outnumbers the other classes.
 
The endurance format also doesn’t break away too much from the current 90 minute format, as the whole pit structure is already there, while it allows more opportunities for further cost sharing if a switch to three driver lineups is confirmed.
 
The calendar still has some gaps to be filled, but it is expected to contain venues that are already in the calendar. The opening trio of Sonoma, Circuit of the Americas and Sebring remains unchanged, even in terms of dates, with Barber and the Indianapolis 8 Hour closing the season as Barber moves to a late September date. The two gaps in the calendar refer to mid June and late August, with Virginia and Road America still needing to solve their situation.
 
2026 GTWC America calendar:
 
29 March - Sonoma
26 April - COTA
17 May - Sebring
14 June - TBA
30 August - TBA
27 September - Barber
10 October - Indianapolis 8 Hour (with IGTC)
 
PHOTO: SRO/Fabian Lagunas