International Motor Sports Association - Michelin GT Challenge at VIR
Michelin GT Challenge at VIR
Display & Timezone
Display & Timezone
Showing times for Europe/Amsterdam
Timezone
Europe - Amsterdam
21 - 23 Aug
Virginia International Raceway
Some session times for IMSA Michelin GT Challenge at VIR 2026 have not yet been finalised, they represent possible times in which each race session could occur. Please check back later for more accurate times.
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Track Info
Virginia International Raceway (VIR) - Alton, Virginia, USA
America’s reborn natural-terrain classic - clockwise - Full Course 3.270 mi / 5.262 km with 17 turns, huge elevation change, the Uphill Esses and the legendary Oak Tree corner
When was the track built?
VIR was carved into farmland along the VA–NC border and opened in August 1957 as a long, flowing course that used the natural contours instead of earthworks. After closing in 1974, it sat dormant until a complete revival in 2000 brought modern facilities, splitable layouts and a “track club” membership concept copied nationwide. The layout kept its soul: blind crests, fast sweepers and the hairpin under the famous oak at Oak Tree corner.
When was its first race?
The venue’s first race weekend was 3–4 August 1957. Carroll Shelby won the feature in a Maserati 450S, kicking off a roster of legends who raced here in the track’s early era. IMSA and AMA/MotoAmerica would later make VIR a modern staple after the 2000 reopening.
What’s the circuit like?
- High-speed rhythm: From the Horseshoe to the Uphill Esses, VIR is about commitment and precision at elevation. Small errors snowball over the crests.
- Oak Tree matters: The slow, double-apex hairpin decides the launch onto the back straight and sets up passes into the Roller Coaster. It’s the lap’s heartbeat for prototypes, GTs and bikes alike.
- Old-school finale: The Roller Coaster’s plunging braking zones lead to Hog Pen, where traction and patience make or break a stint and photo finishes are common.
- Benchmark pace: LMP1’s 1:36.112 stands as the official Full Course race-lap record; recent IMSA GTD Pro race laps sit around 1:45 on similar rubber.
Lap records and benchmarks (by series)
- LMP1 - Full Course race lap: 1:36.112 - Lucas Luhr, HPD ARX-03a (2012).
- LMP2 - Full Course race lap: 1:39.393 - Martin Plowman, Morgan LMP2 (2012).
- GTE/GTLM - Full Course race lap: 1:40.638 - Earl Bamber, Porsche 911 RSR (2019).
- Trans Am TA1 - Full Course race lap: 1:43.502 - Connor Zilisch, Camaro (2023).
- IMSA GTD Pro - recent reference: race laps ~1:45 mid-1:45s in 2024 GT-only round.
Grand East/West (~4.1–4.2 mi) add a technical maze beyond the back straight; they’re used selectively for special events and testing.
Why go?
VIR delivers everything fans love in one place: huge-speed esses, strategy at Oak Tree, and a hillside amphitheater vibe where you can see multiple corners. The Michelin GT Challenge at VIR is IMSA’s GT-only showpiece, GT World Challenge America brings stacked GT3 fields, and national two-wheel and club weekends keep the calendar busy.
Where’s the best place to watch?
- Uphill Esses: Feel the commitment as cars thread the left-right-left flat-out and crest onto South Bend.
- Oak Tree corner: The key overtaking setup - watch out-braking into the double-apex and the drag down the back straight.
- Roller Coaster to Hog Pen: Plunging braking, trail-brake artistry and last-lap mistakes that decide photo finishes.
- Main straight grandstands: Starts, restarts and pit lane action with the Horseshoe sequence in view.
Not just one series - headline events at VIR
IMSA WeatherTech - Michelin GT Challenge at VIR: GT-only sprint that showcases multi-class traffic without prototypes.
GT World Challenge America: Pro/Am GT3 duels with heavy braking into the Horseshoe and drafting to Oak Tree.
MotoAmerica and national bikes: The Esses and South Bend are breathtaking on two wheels.
