The Endurance Challenge will make its debut in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge at the legendary Sebring airfield circuit.
Premiere in Sebring: the traditional circuit will host the first race of the IMSA Airbnb Endurance Challenge, the endurance classification of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. GEBHARDT Motorsport from Sinsheim will compete with two Duqueine D08 on the traditional circuit in Florida.
The circuit, located on a former military airfield, hosts one of the world's most important endurance races, the 12-hour race in March. In 1989, the German racing team finished fourth in the race with a Porsche 962 driven by Giampiero Moretti, Massimo Sigala, Michael Roe and Derek Bell. Now the team is returning to Sebring for the Endurance Challenge debut.
Valentino Catalano, who won the Prototype Cup Germany championship with the Gebhardt team in 2024 and the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge drivers' and team titles in 2025, will be joining the team for the four two-hour races. Catalano will be supporting Oscar Tunjo in the #1 car.
"I am really looking forward to competing again with GEBHARDT Motorsport in America. At the same time, I am very grateful for the opportunity and the trust that the entire team has placed in me. GEBHARDT Motorsport has become like a family to me; we are a well-coordinated team. I also know that my teammate Oscar Tunjo and I work extremely well together and complement each other perfectly. This is now my third season with GEBHARDT Motorsport. In the first two years, we won a title together, so the goal is clear: to win a third title in a row and my second in America," said Valentino Catalano, full of anticipation.
Danny Soufi will compete alongside Jake Williamson in the sister car. Williamson most recently competed in Radical racing and will compete with last year's Prototype Cup Germany champion. As Williamson has been classified as a bronze driver by the FIA, the car will also compete in the Bronze Cup.
The driving time for each driver within the 120-minute race is a minimum of 40 minutes and a maximum of 80 minutes. There is also a minimum pit stop time of 2.5 minutes. The pit stop time is calculated from the moment the car enters the pits until it leaves, and applies every time the car enters the pit lane during the race to refuel, change a complete set of tyres or change drivers. Teams are not allowed to refuel and change tyres at the same time during a pit stop.
"We fondly remember our participation in the 12 Hours of Sebring, so we are all the more delighted that the debut of the new Endurance Challenge will take place there", explains team owner Fritz Gebhardt. "With its concrete, the course is an absolute test for man and machine and is one of the toughest tracks in the world of motorsport. With Oscar and Valentino, we have an excellent driver duo with whom we want to attack the overall victory and title win. With our sister car, we want to have a significant say in the Bronze Cup, but still achieve the best possible position in the overall standings."
After two 50-minute practice sessions and a 15-minute qualifying session, the two-hour race will start on Sunday at 15:55 German time. The race can be watched in full worldwide on the IMSA YouTube channel.
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)
