A First-Timer’s Guide to IMSA at Road America
IMSA comes to Road America for the Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix, August 5–8, 2027. It’s a six-hour endurance race for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with prototypes and GT cars from manufacturers like Mercedes, Ferrari, Chevrolet and Aston Martin sharing the 4.048-mile circuit at the same time. Advance four-day tickets are $140 for a limited time, and kids 16 and under get in free with a paying adult. If you’ve never been to a sports car race, this guide explains what you’re watching and how to plan your weekend.
In this guide
- What IMSA is
- Four classes, one race
- How a six-hour race works
- The rest of the weekend
- Tickets and admission
- Camping
- Getting in and getting around
- First-timer tips
What IMSA is
IMSA (the International Motor Sports Association) sanctions North America’s top sports car racing. Its premier series is the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which Road America describes as featuring “elite sportscars from nearly 20 different manufacturers.”
Sports car racing is different from IndyCar or NASCAR in two big ways. The cars have enclosed cockpits and covered wheels, and many look related to cars you can buy. And the races are usually endurance events, where two or more drivers share each car and swap in and out during pit stops.
The Road America race is one of the five races in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, the championship’s group of longer-format events.
Four classes, one race
The biggest thing to understand is that several races are happening at once. IMSA runs multiple classes on track together, each with its own winner. For 2027, the WeatherTech Championship lists four classes at Road America:
| GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) | The fastest class: purpose-built prototypes from major manufacturers |
| LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2) | A second prototype class |
| GTD PRO (GT Daytona Pro) | GT race cars based on production sports cars |
| GTD (GT Daytona) | GT race cars with a mix of professional and amateur drivers |
Faster prototypes are constantly lapping slower GT cars, so the race is full of passing. It’s also why you’ll see an overall leader and class leaders on the scoreboard. To tell the classes apart, watch for the class-colored number panels on each car, and follow the trackside radio broadcast.
How a six-hour race works
Six hours is a long time, and nobody expects you to watch every lap from one spot. A long race lets you move around: start at one corner, walk the property, grab food and settle somewhere new for the finish.
Pit stops matter more in endurance racing than in a sprint race. Teams refuel, change tires and swap drivers, and strategy can shuffle the order several times. Plan to be at your favorite viewing spot for the finish.
The rest of the weekend
The six-hour race is the headliner, but IMSA’s 2027 event page lists two more series on the schedule:
- IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, running the Road America 120
- Porsche Carrera Cup North America
Road America’s event page also lists parade laps for fans who want to drive their own cars around the circuit (with separate sessions for Corvettes and Porsches), a post-race fan track walk on Sunday, public karting and a free family fun zone. Times for 2027 haven’t been confirmed, so check the Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix event page before you plan around them.
Tickets and admission
Advance four-day tickets for 2027 are $140 for a limited time. Buy them on the Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix tickets page. If you bought tickets before the date change, they’re still valid for August 5–8.
- Kids under 16 get free general admission with a paying adult.
- Students with a current student ID get $10 off at the gate. One promotion per person.
- There’s no assigned seating. General admission lets you watch from any public viewing area. Bring a chair.
Hospitality options include the Finish Line Tower, Turn 14 and the Tufte Center, with full packages or upgrades available.
Camping
On-site camping is available for the IMSA weekend. Sites are about 20 by 40 feet on grass, gravel or pavement, and electric sites have 50-amp service. There are no water hookups, but potable water and two dump stations are available in the Carousel and near Gate 6.
Each campsite requires a reservation, plus a full event ticket and a camping wristband for everyone 16 and older. Campers enter through Gate 4 on County Road J. Compare zones on the Road America camping page.
Getting in and getting around
Gates open at 7:00 a.m. Friday, and the event closes at 5:00 p.m. Sunday. General admission ticket holders can enter at the Main Gate on Highway 67, Gate 3 on County Road J (where golf carts are rented) or, on Saturday and Sunday, Gate 5 on Highway 67.
Only licensed, street-legal vehicles are allowed on the property, and the paddock is foot traffic only. A free tram runs Saturday and Sunday, and the Paddock Shop is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
First-timer tips
- Tune in. The trackside radio broadcast and big screens around the property help you keep track of four classes at once.
- Walk the paddock. It’s where teams work on the cars, and it’s foot traffic only.
- Move around. Turn 5, Canada Corner and the Kink are popular viewing spots. The Good Times Guide has the fan map.
- Pack for August. Bring sunscreen, a hat, water, comfortable shoes, hearing protection and a rain layer.
- Know the rules. Coolers are allowed in open grass areas and campsites, but glass, firearms, fireworks and drones aren’t. See the Road America FAQ.
Plan your first IMSA weekend
Four classes, six hours and nearly 20 manufacturers on one of North America’s classic road courses. Get your 2027 Motul SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix tickets while the $140 advance price lasts.