Road America IMSA 2026: Full Schedule, Race Timetable, TV Coverage & Streaming Guide

The main race is the first Road America WeatherTech event scheduled for six hours. That longer format moves the Wisconsin round into the Michelin Endurance Cup and gives all four classes a full endurance-distance test.

Meanwhile, support action begins Thursday. Porsche Carrera Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Michelin Pilot Challenge fill the timetable before the WeatherTech cars first run on Friday afternoon.

The official event page presents the public-facing schedule in Eastern Time. IMSA’s supplementary regulations use local Central Time. The two documents align after the one-hour conversion.

However, broadcast windows can start five or ten minutes before the on-track session. Those lead-in periods give viewers time for introductions, grid coverage or formation procedures.

The Sunday fan-access times above are converted from the July 16 local-time supplementary schedule. The public event page focuses primarily on racing sessions.

Thursday is useful for fans who want a quieter first look at the circuit. The WeatherTech cars remain in setup mode, while the single-make and production-based support paddocks begin their competitive work.

Porsche Carrera Cup runs first at 9:30 a.m. ET. A second practice follows at 12:15 p.m. ET, and qualifying starts at 4:45 p.m. ET. The schedule gives teams several hours to review data before the grid-setting session.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo uses two longer sessions. Practice 1 lasts 45 minutes, while Practice 2 lasts 50 minutes. Drivers must learn the braking zones without the pressure of a race start.

Michelin Pilot Challenge begins at 2:15 p.m. ET. The GS and TCR field shares the track, so teams immediately work through traffic and class-speed differences.

Downtown Elkhart Lake also hosts the official welcome party Thursday evening. That gathering connects the modern IMSA weekend with the village’s long road-racing tradition.

Friday opens with Michelin Pilot Challenge Practice 2. That one-hour session gives GS and TCR teams a final chance to tune their cars before qualifying later in the afternoon.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo qualifying begins at 10:35 a.m. ET. The official regulations split the session into two 15-minute groups, although the public schedule presents one 35-minute block.

Porsche Carrera Cup Race 1 starts at 11:25 a.m. ET. The broadcast listing begins five minutes earlier, at 11:20 a.m. ET, on Peacock, YouTube and IMSA.TV.

Why Practice 1 Matters

The 90-minute WeatherTech session is the first direct comparison between the four classes. Teams will measure how quickly GTP cars catch the LMP2 and GT groups across a four-mile lap.

Moreover, the session establishes a baseline for the new six-hour distance. Engineers need representative fuel numbers, long-run tire data and a clear understanding of pit-lane loss.

Road America can change through the afternoon as rubber builds. Therefore, a quick early lap does not guarantee strong race pace. The most valuable runs may come late, when tires have completed a full stint.

Friday Afternoon Racing

Michelin Pilot Challenge qualifying begins at 2:55 p.m. ET. TCR runs first in the supplementary schedule, followed by GS. The public listing combines both into one 35-minute block.

Porsche Carrera Cup Race 2 follows at 3:45 p.m. ET. Lamborghini Super Trofeo Race 1 closes the day at 4:45 p.m. ET.

Those races matter for WeatherTech spectators as well. They show how the track handles repeated restarts, curb use and late-afternoon temperature changes.

Saturday begins with a Porsche Carrera Cup makeup race from the Miami weekend. The race starts at 9:50 a.m. ET, while the listed broadcast window begins at 9:45 a.m.

WeatherTech Practice 2

Practice 2 runs from 10:50 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. ET. The first 15 minutes are reserved for Bronze-rated drivers. All classes join at 11:05 a.m. ET.

This split is especially important for LMP2 and GTD teams. Bronze drivers need clear laps and confidence before their qualifying or race responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the all-class segment is the final chance to test setup changes before qualifying. Teams may run a qualifying simulation, but many will protect race tires and focus on fuel-load balance.

Road America 120

The Michelin Pilot Challenge race starts at 1:50 p.m. ET and lasts two hours. The broadcast listing opens five minutes earlier at 1:45 p.m. ET.

GS and TCR race together, but each class has its own victory. Strategy often turns on fuel mileage, tire wear and the timing of a final caution.

Class-by-Class Qualifying Order

GTP qualifying closes the session. Because GTP competes for overall victory, the fastest prototype earns the first starting position for Sunday’s race.

For additional background, World of Speed explains how racing drivers qualify, what pole position means and why grid position matters.

Pre-Race Timeline

The race is timed rather than scheduled for a fixed distance. Therefore, the final lap count depends on green-flag speed, caution periods and any stoppages.

A late full-course caution can also extend the real finishing process beyond the exact six-hour mark. The official Peacock window continues until 6:00 p.m. ET, giving the production room for the finish and post-race coverage.

World of Speed’s guides to race timing, timed-race lap counting and racing flags explain the basic procedures.

Peacock is the key U.S. destination for the WeatherTech race. The listed window starts ten minutes before the green flag and ends 20 minutes after the scheduled finish.

That does not mean the race lasts six and a half hours. The wider window covers pre-race introductions, formation laps, potential caution delays and post-race interviews.

Peacock Coverage Schedule

Is Road America on NBC or USA Network?

IMSA’s current Road America event page does not list an NBC broadcast or a USA Network segment. It lists Peacock for the U.S. WeatherTech race.

However, television plans can change. A late network addition would appear on IMSA’s official TV and streaming schedule. Therefore, viewers should check again during race week.