Trans Am: Big V8s vs VIR’s fast sweeps make for spectacular qualifying laps and elbows-out races.
Hotels & Accommodation
Michelin GT Challenge at VIR
21 - 23 Aug
Virginia International Raceway
Some session times for IMSA Michelin GT Challenge at VIR 2026 have not yet been finalised, they represent possible times in which each race session could occur. Please check back later for more accurate times.
Track Info
Virginia International Raceway (VIR) - Alton, Virginia, USA
America’s reborn natural-terrain classic - clockwise - Full Course 3.270 mi / 5.262 km with 17 turns, huge elevation change, the Uphill Esses and the legendary Oak Tree corner
When was the track built?
VIR was carved into farmland along the VA–NC border and opened in August 1957 as a long, flowing course that used the natural contours instead of earthworks. After closing in 1974, it sat dormant until a complete revival in 2000 brought modern facilities, splitable layouts and a “track club” membership concept copied nationwide. The layout kept its soul: blind crests, fast sweepers and the hairpin under the famous oak at Oak Tree corner.
When was its first race?
The venue’s first race weekend was 3–4 August 1957. Carroll Shelby won the feature in a Maserati 450S, kicking off a roster of legends who raced here in the track’s early era. IMSA and AMA/MotoAmerica would later make VIR a modern staple after the 2000 reopening.
What’s the circuit like?
- High-speed rhythm: From the Horseshoe to the Uphill Esses, VIR is about commitment and precision at elevation. Small errors snowball over the crests.
- Oak Tree matters: The slow, double-apex hairpin decides the launch onto the back straight and sets up passes into the Roller Coaster. It’s the lap’s heartbeat for prototypes, GTs and bikes alike.
- Old-school finale: The Roller Coaster’s plunging braking zones lead to Hog Pen, where traction and patience make or break a stint and photo finishes are common.
- Benchmark pace: LMP1’s 1:36.112 stands as the official Full Course race-lap record; recent IMSA GTD Pro race laps sit around 1:45 on similar rubber.
Lap records and benchmarks (by series)
- LMP1 - Full Course race lap: 1:36.112 - Lucas Luhr, HPD ARX-03a (2012).
- LMP2 - Full Course race lap: 1:39.393 - Martin Plowman, Morgan LMP2 (2012).
- GTE/GTLM - Full Course race lap: 1:40.638 - Earl Bamber, Porsche 911 RSR (2019).
- Trans Am TA1 - Full Course race lap: 1:43.502 - Connor Zilisch, Camaro (2023).
- IMSA GTD Pro - recent reference: race laps ~1:45 mid-1:45s in 2024 GT-only round.
Grand East/West (~4.1–4.2 mi) add a technical maze beyond the back straight; they’re used selectively for special events and testing.
Why go?
VIR delivers everything fans love in one place: huge-speed esses, strategy at Oak Tree, and a hillside amphitheater vibe where you can see multiple corners. The Michelin GT Challenge at VIR is IMSA’s GT-only showpiece, GT World Challenge America brings stacked GT3 fields, and national two-wheel and club weekends keep the calendar busy.
Where’s the best place to watch?
- Uphill Esses: Feel the commitment as cars thread the left-right-left flat-out and crest onto South Bend.
- Oak Tree corner: The key overtaking setup - watch out-braking into the double-apex and the drag down the back straight.
- Roller Coaster to Hog Pen: Plunging braking, trail-brake artistry and last-lap mistakes that decide photo finishes.
- Main straight grandstands: Starts, restarts and pit lane action with the Horseshoe sequence in view.
Not just one series - headline events at VIR
IMSA WeatherTech - Michelin GT Challenge at VIR: GT-only sprint that showcases multi-class traffic without prototypes.
GT World Challenge America: Pro/Am GT3 duels with heavy braking into the Horseshoe and drafting to Oak Tree.
MotoAmerica and national bikes: The Esses and South Bend are breathtaking on two wheels.
Trans Am: Big V8s vs VIR’s fast sweeps make for spectacular qualifying laps and elbows-out races.
