Opening races of the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge done at Daytona

 

 

IMSA also started off their 2026 season this weekend with the opening two races of an extended ten round season for their VP Racing Sportscar Challenge Series at their Roar before the 24-hour test weekend at the Daytona International Speedway.

Double dutying their GT4 commitments this weekend within both this and the Michelin Pilot Challenge Series test saw Mike Fitzpatrick take to the track for these opening two forty-five-minute races within his own #89 89X Motorsport Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4.

Still something of a raw recruit within the IMSA programme, Fitzpatrick qualified for both races towards the rear of the relatively small twenty-two LMP3 and GT4 grid for each race with Saturdays race being run under clear blue skies and sunshine whilst todays was in more difficult wet conditions.

 

 

With the exception of a couple of spins, the opening race ran caution free for Fitzpatrick to record a P10 finish in class – up one from his starting position.

Race two was a totally different affair with the race starting behind the Safety Car for multiple siting laps before a usual start five minutes in as heavy rain continued to fall around the infamous banked and infield circuit. Despite the tricky conditions, the first Full Course Safety came just ten minutes from the end as an LMP3 spun off into the tyre wall which made for a last lap dash to the flag however, the #89 car had pulled into pit lane just before this incident to be the only retiree of the race.

Photo credits – 89X Motorsport