New for 2024: IndyCar’s $1m showdown

The Thermal Club, Thermal, California, March 22-24

IndyCar has decided to mix things up for 2024 with the arrival of the series’ first ever non-points-scoring racing exhibition. But if you haven’t heard of the venue chosen for the $1m showdown you wouldn’t be the only one.

The Thermal Club is one of the more unique racing venues in the US, with the private facility featuring a mini mecca of motor sports just outside Palm Springs. The resort features several circuits and even villas for those members who can afford a track-side residence.

The 17-turn circuit features elevation changes and long sweeping bends meant to replicate some of the great American circuits and even the prospect of one day hosting Formula 1 was considered during the track’s design.

The event will also showcase a new format for IndyCar, with a qualifying session being followed by two heat races, with the top-six finishers from both advancing to an all-star showdown for that big bucks prize. On-track action is the priority with the shorter sprint-style races hoping to provide plenty of excitement to those who have paid for the eye-wateringly pricey tickets – £1600 (with £60 on top for the processing fee).

Positioned shortly after the opening race of the season in St Petersburg, there have been concerns that teams will be unwilling to push and risk damage for a non-championship event so early in the season but the two-time IndyCar champ Josef Newgarden downplayed these fears: “I think that’s a little bit irrelevant. At Thermal you can push the car to the limit. It is our job to do that and try and find performance and win a race. Accidents happen, too. If we get into an accident, we’ll work with it going into the next race.”

The prospect of a new circuit, format and giant cash prize will surely draw in the viewers and IndyCar will be hoping to replicate the levels of success and action seen at NASCAR’s similarly non-championship round at the now fan-favourite LA Coliseum.

---

 

MotoGP – Portugal Grand Prix

Algarve International Circuit, Portimão, Portugal, March 22-24
The always popular Portimão circuit returns to host the second round of the 2024 MotoGP season. Algarve provided plenty of drama for the season opener last year with a dramatic lap-one pile-up, and with plenty of changes in the rider line-up for this season, more two-wheeled excitement is guaranteed.

 

British GT – Oulton Park

Oulton Park, Cheshire, March 29-April 1
The 2024 British GT season begins with rounds one and two of the championship at the Cheshire circuit. 2 Seas Motorsport and their Mercedes-AMG dominated last season but the BMW-powered Century Motorsport along with the Lamborghinis of Barwell Motorsport will put up a tough fight.

 

Formula e – Tokyo ePrix

Tokyo Street Circuit, Japan, March 30
The electric series makes its debut in the Land of the Rising Sun as season 10 of Formula E powers on. Jake Dennis will be defending his title at Andretti but Jaguar’s strong line-up and Porsche’s first-round winner Pascal Wehrlein will be looking to spoil the party.

 

WRC – Safari Rally Kenya

Great Rift Valley, Kenya, March 28-31
The Safari Rally is one of the most gruelling tests in motor sport but this year’s may be even more rigorous. A move back to the traditional date of Easter weekend means the round coincides with the local rainy season.

 

European Le mans – Barcelona 4 Hours

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló, Spain, April 11-14
It’s an exciting time for ELMS, with the anticipation of a new season being raised by the arrival of 2023 F2 runner-up Frederik Vesti to the grid. The young talent’s first taste of endurance racing will luckily be at a circuit familiar to the Danish driver – Catalunya.

 

More Events

Mar 15-16 Formula E – São Paulo ePrix
Mar 22-24 World Superbike – Catalunya
Apr 5-7 Formula 1 – Japanese Grand Prix