The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship reaches its climactic moment from October 1-3 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. The event, officially the 29th Motul Petit Le Mans, will test endurance, strategy and speed over a ten-hour marathon. A record-size 54-car grid lines up across four classes – GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro and GTD – each carrying its own championship implications. With three days of on-track action, including a Friday qualifying session and a Saturday race start at 12:10 p.m. ET, fans can expect a packed schedule streamed live on NBC, Peacock and IMSA’s digital platforms.
GTP title fight and program farewells
The premier GTP category arrives with eleven entries, headlined by a tight drivers’ championship duel. Jack Aitken pilots the #31 Cadillac Whelen V-Series.R, leading Laurin Heinrich’s Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 (#7) by 147 points. Both crews will be supported by seasoned co-drivers: Aitken is joined by Earl Bamber and newcomer Frederik Vesti, while Heinrich brings in Matt Campbell and Laurens Vanthoor for their final appearances with the factory squad.
Beyond the points battle, the race marks the swan song for two high-profile programs. Acura Meyer Shank Racing will exit IMSA after this event, echoing its 2023 departure, while Chip Ganassi Racing already announced a 2024 withdrawal. Both teams hope to cap their leg with a victory at the storied Road Atlanta circuit.
GTD Pro: stacked roster and shifting alliances
The GTD Pro field features fourteen cars, each loaded with talent and several key transitional stories. Pfaff Motorsports enters its last IMSA race, still chasing a improbable championship comeback. Paul Miller Racing, meanwhile, confronts an uncertain future beyond 2026, despite fielding a strong entry with returning driver Dan Harper.
Vasser Sullivan Racing will retire its long-running Lexus RC F GT3 platform, ending a seven-year stint in both GTD Pro and GTD. Additional driver moves include Sébastien Bourdais stepping into DragonSpeed’s #74 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R and Mattia Drudi joining Car Blanche’s Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. Factory-backed Manthey Porsche swaps 2025 champion Mathieu Jaminet into the #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R, while Benji Goethe makes his series debut with RLL Team McLaren’s #59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO.
LMP2 and GTD: deep fields and returning heroes
In the LMP2 class, eleven cars will fight for the final points. Intersport Racing returns with Jon Field, Oliver Jarvis and Max van der Snel, seeking redemption after two difficult outings in the #37. Era Motorsport’s #18 ORECA brings back Naveen Rao, Ferdinand Habsburg and Jacob Abel following a victory by teammates Nick Boulle and Christian Rasmussen at Indianapolis.
The GTD class expands to eighteen entries, bolstered by familiar Endurance Cup participants such as AF Corse, Triarsi Competizione (#023) and Manthey 1st Phorm. Late-season driver swaps see Luca Stolz join Lone Star Racing, Fran Rueda move to Inception Racing, and Alec Udell step into Conquest Racing’s seat. These changes could prove decisive as the GTD championship gap narrows to just six points between Russell Ward/Philip Ellis and their nearest rivals.
Key dates, broadcast details and extra highlights
The race weekend unfolds as follows: Friday, October 2 – qualifying live on Peacock from 2:15-3:35 p.m. ET; Saturday, October 3 – green flag at 12:10 p.m. ET, with NBC broadcasting the event live until 3 p.m. and NBCSN continuing coverage until 10:30 p.m. International fans can watch flag-to-flag on and the official YouTube channel. Radio coverage is available on, and XM 252.
Beyond the competition, the event carries extra significance. It is the final leg of the five-race Michelin Endurance Cup meaning points will be awarded at the 4-, 8- and 10-hour marks. High-profile IndyCar stars Scott Dixon and Álex Palou join Acura MSR, while former Formula 1 talents Robin Frijns and Kevin Magnussen return with BMW M Team WRT. Their presence underscores the race’s reputation as a crossroads for talent from multiple disciplines.
With championships on the line in every class, a packed roster of seasoned champions, rising stars and farewell appearances, the 2026 Motul Petit Le Mans promises a dramatic crescendo to the IMSA season. Whether you are a hardcore endurance fan or a casual observer, the battles at Road Atlanta are set to deliver unforgettable moments.
