IMSA: 2018 television schedule with Fox Sports announced

IMSA and Fox Sports unveiled their 2018 television schedule for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, including two races on FOX.

Fox Sports has provided great exposure for a wide variety of motorsports over the years, dating back to their purchase of the Speed TV network. Now, with FS1 and FS2, these sports networks provide even more exposure for series like supercross, drag racing, and IMSA sports car racing. That will continue in 2018, with IMSA once again partnering with Fox Sports to broadcast the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in its entirety.

In their release, IMSA and Fox Sports confirmed races will air across FOX, FS1, and FS2 in the coming year. All races will also be streamed live on Fox Sports Go, which is accessible from mobile devices through authentication with your cable provider. Two races will be broadcast at least in part on FOX, while FS1 gets eight races, and FS2 will carry seven races. Four races during the season – Daytona, Sebring, VIR, and Road Atlanta – will be split across multiple networks.

The highlights of the schedule include FOX covering the first three hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, as well as the entirety of the BUBBA Burger Grand Prix from Long Beach, California. FS1 will carry 6.5 hours out of the 24 hour-race at Daytona, while FS2 carries 5 hours and FSGO the remaining 10.5 hours. It is surprising, however, to not see the overnight hours carried on FS1 or FS2 as they have in the past, despite no live events to compete with during those hours on those networks.

More from Motorsports

Unlike the Rolex 24, only two hours of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will air on Fox Sports Go, while most of the race will be split between FS1 and FS2. Interestingly, the fall race at Virginia International Raceway will be split, with the first hour on FS1 and the final two hours on FS2. The season finale at Road Atlanta, the Petit Le Mans, will see most of the race on FS2. Just 1.5 hours of the race will air on the more widely distributed FS1.

Only one race in the 2018 season will not be shown live on Fox Sports, being the summer race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. It will air instead on tape delay on FS1 later the same day.

Here is the full 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship television schedule across the networks of Fox Sports, courtesy of Racer.com:

Date	Event/Venue	Channel	Times (All Times ET)
Jan. 27-28	Rolex 24 At Daytona	FOX	2–5 p.m. Sat.
		FS1	11 p.m. Sat.-1 a.m. Sun.; 8-10:30 a.m., 1-3 p.m. Sun.
		FS2	5–10 p.m. Sat.
		FSGO	10-11 p.m. Sat.; 1-8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun.

March 17	Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring	FS1	10:30–12:30 p.m.
		FS2	12:30-1:30 p.m.; 3:30-11 p.m.
		FSGO	1:30-3:30 p.m.

April 14	BUBBA burger Sports Car Grand Prix	FOX	4–6 p.m.
	Long Beach

May 6	Mid-Ohio	FS2	1– 4 p.m.

June 2	Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix	FS2	12:30–2:30 p.m.

July 1	Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen	FS1	9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

July 8	Canadian Tire Motorsport Park	FS1	4–7 p.m. (delayed)

July 21	Northeast Grand Prix, Lime Rock	FS2	3–6 p.m.

Aug. 5	Continental Tire Road Race Showcase	FS1	2:30–5:30 p.m.
	Road America

Aug. 19	Michelin GT Challenge at VIR	FS1	1–2 p.m.
	Virginia International Speedway	FS2	2-4 p.m.

Sept. 9	Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix Powered by Mazda	FS1	5 –8 p.m.
	Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Oct. 13	Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta	FS1	10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
		FS2	12–9:30 p.m.

Next: Top 5 most exciting racing support series

What races will you be tuning in to see from sports car racing? Will you be attending any of these IMSA events in person? Comment below with your viewing picks,

Home/Motorsports