IMSA Detroit Preview: Motor City Mayhem

100 minutes. 21 cars. 2 classes. Chaos and drama guaranteed. The IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship is on the streets of Downtown Detroit for the Chevrolet Detroit Sportscar Classic.

Sportscars in Detroit have been on and off over the last twenty years. The American Le Mans Series were part of the schedule in 2007 and 2008 before the race went on hiatus. When the race returned in 2012, the sportscar slot was filled by the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Upon the IMSA/Grand-Am merger in 2014, the race has been a mainstay on the calendar since. Not including the COVID-stricken 2020 season, the one exception was in 2023 when the race returned to Downtown Detroit from Belle Isle. Instead of the WeatherTech Championship, the Michelin Pilot Challenge ran a GS-only race on the Saturday.

This weekend, as it has been the last two years, the cars and stars of GTP and GTD PRO are ready to battle on the 1.7-mile temporary street circuit. What can we expect in the shadow of the famed Renaissance Center?

The #93 Crew celebrating on street courses has become a (very) familiar sight lately Photo Courtesy: Honda Racing HRC US

GTP: The Street Kings?

The Acura ARX-06 package has been competitive on street courses. And the car finds ways to win. It has won the last two years here in Detroit. The last time IMSA raced on the streets in Long Beach, the car won (for the first time) in a home race for the program. Clearly, Acura has figured something out. So what makes the car so good on the streets?

“(The Acura) is very strong on the brakes,” proclaims Meyer Shank Racing’s Renger van der Zande. “It’s good on the entry of the corner…I think that’s a big part of it.” The men behind the wheel also make quite a difference. “Nick (Yelloly, van der Zande’s MSR co-driver) has won Monaco in Porsche Supercup…he’s always been good at street tracks,” says Renger. “It’s a lot of experience that counts. At some point, you get the hang of it and enjoy the risks a street track brings.” Safe to say these two have mastered racing this Acura on street circuits. van der Zande and Yelloly have won the last two street course races and look to make it three straight this weekend.

More good news on the Acura front sees a 5kg weight break on the car from Laguna Seca. The car will also see stint energy increases while given max power available in Level 1. After a victorious Sunday in Indianapolis, MSR Acura must like their chances to keep the winning ways going in Detroit.

In the Right Direction

The final race results did not tell the full story of Wayne Taylor Racing’s weekend at Laguna Seca. The team was fast in the Friday and Saturday practices, culminating with Pole Position for Louis Deletraz. While the race did not go their way, there is plenty optimism in the WTR camp. “(WTR) is way better this year on pace,” states Filipe Albuquerque. “(The cars, however) are alternating on pace and we are trying to lock that down to be consistent.” There is merit to Filipe’s statements. The car was very strong on Sebring and was third on the road before failing post-race tech inspection. From the outside looking in, it looks like this team can’t buy a break.

The good news is Detroit is a happy hunting ground for Albuquerque and teammate Ricky Taylor. With Acura, they won here in 2024. Last year, they were in contention to win and leading in the final laps. A savvy pass from Renger van der Zande denied the duo victory. Filipe feels much better about his chances this year. “We used a joker (upgrade) on the Cadillac (for braking) and it’s better,” Albuquerque declares. “We expect to be stronger this year…and we are more prepared than last year.”

The championship for this season is a long shot, if not out the picture. But getting back to consistent results will be a big step for WTR. A good day in Detroit will be a great start.

Consistent Bridesmaid

Speaking of consistency, it is unfathomable to think three runner-up finishes in four races is not enough to a lead the drivers’ championship. Yet that is the scenario Jack Aitken finds himself in. Whelen Action Express Cadillac Racing have been fast and in contention for victory in each race so far. But there is no crueler way to lose a race than to have Laurin Heinrich chase down and pass Earl Bamber on the final lap at Laguna Seca. There is a silver lining as Whelen Action Express leads the team’s championship and Aitken is only 21 points out the driver’s championship lead.

