IMSA - Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic

The Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic brings the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to the streets of downtown Detroit, Michigan. This 100-minute sprint race features two premier classes competing on a challenging temporary street circuit. The event runs as part of the larger Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear weekend, which also hosts INDYCAR and INDY NXT series races. Fans can watch the action live on NBC, with streaming available through Peacock domestically and via IMSA.TV and the official IMSA YouTube channel globally.

Race Format

The Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic is a 100-minute sprint race featuring two classes from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) and GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO). The 2026 edition brings 21 cars to the Detroit Street Circuit, with 11 entries competing in GTP and 10 in GTD PRO. Qualifying sessions stream on Peacock, IMSA.TV, and YouTube before the main race.

Detroit Street Circuit

The Detroit Street Circuit is a temporary road course located in downtown Detroit. The circuit measures 1.645 miles (2.647 km) in length and features nine to ten turns. The layout winds around the Renaissance Center and incorporates a section of Woodward Avenue. The track is relatively flat, with elevations ranging from 577 to 604 feet (176 to 184 meters) above sea level. A distinctive split pit lane serves as one of the circuit's signature features.

The tight and demanding nature of this temporary street course often produces aggressive racing. Contact between cars occurs frequently due to the unforgiving barriers and narrow racing line. The circuit's challenging characteristics create compelling competition for both drivers and teams.

Participants

Grand Touring Prototype (GTP)

The GTP class fields 11 full-time entries for the 2026 season. Porsche Penske Motorsport runs two Porsche 963s, while Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing also operates two entries. Other teams include Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian, Cadillac Whelen, and JDC-Miller MotorSports with a Porsche 963. Aston Martin's THOR Team competes with the Valkyrie, making its first full-season campaign. BMW M Team WRT operates two BMW M Hybrid V8 entries.

Key manufacturers in GTP include Porsche, Cadillac, Acura, Aston Martin, and BMW. Laurin Heinrich drives for JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963, while Jack Aitken pilots the Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R.

GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO)

The GTD PRO class features eight full-season entries, with additional cars joining for endurance rounds. Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports fields Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg in the No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Paul Miller Racing, Vasser Sullivan with the Lexus RC F GT3, Ford Racing with the Mustang GT3, and AO Racing with the Porsche 911 GT3 R all compete in this class. Risi Competizione and Triarsi Competizione participate in endurance events.

McLaren returns to IMSA's GTD Pro category through a partnership with Team RLL, running a single 720S GT3 Evo. The Lamborghini Tamario GT3 represents the only all-new car entering the WeatherTech Championship this season. Manufacturers competing in GTD PRO include Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, and Porsche.

Technical Specifications

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship features two primary car styles: Prototype and GT. Each category has distinct technical regulations and characteristics.

Grand Touring Prototype cars represent the most advanced technology in the series. These cars use a common hybrid powertrain system that recovers kinetic energy from braking and stores it for later use. Each manufacturer—Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, and Porsche—develops its own internal combustion engine and unique bodywork. GTP cars comply with LMDh and LMH technical regulations. Michelin provides specific tire specifications and allocations for the class.

GT Daytona Pro cars are based on road-going production models and follow global FIA GT3 technical regulations. These cars offer fans a direct connection to vehicles available for purchase, adapted for professional racing competition.

IMSA publishes detailed Technical Regulations for each season, covering both GTD PRO and GTD classes. Technical Bulletins provide subsequent updates and changes. These regulations define permissible modifications to ensure competitive balance. Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments are issued regularly via technical bulletins to maintain parity across different manufacturers and car models. The 2026 Sporting Regulations include the "Short FCY" protocol for full course yellows early in races and new provisions allowing teams to use private in-car camera footage.

History and Context

The Detroit Street Circuit has hosted multiple forms of motorsport over several decades. Formula One races took place from 1982 to 1988, followed by CART events from 1989 to 1991. After many years of racing on Belle Isle, the IMSA SportsCar Championship returned to the downtown street circuit, competing on the current layout.

The circuit features a local landmark near Turn 3: a statue of boxing legend Joe Louis, known as "The Fist." This monument serves as a fitting backdrop for the intense racing that unfolds on this demanding street course. The broader Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear weekend offers live entertainment, food vendors, and riverfront views, complementing the on-track competition.

The combination of two premier IMSA classes racing through downtown Detroit creates a unique spectacle. The close quarters and technical demands of the Detroit Street Circuit test driver skill and car setup. The 100-minute race format requires teams to balance aggression with race management, as the tight confines leave little room for error. The Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic continues to showcase top-level prototype and GT racing on one of North America's most challenging temporary circuits.