+ COTA replaces Indianapolis on US leg
+ Suzuka 1000km becomes joint Super GT300 race
+ Revised calendar runs between February and September
Intercontinental GT Challenge will make major changes to its calendar next season when a new event, the Texas 8 Hour, takes place at Circuit of The Americas and Japan’s biggest championship, Super GT, joins the globe-trotting GT3 series at Suzuka.
The schedule continues to feature five events on four continents, with the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring and 24 Hours of Spa all remaining unchanged between February and June.
However, May now begins with a new endurance race at one of motorsport’s best loved modern venues where IGTC joins GT World Challenge America powered by AWS. The circuit in Austin, Texas, becomes the third US track to host Intercontinental after Laguna Seca (2017-2019) and Indianapolis, which stages the 8 Hour for a seventh time this October.
Like Indy, the ‘Texas 8’ – which takes place on May 7-8 – begins on a Saturday lunchtime before finishing in darkness. The event slots between Bathurst, which is again staged in mid-February, and Nürburgring at the end of May.
Another major development concerns Suzuka, which successfully returned to the calendar last season for the first time since 2019. Now, the historic Summer Endurance Race becomes IGTC’s season finale and a Super GT event. The partnership between SRO and GTA sees Super GT300’s FIA GT3 and nationally homologated cars competing equally against IGTC’s international and regional teams, just as they did in 2018 and ’19.
Per 2025 and ’26, the event remains under the joint management of SRO and Suzuka’s owners, Honda Mobilityland Corporation. Super GT will confirm further details following the release of its calendar.
Super GT300 entrants will use the championship’s new control tyre, which becomes mandatory for all teams from the start of next season, while Pirelli continues to supply international and regional outfits. The performance of both products will be assessed simultaneously during dedicated test sessions in Europe and Japan next year before findings are applied to Suzuka’s Balance of Performance.
SRO’s GT Bureau already has significant experience of regulating multi-tyre supplier competition through its longstanding Balance of Performance contract with Super GT.
2027 marks Super GT’s return to the Summer Endurance Race for the first time in a decade. The event was one of the championship’s blue riband races between 2006 and ’17 after previously counting towards the likes of the FIA GT Championship, BPR, FIA World Sportscar Championship and All-Japan Endurance Championship. This year marks its 50th edition.
Stéphane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO: “Nothing can top Indianapolis in terms of history, and we’ve had a wonderful six years with them. COTA is comfortably GT World Challenge America’s biggest event but also a modern-classic venue loved by drivers and teams, so it makes perfect sense for the 8 Hour to find a new home there. The recent growth of America’s GT3 grid makes this a very exciting addition to the Intercontinental schedule.
“Suzuka is also evolving into a race that will truly feature the best of Japan and the rest of the world, just like the 1000km has been in the past. It remains one of Japan’s most historically significant motor races but still has room to grow, especially in terms of spectator attendance, which is now possible thanks to Super GT’s involvement. Joining forces also provides an opportunity to push the combined entry towards 50 cars.”
Masaaki Bandoh, GTA President and CEO: “We have great respect for the longstanding partnership we have built with SRO over many years, and we are delighted to take the next step together through the Suzuka 1000km. For Super GT and particularly the GT300 class, competing against top GT3 teams from around Japan, Asia and the rest of the world at Suzuka represents a tremendous opportunity to showcase the strength and appeal of our championship on the global stage.
“Suzuka 1000km has always been one of Japan’s most iconic motor racing events, and we believe this collaboration has the potential to further enhance its prestige while attracting more fans and competitors from around the world. We are very much looking forward to working closely with SRO, Honda Mobilityland and all stakeholders to make the 2027 Suzuka 1000km a truly memorable event.”
Andy Soucek, Vice President, Motorsports, Circuit of The Americas: “Having competed in both the Intercontinental GT Challenge and GT World Challenge, I know firsthand the prestige and global significance of SRO competition. The IGTC brings together some of the most respected endurance races in the world and showcases the very best of GT3 racing.
“To see Circuit of The Americas join this championship is incredibly exciting. The Texas 8 Hour will establish COTA as the home of the only US round of the IGTC and provide a world-class platform for teams, manufacturers and fans from around the globe.”
2027 Intercontinental GT Challenge Calendar
Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour* – Australia – February 11-14
Texas 8 Hour – North America – May 7-8
ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring – Germany – May 27-30
24 Hours of Spa – Belgium – June 23-27
Suzuka 1000km – Japan – September 3-5
*Subject to agreement