Start to 19th season of program closing in with February opening weekend at K1 CircuitNAMPA, ID (December 3, 2025) – Less than 80 days before the 19th season for Challenge of the Americas program debuts in southern California. What began in that region back in 2008, the Challenge continues to be one of the longest tenured championship series in North America, reinventing itself with the ever-changing landscape that is the sport of karting.
One of the first steps toward the 2026 season for Challenge of the Americas is the number reservation process for competitors. The Challenge is once again working with Race Select for registration and utilizing their Race Select Live timing app during race weekends. This season we are allowing VIP access for our 2025 racers. Returning competitors from 2025 get a week’s head start on securing their 2026 identity. By scanning the QR or heading to the Challenge Race Select Page VIPs can select their class and reserve their 2026 Challenge racing number for $50. Those racers renewing their numbers for the 2026 will have until December 10 to complete the process. Once that period is completed, remaining numbers in all categories will become available for purchase and registration will open the week after that.
The 2026 Challenge of the Americas will feature a second season of four race weekends, expanding the championship to a best seven of eight rounds of competition. The 19th season begins at the new K1 Circuit in southern California. It will be the second time the Challenge has visited the Winchester, California facility making its first visit in 2025. The second event of the 2026 season marks a return to the Phoenix Kart Racing Association facility. The last time the Challenge visited Glendale, Arizona circuit was in 2023, having hosted events 13 previous times before returning in 2026. The Challenge adds a new track to its list, visiting the Colorado Karting Circuit at Centennial Airport for the third stop in 2026. It is the site of the official announcement for the Challenge back in 2007 as part of the US Rotax Grand Nationals event. The series finale returns to the Sonoma Raceway, hosting the fourth event of the 2026 season. The northern California facility has been on the Challenge schedule 14 previous times.
A shift in class structure is also occurring for the 2026 Challenge of the Americas program. Announced during the eKartingNews.com Face2Face interview in October 15 with series promoter Andy Seesemann, the Challenge is bringing on four Briggs & Stratton 206 categories for the full championship program. A category for Senior, Junior, Masters and Cadet will compliment the 2-cycle categories to provide eight divisions racing for championship glory. The two shifter categories from 2025 were removed for the upcoming season.
All eight categories for the 2026 Challenge will compete on the Shinko Kart Racing Tires. The four Briggs & Stratton 206 divisions along with 60cc Cadet will be on the Shinko SHS63 (Green) compound while the 100cc Senior, Junior and Masters classes utilize the Shinko CIK Prime (Yellow) tires.
February 20-22: K1 Circuit – Winchester, California
April 17-19: Phoenix Kart Racing Association – Glendale, Arizona
May 29-31, 2026: Colorado Karting Circuit at Centennial Airport – Centennial, Colorado
July 10-12, 2026: Sonoma Raceway – Sonoma, California
100cc Senior
100cc Junior
100cc Masters
60cc Cadet
Briggs Senior
Briggs Junior
Briggs Masters
Briggs Cadet
