IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Returns to a 100% Endurance Format in 2027.
Announced on July 11, 2026, the 2027 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge calendar marks a new chapter for LMP3 in the United States. The championship returns to an all-endurance format, with seven races ranging from 90 minutes to three hours, held at several iconic North American circuits. It is a major development for teams, drivers and the Ligier JS P325.
In this multi-class championship, LMP3 prototypes will continue to race for overall victory, alongside GSX GT4 cars and a third class made up of BMW M2 Racing cars. Each car will require two drivers, with an important role given to Bronze- and Silver-rated drivers, in a format designed to bring together gentlemen drivers and young talents.
A 2027 Calendar Built Around Endurance Racing
The 2027 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season will feature seven races, with formats ranging from 90 minutes to three hours. The majority of the rounds will take place during weekends organized by the United States Auto Club, with a significant IMSA presence.
The championship will open at Sebring International Raceway from February 26 to 28, with a two-hour race. A second two-hour event will be announced at a later date.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will then host the championship from June 11 to 13, as part of an IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge weekend. Watkins Glen International will stage the first three-hour race of the season from July 2 to 4, followed by a two-hour round at Road America, with the date still to be confirmed.
The second three-hour race will take place at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta from September 10 to 12. The season will then conclude at Lime Rock Park from September 23 to 25, with a 90-minute race, once again held alongside the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
A New Step for the Ligier JS P325 in North America
Starting in 2027, only third-generation LMP3 cars will be eligible for the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. They will be powered by the 3.5-liter Toyota V35A engine, as part of the long-term partnership between IMSA and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest.
For Ligier Automotive, this evolution places the Ligier JS P325 at the center of the championship. Following in the footsteps of the Ligier JS P3 and Ligier JS P320, the Ligier JS P325 continues the legacy of an LMP3 platform that has supported teams and drivers in endurance championships around the world for more than a decade.
The announcement of the 2027 calendar is already generating strong interest in new cars and conversion kits that allow Ligier JS P320s to be upgraded to Ligier JS P325s. A few days after the calendar was released, Ligier Automotive customer team Toney Driver Development reaffirmed its commitment to the series by announcing its multi-car program for 2027.
All races will be streamed live on IMSA's YouTube channel. With more than 1.8 million subscribers, the platform is now the most-followed channel of any motorsport sanctioning body in North America.
A Strengthened Platform for LMP3 in North America
For Mo Murray, CEO of Ligier Automotive North America, the announcement confirms IMSA's commitment to the future of LMP3 in the United States.
“After working with IMSA leadership over the past eighteen months, Ligier Automotive is very pleased to see the 2027 IMSA VP Racing Challenge calendar announced, and in particular the return to an all-endurance format,” explains Mo Murray. “As a sanctioning body, IMSA consulted and listened to the community to deliver a solution that checks all the boxes: an endurance format, iconic race tracks and the opportunity for gentlemen drivers to team up with aspiring young racers in a single LMP3 championship. This calendar is a strong signal of IMSA's commitment to the future of LMP3 in North America.”
“For more than ten years, the Ligier JS P3, the Ligier JS P320 and now the Ligier JS P325 have provided teams and drivers with a benchmark platform that combines performance, driver safety, driving enjoyment and budget control,” he adds. “This platform serves both gentlemen drivers looking to live their passion and young professional drivers aiming to climb the motorsport ladder. For teams, it allows them to offer seats in professional championships around the world, with common cars and global support.”
Ligier Automotive North America will continue to support teams by providing on-site technical and parts support at all IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge rounds in 2027 and beyond. This trackside presence is a key element of the service provided to Ligier customers in North America.
The 2027 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge calendar therefore opens a new chapter for LMP3 in the United States, with a full endurance format, landmark circuits and a platform designed to train drivers and support teams over the long term.
CLICK HERE to view the 2027 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge calendar.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the championship.
CLICK HERE to discover the Ligier JS P325.