Random Vandals' WeatherTech Debut No Longer Planned For 2026

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In a reversal from what was previously reported a few months ago, the Random Vandals Racing team will in fact not enter the IMSA WeatherTech Championship series in 2026.

SportsCar365.com reported that Vandals team president Paul Sparta has reversed course on his previous ambitions to enter into the GTD Pro class in 2026, while adding that a single-car entry to the Michelin Pilot Challenge is the new focus for a team coming off multiple titles in the 2025 SRO season to the tune of a Pro championship in GT World Challenge America and dual titles in Pirelli GT4 America.

Sparta added that the the potential entry into the Michelin Pilot Challenge series with a BMW M4 GT4 could come quite late on in the season, so late in fact that they're currently targeting the season-finale at Petit Le Mans next October.

The Vandals will continue their presence in the SRO ranks in 2026 so they aren't going anyplace that we won't be able to see them compete. They came on in a huge way as Kenton Koch and Connor De Phillippi torched the GTWCA field with five wins and six total podium finishes, while their GT4 division was equally as successful in a dual-car, dual-championship effort in the Silver and Pro-Am classes.

Their story is one that will still likely carry them into the top ranks of sportscar racing in North America, it might just take a bit more time to do so, which is totally fine all on fronts. With the competition growing more formidable and space on the IMSA grid being filled by top organizations, it makes sense for a team like the Vandals to put a pause on their future plans in order to get their affairs totally in line before making the next step up the pole. The team clearly has the ability to perform at a high level, and they have a stellar social media presence with Gizmo the Trash Panda - check them out if you haven't already yet.

Long Live the Trash Panda! 



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