Action Express and Wayne Taylor Racing will be dealing with a lighter Cadillac this weekend in Detroit. Balance of Performance gives the V-Series.R a 5kg weight break and a power increase in Stage 1 but see decreases in Stage 2 power and in stint energy. With energy not expected to be much of a factor with only one stop expected, hopefully the weight break will be enough to give Caddy victory in their home race.

Bulking Up

Porsche keeps finding ways to win and IMSA continues to make the cars heavier and heavier. In my eyes, that’s not the best recipe for a street course. In a place where breaking is paramount, you need every variable to make the car as nimble as possible. So a heavy car cannot be giving Porsche a lot of confidence for this weekend. To be precise, BoP has the evo 963 for a 16kg weight increase while the 2025-spec 963 adds 30kg of extra weight. There is good news in the form of power stage and stint energy increases for both cars

Laurin Henrich comes in as the leader in the GTP drivers’ points standings after what could be seen as his breakthrough drive at Laguna Seca. JDC-Miller claiming their first IMSA win in five years while also scoring the first customer victory for the 963 in IMSA was a great feel-good story. The young German is becoming a superstar in GTP – so much so Porsche has already confirmed him to replace the departing Laurens Vanthoor next season at Penske. With three wins in four races to start the season, I would say that is a wise investment. Speaking of Penske, the factory cars had a quiet day at Laguna where they were non-contenders at all.

Concurrently, the numbers don’t bode well for Porsche in Detroit either. Granted, they have been competitive here with a third the last two years. But with this BoP, a strategic masterclass would be the ticket to victory this weekend. Good thing Penske’s men are elite at that.

A Surprise In Store?

BMW Team WRT has some flashes of brilliance. Phillip Eng and Marco Wittman finally caught a break, scoring a much-needed podium at Laguna Seca. The sister car of Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde performed well enough at Long Beach that strategy could aid the M Hybrid V8 if in position this weekend. BoP will see BMW with a 11kg weight break for Detroit and 1.1% increase in Power Stage 1. The BoP will decrease the power in Stage 2 by 1.4% along with decreases in stint energy metrics. With the program finally finding success on the WEC side, the hope must be building similar results will come in IMSA.

For Aston Martin, there is no change to their numbers in terms of BoP. Laguna was the team’s best showing so far with an eighth-place finish. Even more of an impressive sign was the qualifying pace with the car qualifying sixth, just seven tenths off pole. In comparison, the car was over a second off the pace last year. I know there will be a lot of complaints on how IMSA is a “BoP championship” and you have to take numbers with a grain of salt. But make no mistake that the Valkyrie and Heart of Racing are making progress with this car. If they strike while the iron is hot in Detroit, look out for the V12 monster to have a big presence on Saturday.

Winning Time: Race Predictions

Time to pick some winners for the Chevrolet Detroit Sportscar Classic. Joining me as always to make race picks are GT REPORT Editor-in-Chief Miguel Bosch and my co-writer here at GT REPORT on the IMSA beat Dylan Spaulding.

Miguel Bosch, GT REPORT Editor-in-Chief: Detroit, whether at Belle Isle or back Downtown, is always a wild ride. It’s hard to predict here, so I am going with sentiment – and a little boldness. After winning the Indianapolis 500, wouldn’t it be cool if Meyer Shank Racing followed up with a win in Detroit. The No. 93 won here last year and they won at Long Beach already this year. Three straight for Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly on the streets…why not?

Dylan Spaulding, GT REPORT IMSA Writer: Cadillac have traditionally been strong on street circuits. Wayne Taylor Racing claimed the win with Acura here in 2024. WTR has consistently shown speed and strong strategy execution at Detroit, making the team one to watch again this weekend. I am going with the No. 40 pairing of Jordan Taylor and Louis Deletraz to be at the front at the team looks to build momentum before going off to Le Mans.

David Lawrence, GT REPORT IMSA Writer: For me, I am going to stay in the Cadillac camp and pick the best team in IMSA right now. All these podiums, at some point the coin is going to fall their way. Furthermore, as a wise man once said, you don’t become the best by getting lucky. And while the Whelen Action Express team won’t be making the trip to France this time around, Jack Aitken and Earl Bamber will be heading to Le Mans with a win under their belt. This is the weekend No. 31 takes the checkered flag.

