The Texas 8 Hour will make its debut at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) from 7–9 May 2027, marking a significant change for GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS and the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC). The eight-hour endurance race will move from Indianapolis Motor Speedway to Austin, Texas, bringing international GT3 competition to a new venue.
The event will serve as the second round of both championships, introducing an important change to the calendar after several seasons in which the Indianapolis 8 Hour determined the championship titles. Furthermore, the relocation will bring SRO America’s flagship endurance race to a circuit that already holds a prominent position on its racing calendar.
With leading international manufacturers, experienced endurance racing teams and an extensive supporting programme, the inaugural Texas 8 Hour will introduce a new challenge for competitors and spectators alike.
Texas 8 Hour brings international GT3 competition to COTA
SRO America will welcome the Intercontinental GT Challenge to Circuit of The Americas for the first time in 2027, with the Texas 8 Hour forming a key part of the championship’s revised calendar.
The race will bring together competitors from GTWC America and the IGTC, creating opportunities for North American teams to compete directly against established international GT3 operations.
Furthermore, the event will represent the only eight-hour race on the 2027 GTWC America calendar. The championship will retain the three-hour format it introduced in 2026 for its remaining rounds.
The 2027 GTWC America calendar features seven events, beginning at Sonoma Raceway from 2–4 April before moving to Austin for the Texas 8 Hour.
Crucially, the new date changes the championship significance of the eight-hour contest. Previously, the Indianapolis 8 Hour concluded the season, with double points adding further pressure to the championship-deciding race.
However, the Texas 8 Hour will now take place during the opening stages of both championships. Consequently, teams will have an opportunity to secure valuable points early in their campaigns rather than face the demands of an eight-hour title decider at the end of the season.
The event will also become the second round of the 2027 Intercontinental GT Challenge, following the Bathurst 12 Hour in February. The championship will subsequently travel to the Nürburgring 24 Hours, CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa and Suzuka 1000km.
As a result, the Texas 8 Hour will form an important part of the five-round global endurance racing championship.
Circuit of The Americas presents a demanding endurance racing challenge
The move to Circuit of The Americas introduces a different challenge for teams that previously competed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Located near Austin, the 5.513-kilometre circuit features 20 corners, significant elevation changes and a combination of high-speed and technical sections.
In particular, the steep climb towards Turn 1 provides one of the circuit’s most distinctive features. Drivers must negotiate the uphill braking zone before entering the fast, flowing sequence of corners that follows.
Meanwhile, the circuit’s long straights and heavy braking zones create several overtaking opportunities, adding further complexity when competitors navigate traffic during an extended endurance race.
Across eight hours, teams will need to balance outright pace with tyre management, fuel strategy and reliable pit-stop execution. Furthermore, the changing track conditions between daylight and darkness will create another consideration for drivers and engineers.
COTA’s layout will therefore demand a different approach from the teams that previously contested the Indianapolis 8 Hour.
The venue also offers extensive spectator facilities, including grandstands overlooking the main straight, the Turn 1 Clubhouse and the GT Drivers Club near the pit lane.
These locations provide several opportunities to follow the racing from different sections of the circuit throughout the weekend.
From Laguna Seca to Indianapolis: The event’s endurance racing history
The Texas 8 Hour represents the latest chapter in an event that has developed into an established fixture on the international GT3 calendar.
The race originally began as the California 8 Hours at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2017. The event introduced a major international GT3 endurance contest to North America as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Following three editions in California, SRO Motorsports Group moved the race to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2020.
The Indianapolis 8 Hour subsequently became a significant fixture on the American GT racing calendar, attracting professional teams, factory-supported drivers and international manufacturers.
Over the following seasons, the event continued to develop its reputation while combining the GTWC America field with competitors pursuing the global IGTC championship.
Most recently, the 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour produced a historic overall victory for GMG Racing, with Kyle Washington, Riccardo Pera and Ayhancan Güven securing the win in their Porsche 911 GT3 R.
The result marked the first time a Pro-Am entry claimed overall victory in the race, while Maxime Martin secured the IGTC Drivers’ Championship and Porsche claimed the Manufacturers’ title.
With that result, Indianapolis concluded its tenure as host of the championship’s eight-hour flagship event.
Nevertheless, Indianapolis Motor Speedway will remain on the GTWC America calendar in 2027, hosting the season finale from 1–3 October. Instead of the traditional eight-hour contest, the championship will conclude with a three-hour race.
The Texas 8 Hour will therefore continue the event’s North American history while establishing a new home for international endurance racing.
New calendar position changes championship dynamics
Beyond the change of venue, the Texas 8 Hour’s position on the calendar could significantly influence how teams approach the 2027 season.
Under the previous format, the Indianapolis 8 Hour regularly brought championship battles to their conclusion. Teams entered the event knowing that a strong performance could secure a title, while mechanical problems or strategic errors could undo an entire season’s work.
The 2027 arrangement introduces a different competitive scenario.
GTWC America teams will complete their opening round at Sonoma before travelling to Austin for their longest race of the year. Meanwhile, IGTC competitors will arrive after beginning their international campaigns at Bathurst.
Consequently, the Texas 8 Hour will provide an early indication of the competitive order across both championships.
Teams that perform strongly could establish an important advantage before the European endurance events, while those that encounter difficulties will retain opportunities to recover throughout the remainder of the season.
The revised schedule also separates GTWC America’s longest race from its final championship round, reducing the direct influence of a single endurance contest on the season’s conclusion.
SRO America plans extensive supporting programme for fans
In addition to the eight-hour endurance race, SRO America plans to bring its wider championship programme to Austin for the event.
The weekend will feature five racing series, allowing spectators to experience several categories of motorsport alongside the headline GT3 contest.
Furthermore, the event will provide opportunities for fans to explore the paddock, meet drivers and see the competing cars at close range.
COTA has also confirmed plans for driver autograph sessions, a dedicated Fan Zone and activities involving high-performance road cars and supercars.
The circuit’s spectator facilities will allow visitors to experience different aspects of the event throughout the weekend, from the start of the endurance race to its conclusion.
Beyond the circuit, Austin offers an established destination for international visitors, with its live music venues, restaurants and entertainment options providing additional attractions for travelling motorsport fans.
SRO America aims to combine these opportunities with the competitive appeal of international GT3 racing as the championship establishes its new flagship event.
Tickets for the inaugural Texas 8 Hour are already available through the official event ticketing platform.
Texas 8 Hour prepares for inaugural edition in May 2027
The move to Circuit of The Americas represents one of the most significant changes to SRO America’s 2027 calendar.
After establishing its American endurance racing event at Laguna Seca and subsequently Indianapolis, the organisation will begin another chapter in Austin.
The Texas 8 Hour will maintain the international competition that has defined the event while introducing a different circuit and an earlier championship date.
Furthermore, its position as the second round of both GTWC America and the Intercontinental GT Challenge will give teams an important opportunity to build momentum during the opening stages of the season.
With the inaugural edition scheduled for 7–9 May 2027, Circuit of The Americas will prepare to welcome international GT3 teams and drivers for eight hours of endurance racing in the heart of Texas.
