The 2024 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR will be a sports car race held at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, on August 25, 2024. It will be the ninth round of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship.
International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) president John Doonan confirmed the race was part of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in August 2023.[1] It will be the eleventh consecutive year the IMSA SCC hosts a race at Virginia International Raceway. The 2024 IMSA SportsCar Weekend will be the ninth of eleven scheduled sports car races of 2024 by IMSA.[2] The race will be held at the seventeen-turn 3.27miles Virginia International Raceway on August 25, 2024.[2]
Ahead of the event, IMSA published a bulletin regarding the latest balance of performance (BoP) changes in the GTD Pro and GTD classes.[3] The Acura has been given a 1-liter increase in fuel capacity to accommodate the 11.5 horsepower gained across all power levels. Additionally, the Lamborghini will see an increase in weight of 15 kilograms. This is countered, however, by an increase of 5.3 horsepower across all power levels, and a 2-liter fuel capacity increase. Finally, the Ferrari will see an increase of 10 kilograms in weight, with no adjustments to the power level.[3]
Preceding the event, Laurin Heinrich leads the GTD Pro Drivers' Championship with 2256 points, 76 points ahead of second-placed Ross Gunn. Ben Barnicoat and Jack Hawksworth sit in third place, a further 97 points behind.[4] The GTD Drivers' Championship is currently led by Philip Ellis and Russell Ward with 2396 points. They have a lead of 268 points over second-placed Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher. Parker Thompson sits in third, 526 points behind Ellis and Ward.[4] The Manufacturers' Championships are led by Porsche and Mercedes-AMG, respectively, whilst AO Racing and Winward Racing lead the Teams' Championships.[4]
The entry list was revealed on August 14, 2024, and features 23 entries: 9 entries in GTD Pro, and 14 entries in GTD.[5] Klaus Bachler will replace Julien Andlauer in the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche, to race alongside Laurin Heinrich. Furthermore, Kyle Marcelli will re-join Danny Formal in the No. 45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Lamborghini, after missing the previous round due to an arm-related injury.[6] Both the No. 023 Triarsi Competizione and No. 35 Conquest Racing Ferrari's will not appear at the start after one-off appearances at Road America.[7]
Giammarco Levorato
Frederik Schandorff
Kerong Li