GTD PRO: Hometown Showdown

General Motors vs Ford…need I say more? This is a rivalry as old as the automobile industry itself. These two brands define Detroit and the American automotive landscape. No matter where you look around the world, General Motors and Ford are going head-to-head. Whether in Formula 1, Australian Supercars, WEC (LMGT3 now with Hypercar next year) or NASCAR, the rivalry is fierce and competitive but respectable. The same goes for IMSA. This weekend, the battleground is the backyard.

Bragging Rights

Going into this sprint race, Ford has to have the upper hand. Multimatic Motorsports are the defending champions of this race. Furthermore, they are riding the momentum of their first win of the season. That win is even more satisfying considering Laguna Seca was not a happy hunting ground for the Mustang GT3 the last two years.

“We had a lucky strategy,” said Belgian Ford factory driver Frederic Vervisch on the win. “We were able to keep our position and we didn’t expect that.” The win is evidence that all the upgrades are starting to pay off. “We had high expectations after working on the weak points,” Vervisch noted. “Everywhere improved…braking, suspension and other things…spent a lot of money. I think (the win) it’s proof the Evo is working and that’s a big relief.”

Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports are looking to go one better in 2026 Photo Courtesy: Team Chevy/GM Motorsports

Consistent but Hungry

On the other side of this Detroit battle there is, of course, Chevrolet. Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports come into Detroit as the GTD PRO points leader both in teams and drivers with Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg. The pair has done so with that signature Corvette Racing consistency that has brought them championships. But that consistency has left them a little dry in a valuable department. Since debuting the Z06 GT3.R in 2024, the team has only scored two race wins. In terms of Detroit, they are still looking for success. After a disastrous 2024, things looked up with a second and fourth in 2025. The only problem was the second came to Ford.

Defending GTD PRO co-champ Antonio Garcia made his stance on that win discussion very clear, “It’s time to win.” Garcia and teammate Alexander Sims were the aforementioned second to Multimatic’s Seb Priaulx and Mike Rockenfeller (neither here this year) in last year’s race. The search for victory doesn’t damper Antonio’s enthusiasm for the weekend. “We are looking forward to getting back there,” Garcia says. “I’m sure we will be fighting for the win. That’s the target for sure.”

Pressure and Distractions

With this being such a big race for both teams, you would think there would be more on the line. Consider the added pressure and more potential for off-track distractions. Both drivers, however, says that’s not the case. “I don’t think it brings more attention,” says Garcia. “Sure, all the big guys from all the companies are there. You see some people that usually don’t come to races. All the Pratt Miller personnel usually come.”

Vervisch echoes Garcia’s sentiments, “Like any race, you always have pressure. You want to do well. There will be other high members of the Ford family present. When you fail, you may be more ashamed. You just want to do good for them. When (the executives) are there, you can really talk with them. They are sitting next to you with a radio communicating with you. So yeah, it may be more important than I would think to be important…because I approach every race the same.”

An Aussie Interlude

Beyond the main headline of Ford vs Corvette, the biggest headline will come from Lexus. Vasser Sullivan will bring their second Lexus to play in Detroit with a special guest to fill the seat. Defending Supercars champ Chaz Mostert will team up with Aaron Telitz, the team’s GTD Gold-level driver, in the No. 15 Lexus for Saturday. Mostert will be feeling particularly good coming into Detroit after scoring his first win of the season in Supercars last weekend. Additionally, Mostert scored a second-place finish in January’s Rolex 24. An impressive outing this weekend may open doors for more Toyota sportscar outings stateside in the near future (there’s no clash for Petit Le Mans…just saying).

German Disruption

Meanwhile, BMW and Porsche are just fine being out of the limelight this weekend. They will use the attention being placed on Corvette and Ford to keep their heads down to see if they can steal the main headline.

AO Racing did just that in 2024 with Laurin Heinrich and Seb Priaulx. Rexy has to be feeling pretty good after Harry King and Nick Tandy scored a second straight podium at Laguna. Their third-place finish bolsters them up to third in GTD PRO driver points.

