Why Watkins Glen is the ultimate test of endurance for IMSA drivers

Let me tell you, there is something truly wild about the pace at Watkins Glen. With a pole speed hitting 133.685 mph in 2025, it sits right behind Daytona as the fastest track on the IMSA calendar. It is only 3.4 miles long, but those 11 corners and the infamous “Bus Stop” chicane demand an insane level of commitment. Drivers are not just battling each other; they are fighting the G-forces that punish the body for the entire six-hour duration.

Philipp Eng, who drives the No. 25 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8, puts it bluntly: it is the most physical race of the year. The constant high-speed loading wears you down, and as Ricky Taylor of the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R notes, it feels more like a six-hour sprint than an endurance event. There is no time to breathe when you are constantly pushing to the limit.

Even in the LMP2 class, where Dane Cameron drives the No. 99 AO Racing ORECA LMP2 07, the physical toll is massive. Cameron describes the neck strain as being on another level compared to other circuits, making you feel like an F1 driver for the weekend. Meanwhile, for the GTD entries like the No. 34 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO driven by Albert Costa, Lorenzo Patrese, and Fran Rueda, the stress is mental as much as physical, keeping a constant watch for faster prototypes weaving through traffic.

Thankfully, the calendar has allowed for a bit of recovery after the chaos of Le Mans. Nicky Catsburg, who leads the GTD PRO standings in the No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R alongside Tommy Milner, admits that the break is vital. After the sleepless madness of a 24-hour race, even the toughest drivers need a moment to catch their breath before facing the relentless speed of The Glen.