• IGTC to stage eight-hour race at Circuit of The Americas on 7-8 May
• SRO agrees new technical collaboration for Balance of Performance in IMSA
• GT World Challenge powered by AWS confirms 29-event global calendar
• Press conference presentation and calendars
An eight-hour Intercontinental GT Challenge event at Circuit of The Americas and a new technical partnership between SRO Motorsports Group and IMSA were among the key talking points from Stéphane Ratel's annual press conference ahead of the 78th CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
Set for 7-8 May, the Texas 8 Hour will replace the existing event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and forms part of an otherwise unchanged IGTC calendar, which also includes the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring, 24 Hours of Spa and Suzuka 1000km.
Beginning in 2027 IGTC’s Japanese round will become a joint event with Super GT, while Suzuka continues in its role as co-promoter with SRO.
Also announced, a new technical partnership between SRO and IMSA will see the two organisations collaborate on Balance of Performance (BOP). Testing of all GT3 models is slated for December 2026 at Daytona International Speedway, establishing the BOP for the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona and other IMSA events featuring GT3 cars.
2027 calendars for the GT World Challenge series in America, Asia, Australia and Europe were also confirmed during the press conference. Together, they again form a 29-event schedule that takes in some of the premier venues in global motor racing. The date for next year's 24 Hours of Spa was confirmed (23–27 June) as part of the European calendar, which includes trips to the Hungaroring and Imola for the first time since 2019 and 2022 respectively.
There are small adjustments to each of the other continental calendars. GT World Challenge America will travel to Watkins Glen in place of Sebring, while Indianapolis remains on the schedule and will use the standard three-hour race format. GT World Challenge Australia makes a highly anticipated return to Bathurst for the first SRO-organised event at Mount Panorama, while GT World Challenge Asia is also back at an iconic venue with Suzuka featuring on the calendar for the first time since 2024.
Calendars were also revealed for the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli, the GT4 European Series, British GT, Championnat de France FFSA GT and other series around the globe. Of note, the GT3 Revival Series has been added to the support line-up at the 24 Hours of Spa, joining the marquee race at the spiritual home of GT3 racing. A one-off Ford Mustang Challenge support event will also feature at Spa in 2027.
SRO GT Academy has expanded significantly this year, including a prize seat at the 2027 24 Hours of Spa that brings together one driver each from the continental GT World Challenge series in America, Asia and Australia, as well as British GT. It has been confirmed that seven-time GT World Challenge global manufacturers’ champion Mercedes-AMG will be the official partner of the SRO GT Academy car.
Further discussion points included SRO’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, and support for noble causes such as the Obiettivo 3 project founded by the late Alessandro Zanardi and the Enfant Copilotes programme. Updates were also provided regarding the FIA Motorsport Games and the GTX Project, both of which are on hiatus for the time being.
Following today’s press conference attention will return to the track with Superpole taking place at 15:05. This will be followed by a 30-minute Warm-Up at 19:20, while tomorrow’s race goes green at 16:30. Live coverage will air in English, German, French, Italian, Flemish, Portuguese, and Chinese on the GT World YouTube channel.
