GEBHARDT Motorsport will compete in the second race weekend of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
After a break of around six weeks, GEBHARDT Motorsport will continue in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge this coming weekend. The second race weekend will take place as part of the NASCAR Cup Series support programme on the short circuit of the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The Sinsheim-based racing team will compete with three Duqueine D08 LMP3 prototypes, driven by Oscar Tunjo, Danny Soufi and Swiss driver Jérémy Siffert.
Colombian Oscar Tunjo travels to Texas as the championship leader. At the season opener in Daytona, the 30-year-old, who is considered by many to be one of the world's best LMP3 drivers, won both races and also set a new LMP3 lap record. Tunjo is therefore in first place in the championship ahead of the second race weekend.
For Danny Soufi, the race weekend in Austin will be a special one. The 22-year-old, who won the Prototype Cup Germany title last year, hails from the capital of Texas. His Duqueine will be designed by PINAXIS – ZONE 4 Racing.
"I am overjoyed to be competing at COTA. It is very special to race on home soil, not only for me, but also for my family and friends who are watching and supporting me from afar. This season is the first in a long time that I am racing in America, and it will be my first time in a real race car at COTA. As you can imagine, I'm pretty excited to finally be back behind the wheel," said Soufi about racing on his home track. ‘I am grateful for the opportunity to drive for GEBHARDT/PINAXIS – ZONE 4 Racing this year. I really enjoyed my first weekend with GEBHARDT Motorsport at Daytona and hope we can carry that momentum forward and get a win at COTA.’
"In Austin, we are aiming for two more wins to cement our championship leads. Last year, we really liked the track and managed to secure a double victory, which makes us confident for this year. We have also been working hard since the season opener in Daytona and have been testing so that we will be even stronger in Austin. Over the winter, the level of performance in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge has increased and we cannot afford to make any mistakes," explains team owner Fritz Gebhardt.
The IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge will hold two 45-minute sprint races at the Circuit of the Americas. The two races will start on Saturday at 18:30 German time and on Sunday at 00:30 German time. Both races can be followed on the official IMSA livestream on YouTube.
IMSA VP SportsCar Challenge 2026 schedule:
16.01. – 19.01. – Daytona (Sprint)
27.02. – 28.02. – Circuit of the Americas Austin (Sprint)
06.03. – 08.03. – Sebring (Endurance)
07.05. – 09.05. – Circuit of the Americas Austin (Endurance)
05.06. – 07.06. – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Sprint)
19.06. – 21.06. – Virginia International Raceway (Endurance)
10.07. – 12.07. – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Sprint)
14.08. – 16.08. – Road America (Endurance)
01.10. – 03.10. – Road Atlanta (Sprint)
