iRacing is teaming up with IMSA for one of the season’s best-looking special events: the IMSA Classic 500 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Vintage IMSA machinery, a proper circuit, and a direct tie-in to IMSA’s own throwback weekend in the real world. If that combination doesn’t get your attention, nothing will.
Here’s everything you need to know about the IMSA Classic 500.
What Is the IMSA Classic 500?
Specifically, the IMSA Classic 500 is a co-promoted special event between iRacing and IMSA, set at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Additionally, it’s directly tied to the real-world IMSA Throwback Weekend at Laguna Seca running May 1 to 3, 2026, making this one of the more meaningful sim-to-real crossovers iRacing has put together in recent years.
Furthermore, IMSA is actively involved in promoting the event and will cross-promote the broadcast on their own channels, giving it visibility well beyond the iRacing ecosystem.
The Cars
This is a vintage event. The car list is the headline. Consequently, drivers will race the Nissan GTP ZX-T and the Audi 90 Quattro GTO, two of the most iconic machines from the golden era of IMSA racing. Specifically, the Nissan GTP ZX-T was the dominant force in IMSA GTP through the late 1980s. Meanwhile, the Audi 90 Quattro GTO brought turbocharged quattro all-wheel-drive power to the same grid. As a result, putting both on Laguna Seca is a strong combination.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Laguna Seca is one of the most celebrated circuits in North American motorsport. Eleven corners, 2.238 miles. The Corkscrew: the double-apex downhill chicane at turns 8 and 8A that drops nearly 60 feet and is one of the most demanding sequences in sim racing.
Add vintage prototypes and GT cars at speed here and you’ve got a race that rewards both technical precision and genuine commitment. Because of this, Laguna Seca suits the event’s vintage character extremely well.
The IMSA Partnership
The co-promotion with IMSA gives this event a different weight to a standard iRacing special event. Additionally, IMSA will help promote the event in the lead-up to race day and will cross-promote the broadcast on their own channels. Greg West of DevTrackIR confirmed the partnership details directly in the iRacing Special Events forum. Furthermore, the real-world Throwback Weekend tie-in gives the event a live motorsport context most specials don’t have.
Community Reception
Notably, the event has generated real discussion in the forum, running to four pages with some pushback on changes to the event format. Greg West addressed community concerns directly, reassuring drivers that iRacing’s commitment to vintage content is genuine and that nothing has changed about the program’s direction. That kind of direct staff engagement matters. The event has IMSA’s backing, active communication from the team, and an exciting car and track combination to put in front of drivers.
How to Sign Up
Registration details are available at the iRacing Special Events page. Registration dates and the full session schedule will be confirmed and added to this article before publishing.
Why You Should Race It
Vintage IMSA machinery. Laguna Seca. A direct tie-in to IMSA’s own throwback weekend on the same circuit. This is exactly the kind of special event that makes iRacing worth having: something with history behind it, real-world context, and cars that reward genuine craft. Whether you’re a vintage racing enthusiast, a Laguna Seca regular, or just looking for something different from the weekly grind, the IMSA Classic 500 deserves a spot in your calendar.
