Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) has confirmed a revised five-event calendar for 2027, with Circuit of The Americas (COTA) replacing Indianapolis as the championship’s US venue.
The new Texas 8 Hour will take place on 7–8 May and will form part of the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS weekend. Meanwhile, the Suzuka 1000km will become a joint event with Super GT and move to the season-ending position in September.
The campaign will continue to visit five events across four continents. Bathurst, the Nürburgring and Spa will retain their existing places between February and June before Suzuka concludes the season on 3–5 September.
COTA replaces Indianapolis with new Texas 8 Hour in 2027
COTA will become the third US circuit to host an IGTC event after Laguna Seca and Indianapolis. Laguna Seca featured on the calendar from 2017 to 2019, while Indianapolis will stage its seventh and final IGTC eight-hour race in October 2026.
The championship will then move to Austin for the inaugural Texas 8 Hour. The event will begin around Saturday lunchtime on 8 May before concluding after darkness falls, following the format previously used at Indianapolis.
Furthermore, IGTC will share the weekend with GT World Challenge (GTWC) America. COTA already hosts one of that championship’s largest events, while the continued growth of the American GT3 grid should strengthen the new endurance race.
Circuit of The Americas Vice President of Motorsports Andy Soucek welcomed the opportunity to bring IGTC to Texas.
“Having competed in both the Intercontinental GT Challenge and GT World Challenge, I know firsthand the prestige and global significance of SRO competition. The IGTC brings together some of the most respected endurance races in the world and showcases the very best of GT3 racing.
“To see Circuit of The Americas join this championship is incredibly exciting. The Texas 8 Hour will establish COTA as the home of the only US round of the IGTC and provide a world-class platform for teams, manufacturers and fans from around the globe.”
The Texas event will sit between the Bathurst 12 Hour in February and the Nürburgring 24 Hours at the end of May.
Super GT joins forces with IGTC at Suzuka on 2027 calendar
IGTC will also introduce a significant change to the Suzuka 1000km after the event returned to the championship calendar in 2026. The 2027 race will count as both the IGTC season finale and a Super GT event. As a result, Super GT300 competitors will race alongside IGTC’s international and regional teams.
Super GT300 features FIA GT3 machinery alongside nationally homologated cars. Both groups will compete equally at Suzuka, replicating the multi-class format used during the 2018 and 2019 editions.
SRO and Suzuka owner Honda Mobilityland Corporation will continue to manage the event jointly. Meanwhile, Super GT will reveal further details after publishing its full 2027 calendar. GTA President and CEO Masaaki Bandoh believes the partnership will allow Super GT300 teams to showcase their strength against leading international opposition.
“We have great respect for the longstanding partnership we have built with SRO over many years, and we are delighted to take the next step together through the Suzuka 1000km. For Super GT and particularly the GT300 class, competing against top GT3 teams from around Japan, Asia and the rest of the world at Suzuka represents a tremendous opportunity to showcase the strength and appeal of our championship on the global stage.
“Suzuka 1000km has always been one of Japan’s most iconic motor racing events, and we believe this collaboration has the potential to further enhance its prestige while attracting more fans and competitors from around the world. We are very much looking forward to working closely with SRO, Honda Mobilityland and all stakeholders to make the 2027 Suzuka 1000km a truly memorable event.”
Different tyre suppliers create new BoP challenge
The joint event will also bring teams using different tyre suppliers into direct competition. Super GT300 entrants will use the championship’s new control tyre, which will become mandatory from the start of the 2027 season. However, Pirelli will continue to supply IGTC’s international and regional competitors.
SRO will assess both products through dedicated testing in Europe and Japan before applying the findings to the Suzuka Balance of Performance. The organisation already manages multi-tyre competition through its longstanding BoP agreement with Super GT. Therefore, the GT Bureau can draw on established experience when balancing the different packages.
The arrangement will allow Super GT300 teams to retain their championship tyre while competing directly against Pirelli-equipped IGTC entries.
Suzuka returns to its Super GT endurance roots
The 2027 event will mark Super GT’s first appearance in the Suzuka Summer Endurance Race for a decade.
The race became one of the championship’s leading events between 2006 and 2017. Before that period, it formed part of series including the FIA GT Championship, BPR Global GT Series, FIA World Sportscar Championship and All-Japan Endurance Championship. The event will celebrate its 50th edition in 2026 before entering a new era through the Super GT partnership one year later.
SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO Stéphane Ratel believes the agreement can increase both the grid size and spectator interest.
“Nothing can top Indianapolis in terms of history, and we’ve had a wonderful six years with them. COTA is comfortably GT World Challenge America’s biggest event but also a modern-classic venue loved by drivers and teams, so it makes perfect sense for the 8 Hour to find a new home there. The recent growth of America’s GT3 grid makes this a very exciting addition to the Intercontinental schedule.
“Suzuka is also evolving into a race that will truly feature the best of Japan and the rest of the world, just like the 1000km has been in the past. It remains one of Japan’s most historically significant motor races but still has room to grow, especially in terms of spectator attendance, which is now possible thanks to Super GT’s involvement. Joining forces also provides an opportunity to push the combined entry towards 50 cars.”
A potential 50-car entry would bring leading Japanese teams together with manufacturers and competitors from the wider international GT3 landscape.
Bathurst, Nürburgring and Spa retain their places on 2026 IGTC Calendar
Despite the changes in America and Japan, IGTC will keep its three established early-season events unchanged, as listed on the 2027 calendar.
The Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour will open the campaign from 11–14 February, subject to agreement. The championship will then travel to COTA in early May.
The ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring follows from 27–30 May, while the 24 Hours of Spa retains its traditional late-June date.
After a two-month break, Suzuka will close the season in early September. Consequently, the revised calendar will run across seven months rather than extending later into the year through Indianapolis.
2027 IGTC calendar
- Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour — Australia: 11–14 February*
- Texas 8 Hour — United States: 7–8 May
- ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring — Germany: 27–30 May
- 24 Hours of Spa — Belgium: 23–27 June
- Suzuka 1000km — Japan: 3–5 September
*Subject to agreement.
The revised 2027 IGTC calendar retains the global five-round structure while introducing major changes at both ends of the championship. COTA will begin a new chapter for the US leg, while the partnership with Super GT will give Suzuka a broader grid and a prominent season-finale role.