Do Viewers Need Cable?

No traditional cable package is required for Peacock access. Viewers need an eligible Peacock subscription and a supported internet-connected device.

Peacock runs on common smart TVs, streaming sticks, phones, tablets and web browsers. Fans should sign in before the broadcast, especially when using a new device.

World of Speed’s broader car-racing coverage and pit-stop explainer can help new IMSA viewers follow the race.

Why Do the International Race Windows End at 5:35 p.m. ET?

The official event page currently lists YouTube and IMSA.TV from 11:35 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. ET. The on-track schedule lists the race until 5:40 p.m. ET.

That five-minute difference is an official-page inconsistency. It may be corrected before race day. This guide preserves both published times rather than inventing a replacement.

Can U.S. Viewers Use YouTube or IMSA.TV?

The event page states that the WeatherTech race is available in the United States only on Peacock Premium. Therefore, U.S. viewers should not rely on the international feeds.

Support-series rights are broader. The official Road America listings mark many Porsche Carrera Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Michelin Pilot Challenge races as globally available on YouTube and IMSA.TV.

Can Viewers Watch Later?

Peacock commonly provides on-demand access after live events, although replay timing can vary. IMSA also publishes race replays and highlights through its official video platforms after rights windows permit.

Fans avoiding spoilers should open the replay directly rather than visiting the IMSA homepage. News headlines and thumbnail images may reveal the winner.

Michelin Pilot Challenge

The Road America 120 features GS and TCR. Practice starts Thursday at 2:15 p.m. ET. The second practice and qualifying run Friday, followed by the two-hour race Saturday at 1:50 p.m. ET.

The official broadcast window begins at 1:45 p.m. ET on Peacock, YouTube and IMSA.TV. Unlike the WeatherTech race, IMSA lists the Pilot Challenge broadcast as globally available.

Porsche Carrera Cup North America

Carrera Cup uses identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup machinery across multiple driver classes. Road America provides two regular races and one makeup race from Miami.

Race 1 runs Friday at 11:25 a.m. ET. Race 2 follows at 3:45 p.m. ET. The makeup race starts Saturday at 9:50 a.m. ET.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo

Super Trofeo practices twice Thursday and qualifies Friday morning. Race 1 starts Friday at 4:45 p.m. ET, while Race 2 starts Saturday at 6:00 p.m. ET.

The series uses Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo machinery and separates drivers into Pro, Pro-Am, Am and Lamborghini Cup categories.

Support races are not filler. They offer different car types, shorter formats and close class battles. Saturday viewers can watch almost nine continuous hours of meaningful track activity.

All four WeatherTech classes share the circuit. GTP competes for the overall victory, while LMP2 runs a separate prototype race. GTD PRO and GTD use GT3-based cars but different driver structures.

The speed difference is part of the spectacle. GTP leaders repeatedly catch GT traffic, while LMP2 cars must avoid losing time to both faster and slower classes.

New viewers can use World of Speed’s GT3 race-car diagram, GT3 visual guide and safety-car explainer.

Live Timing

IMSA provides live timing and scoring through its official event ecosystem. The timing screen shows overall position, class position, gaps, pit status and recent lap times.

Live timing is especially useful during Practice 1 and Practice 2 because those sessions do not have a separate public broadcast window on the current event page.

Race Commentary

Official video streams include commentary. IMSA Radio coverage is also integrated into many live and replay products, giving listeners a way to follow strategy while traveling.

Qualifying and Race Results

IMSA publishes provisional results after each session. Final results follow after technical checks, penalties and any post-session decisions.

Therefore, the first classification shown after the checkered flag may change. Fans should use the final official result for championship calculations.

Replay Strategy for a Six-Hour Race

Viewers who cannot watch live should allow a large block of time. The full Peacock window lasts six and a half hours, while the race itself is scheduled for six hours.

Highlights provide a faster option, but they may miss fuel-saving periods and off-sequence pit calls. A full replay is better for viewers who want to understand how the result developed.

Road America is large enough that spectators should plan their movement. Walking from one major viewing area to another can take time, especially when crowds fill the interior roads.

Turn 5

Turn 5 is one of the best passing zones. Cars arrive after a long downhill straight and brake heavily for a left-hand corner.

The Carousel and the Kink

The Carousel places sustained load on the tires. The Kink follows and remains one of the fastest, narrowest points on the circuit.

These corners are spectacular, but fans should use designated viewing areas. The circuit’s wooded layout can limit sightlines outside approved zones.

Canada Corner and Turn 14

Canada Corner offers another strong braking-zone view. Turn 14 then launches cars uphill toward the start-finish line.

For fans attending Sunday, arriving early is sensible. The official supplementary schedule opens pit lane before the public grid walk, while the race begins at 10:40 a.m. local time.

The July 16 timetable is the newest official schedule available for this guide. IMSA labels it provisional, so Race Control can adjust sessions for operational reasons.

Weather

A useful race-day forecast is not available this far in advance. Thunderstorms, lightning or standing water can delay on-track activity in Wisconsin.

Broadcast Windows

Network or platform listings can move. The five-minute difference between the international race stream and the scheduled finish may also be corrected.

Entry Lists

The official event page currently leaves class entry totals blank. Final car counts and driver lineups should be checked after IMSA publishes the entry list.

Fan Activities

Autograph sessions, fan forums and access windows may receive small changes. Spectators should use the final track-issued schedule at the gate.