August 4th 2025

New LMP3s, endurance races for expanded VP Challenge in 2026

IMSA's VP Racing SportsCar Challenge will sport a fresh look in 2026, with the new-for-2025 LMP3 cars becoming eligible and a suite of endurance races added as a new format.

The third-gen LMP3 cars from Ligier, Duqueine, Ginetta and ADESS, which debuted in the European Le Mans Series and Le Mans Cup this year, will be eligible to race for the first time in the USA with this news.

IMSA continues to hold exclusive rights in North America for the use of LMP3 race cars as part of its strategic alliance with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), which was extended until the end of 2032 back in June.

These new-look prototypes, powered by a new 3.5-liter twin-turbo Toyota V6, will compete in the same class as the existing second-generation cars currently in use in the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. This gives teams the flexibility to continue with existing machinery for one more year or invest in the new generation car. All cars will run to their homologated performance levels with no adjustments.

Beyond that, the LMP3 cars entered in VP Challenge will take part in four races that will run significantly longer than the pair of 45-minute sprint races that comprise each standard VP Racing SportsCar Challenge weekend.

After consultation with current competitors and suppliers, four two-hour endurance races sanctioned by IMSA will take place on the United States Auto Club (USAC) event weekends at Sebring (March 6-8), Circuit of The Americas (May 7-9), VIRginia International Raceway (June 19-21) and Road America (Aug. 7-9).

The four endurance races will be a championship within the overall VP Racing SportsCar Challenge for LMP3 competitors, similar in nature to the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup within the overall IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

VP Racing SportsCar Challenge sprint races will continue to feature one FIA Bronze- or Silver-rated driver per LMP3 car, but the new-for-2026 endurance races will require two drivers, with a minimum of one rated either Bronze or Silver. A Gold-rated second driver is permitted, but Platinum drivers are prohibited.

Points in both the sprint and endurance races will count towards the overall VP Racing SportsCar Challenge championship.

Further details covering the endurance portion of LMP3 events in 2026, as well as the complete schedule, will be revealed at a later date. IMSA says it is also exploring the possibility that these endurance races will include a multi-class component with a production-based race car category.

For more information: www.racer.com

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