Contrarily, BMW seem to be heading in the wrong direction. Despite the awesome throwback paint, Laguna Seca was a race to forget with Connor De Philippi and Neil Verhagen only managing eighth. The finish, combined with the consistency of Milner and Catsburg, knocked the Paul Miller Racing duo off the top of the driver points standings. Unfortunately, history will tell us Detroit has not been a happy hunting ground for BMW. Fifth in 2024 is the best the brand has done on the new downtown course. A strong Detroit weekend will be necessary to keep their championship ambitions strong.

Building The Notebook

Last, but not least, let’s look at Pfaff and RLL.

Pfaff Motorsports took the new Temerario to Long Beach to get some street course running prior to Detroit. While the layouts are far from similar, there are tendencies that all street courses carry that will be of help to Pfaff. One element they will not be ready for is the elevation change. Detroit is not flat as the roads undulate, particularly on Atwater Street by the riverfront among other places. That will be a quirk to work around as the team figures out set up.

Pfaff experienced the high point of last season in Detroit with their only podium of the year. Also, the team did get a breakthrough top-5 finish at Laguna Seca. Another podium may be a longshot, but definitely not out of the question.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing are well-versed with Detroit running the BMW prototypes previously. This is their first foray with GT machinery at Detroit since the Belle Isle days. For McLaren, they ran at Detroit before. Unfortunately, that weekend was nothing to write about. Unlike Pfaff, RLL did not take the car to Long Beach so this will be their first opportunity racing with the car in street course conditions.

Nikita Johnson (also running Indy NXT this weekend) and Max Esterson are still waiting for their breakout performance, but the results are improving. Their seventh at Laguna was the best of the young season so far. As these youngsters continue to develop their sportscar prowess to match the experience of their team, surely results will continue to improve, and we will see this group contending. Will they do so in Detroit? Wisdom says probably not, but then again, you never know in IMSA.

BoP Update

Finally, let’s discuss what IMSA has for GTD PRO in terms of balance of performance. With the exceptions of Lexus and Lamborghini, everyone will receive weight increases. The biggest will be handed to Porsche and Ford with 11kg each. Corvette is right behind with a 10kg increase.

Moving to power stages, Ford will get max power in Stage 1 while Lexus and Lamborghini will be pegged back. While the RC F GT3 will only see a 0.5% decrease in Stage 1, Lamborghini will have a 2.7% decrease in power. Porsche has the biggest decrease in Stage 1 power, down 4.5%. In stage 2, Porsche gets some power back with a 1.8% increase while Ford (+2%) and McLaren (+2.3%) also gets an increase. Other manufacturers will see decrease in power for stage 2 with Lexus (-4.2%) and BMW (-4.6%) the biggest losers.

Concluding with stint energy, Lamborghini (-5 MJ) and Lexus (-6 MJ) will see decreases while the rest of the manufacturers will see increase. Topping the list of increases is BMW with +11 MJ.

Winning Time: Race Predictions

MB: I believe Ford can do it again in their backyard, just like last year. The new Evo package on the Mustang certainly seems to have improved the car. And with victory at Laguna Seca, it now has proven it can win. Chris Mies and Fred Vervisch go back-to-back in No. 65.

DS: Lexus has already proven this season that its RC F GT3 package performs well on street courses following their win at Long Beach in April. That momentum could carry into Detroit with the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan entry of Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat. This pairing has been consistent among the top GTD PRO contenders. With Detroit placing a premium on track position and clean execution, the Lexus squad should once again be a threat for class victory…and convert.

DL: Break out the brooms because GM is going to get a Saturday sweep. As fast as these Corvettes have been the last two years in Detroit, I just cannot see them getting denied a third time. Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports are off to another consistent start, particularly with the No. 4 crew. But as I mentioned earlier, the few wins will be a sore spot. What a better way to get the first win of the season. They are in the shadow of GM Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center. PMM’s base is in nearby New Hudson. Last but not least, the numerology of 4-3-2 has to lead to 1. Give me the No. 4 as Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg break the winless drought in a true home race.