IMSA - WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

The StubHub Monterey SportsCar Championship brings IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship action to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This race features the premier prototype and GT classes competing on one of California's most distinctive road courses. The event showcases the technical capabilities of modern sports car racing on a circuit known for dramatic elevation changes and challenging corners.

What to Expect at the Race

The StubHub Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca features four classes from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class leads the field with hybrid-powered prototypes from manufacturers including Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini, and Porsche. Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) cars provide additional prototype competition. GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes add production-based racing machines built to FIA GT3 specifications.

The main race runs for two hours and forty minutes. Fans can access the paddock to see teams prepare the cars. Autograph sessions allow direct interaction with drivers. A pre-race Grid Walk on pit lane offers close views of the cars and teams before the race begins.

Each car displays an LED panel showing its position within its class. Different colors represent each class, helping spectators track the multi-class competition.

The Circuit

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a 2.238-mile permanent road course with 11 turns. The track sits near Monterey and Salinas, California, approximately 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The circuit features 180 feet of total elevation change across its length.

The Corkscrew

The Corkscrew defines WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This downhill sequence combines Turns 8 and 8A into a hard-left followed by a hard-right. The corner drops 59 feet over 450 feet of track length. At the apex of Turn 8, the elevation drops at a 12 percent grade. This increases to an 18 percent drop by Turn 8A. From Turn 8 to Turn 9, the track falls 109 feet total.

Drivers often lose sight of the track ahead as they crest the hill before the Corkscrew. The blind entry and steep descent create one of motorsports' most demanding corner combinations.

Track Layout and Characteristics

The circuit begins with Turn 1, a right-hand corner following the front straight. Turns 2 through 5 flow through the infield section, added during a 1988 expansion that extended the track from 1.9 miles to its current length. Turn 6 leads onto the Rahal Straight, named after driver Bobby Rahal. This straight climbs uphill before Turn 8 and the Corkscrew.

After the Corkscrew, Turn 9 is a fast right-hander. Turn 10 leads into Turn 11, the final corner, which exits onto the front straight. The track received complete repaving in 2023. The FIA classifies WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as a Grade 2 circuit.

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Classes

Grand Touring Prototype (GTP)

GTP represents the top class in IMSA competition. These purpose-built race cars combine hybrid powertrains with advanced aerodynamics. Each manufacturer develops its own internal combustion engine and bodywork. The cars use a common hybrid system that recovers kinetic energy during braking. Drivers can deploy this stored energy for additional power.

Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2)

LMP2 cars are closed-cockpit prototypes built by four approved constructors. These cars compete globally in series like the FIA World Endurance Championship. LMP2 provides teams with proven chassis and engine combinations at a lower cost than GTP development.

GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO)

GTD PRO features race cars built to FIA GT3 technical regulations. Factory teams run these cars with professional driver lineups. The class allows manufacturers to compete directly with works-supported efforts.

GT Daytona (GTD)

GTD also uses FIA GT3 specification cars. Teams often field mixed driver lineups combining professionals and amateurs. The global GT3 formula means cars competing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca share technical specifications with GT3 cars racing worldwide.

Technical Regulations

IMSA establishes specific technical rules for each class. GTP regulations mandate hybrid powertrains and define aerodynamic parameters. LMP2 rules specify approved chassis and engines. GTD PRO and GTD follow FIA GT3 technical regulations, which govern car construction and allowed modifications.

All classes have tire allocation rules. Driver minimum and maximum stint times ensure fair competition. Weight, fuel capacity, and aerodynamic components are controlled by class-specific regulations.

History of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

The circuit traces its origins to the Pebble Beach Road Races of the 1950s. After a fatal accident in 1956, local businessmen and racing enthusiasts raised $1.5 million to build a permanent facility. Construction took 60 days on land leased from Fort Ord, a U.S. Army base.

Laguna Seca Raceway opened on November 9, 1957. Pete Lovely won the first race driving a Ferrari. The name "Laguna Seca" translates from Spanish as "dry lake," referencing the area's geography.

The track has hosted Can-Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000, IMSA GT, IndyCar, American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am, and MotoGP over the decades. The 1988 redesign added the infield section, creating the current 2.238-mile layout.

The Monterey County Parks Department has owned the facility since 1974. A sponsorship deal in 2018 established the current name, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The circuit previously carried Mazda branding for 17 years.

Notable Features

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca sits within the Laguna Seca Recreation Area. The facility offers camping and other activities year-round. The track's community origins remain relevant, as local support created and sustains the venue.

The circuit appears in racing video games including the Gran Turismo series by Polyphony Digital. This exposure has made the track familiar to racing fans globally.

Beyond the Corkscrew, the entire circuit challenges drivers with elevation changes comparable to famous venues like Mount Panorama in Australia. The combination of gradient shifts and technical corners requires precise car setup and driver skill.

The IMSA Experience at Laguna Seca

The StubHub Monterey SportsCar Championship offers close access to IMSA racing. The compact paddock allows fans to observe team operations. Multiple classes racing simultaneously create varied competition throughout the field. The distinct nature of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca tests every type of sports car, from hybrid prototypes to GT3 machines.

This race combines professional sports car racing with a venue that rewards both driver talent and engineering excellence. The event provides fans with comprehensive access to modern motorsports competition on a circuit that remains distinctive in North American racing.