Round 12 & 13

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts Rounds 12 and 13 of the Pirelli GT4 America series in October 2026. This double-header weekend brings GT4-spec racing to one of motorsports' most famous venues. The races take place on the road course configuration at this historic facility in Indiana.

Race Format and Competition Structure

GT4 America events feature two 60-minute races during the weekend. Each race follows a sprint format with mandatory mid-race pit stops and driver changes. This requirement adds strategy to the competition as teams manage their time in the pits alongside their on-track performance.

The series divides competitors into three classes based on FIA driver ratings. The Pro-Am class pairs one professional driver with one amateur driver. The Silver class requires two silver-rated drivers with moderate experience levels. The Am class features two amateur drivers working together. Teams use color-coded number panels to show their class on track: silver panels for Silver class, black panels for Pro-Am, and red panels for Am.

Qualifying consists of one streamlined session. All cars must maintain a minimum average driver weight of 90 kilograms, with teams adding ballast when needed to meet this requirement.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course

The GT4 America races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway use the road course layout rather than the famous oval. The facility opened its road course in 2000, and the track has received several updates since then. The current configuration measures approximately 2.44 miles (3.92 kilometers) in length.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 as a testing facility for the automobile industry. The original surface consisted of rock and tar, which proved dangerous. Workers repaved the entire track with 3.2 million bricks in late 1909, creating the nickname "the Brickyard." Today, most of the surface uses asphalt, but a 36-inch strip of original bricks remains at the start-finish line as a tribute to this heritage.

Teams and Drivers

The Pirelli GT4 America series attracts diverse teams and manufacturers throughout its season. BimmerWorld Racing campaigns two BMW Motorsport G82 M4 GT4s in 2026. James Clay and James Walker, Jr. compete in the Am class, while Tyler McQuarrie and Michael Petramalo race in the Pro-Am class. Precision Racing fields Ryan Eversley in a Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo2. OGH Motorsports enters a McLaren Artura GT4, and ACI Motorsports competes with a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport driven by Yves Baltas among others.

These entries demonstrate the variety of GT4-homologated vehicles that compete in the series. Manufacturers typically include Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ford, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, and Toyota.

Technical Regulations

GT4 America exclusively features GT4-homologated race cars built to FIA GT4 specifications. These production-based vehicles include standardized crash structures and safety equipment. The series employs Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations to ensure fair competition among different manufacturers. This system adjusts parameters like power output, vehicle weight, and aerodynamic elements to create level competition.

Pirelli serves as the exclusive tire supplier for the series. This control tire approach ensures all teams compete on equal footing regarding tire performance and safety.

Series Background

The SRO Motorsports Group established the GT4 America Series in 2019, building on the Pirelli World Challenge GTS class that adopted global GT4 standards in 2017. SRO took full control of the series in May 2018, bringing over three decades of GT racing experience to the championship.

The series focuses on accessible grand touring competition for both professional and amateur drivers. The format emphasizes privateer teams rather than factory racing programs, creating opportunities for customer racing operations.

Notable Aspects of Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway ranks as the third-oldest permanent automobile racetrack in the world. The facility offers permanent seating for over 250,000 spectators and can accommodate more than 400,000 people total, making it the highest-capacity sports venue globally.

The track spans 253 acres, an area large enough to contain Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl, the Roman Colosseum, Vatican City, the White House, and the Taj Mahal with space remaining. The first competition at the facility was actually a balloon race on June 5, 1909, which drew 40,000 spectators.

Ray Harroun won the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911. He became the first person to use a rearview mirror on a motor vehicle and started the tradition of drinking milk in the winner's circle, though he preferred buttermilk. The modern tradition of "kissing the bricks" by race winners began in 1996 with NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett.

The 10-story Pagoda structure, inspired by Japanese architecture, serves as the control tower and media center during racing events. This distinctive building has become a recognizable feature of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

What to Expect from Round 12 & 13

The gt4-america races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway promise close multi-class competition on a circuit that tests driver skill and team strategy. The road course layout provides multiple passing opportunities and challenges teams with its technical sections. The combination of professional and amateur drivers across three classes creates varied racing throughout the field.

The mandatory pit stops and driver changes add complexity to race strategy. Teams must balance track position with pit stop efficiency while managing tire wear and fuel consumption. The BoP regulations ensure that different manufacturers can compete for victories regardless of vehicle make.

The 2026 edition of this race weekend brings GT4 competition to one of motorsports' most storied venues, combining modern sports car racing with historic surroundings.