Indy Autonomous Challenge Returns with Head-to-Head Racing During Grand Prix of Monterey Weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

IAC will run a passing competition with the world’s fastest autonomous racecars to kick off the NTT INDYCAR SERIES weekend at the legendary raceway

Monterey, California — (July 29, 2026) — Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) will once again kick-off the Grand Prix of Monterey Weekend with an autonomous race held on the famed WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Thursday, September 3, 2026. Following its history-making debut in 2025, IAC will return with autonomous racecars competing head-to-head on one of the world’s most technically demanding road courses

The race event will include IAC’s signature autonomous passing competition adapted to a road course for the first time. Nine university teams from North America, Europe, and Asia will compete with their AI driver software piloting IAC’s AV-24 world’s fastest autonomous racecars. IAC has held six passing competitions since 2022, but always on oval tracks, including the historic Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The passing competition format requires two autonomous racecars to alternate between attacking and defending roles across progressively more demanding performance rounds, culminating in high-speed overtaking maneuvers that can reach the limit of the racecars. Introducing road course passing competitions represents the next stage in IAC’s progression of complex multi-vehicle racing. By requiring AI drivers to make tactical decisions and safely execute passing maneuvers in a dynamic road-course environment, IAC continues to advance technologies relevant to autonomous mobility, robotics and real-world physical AI systems.

“Last year, our university teams made history by proving that autonomous racecars could master WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world’s most technical circuits,” said Paul Mitchell, CEO of the Indy Autonomous Challenge and its parent company, Aidoptation BV. “This year, we are raising the bar by bringing our passing competition to a road course for the first time. Our teams’ AI drivers must understand, anticipate, and interact with another vehicle while operating at the limits of performance. More than a race, this competition is a proving ground for our ultimate goal of safe high-speed autonomous driving”

“Adapting the competition to a road course introduces a substantially more complex challenge,” said Janam Sanghavi, Technical Lead of IAC. “Unlike an oval, Laguna Seca requires the AI drivers to account for changing corner geometries, braking zones, limited sightlines, elevation transitions and rapidly varying vehicle dynamics, while simultaneously predicting and responding to the behavior of another autonomous racecar.”

“WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has always been a place where history is made, and the return of the Indy Autonomous Challenge is another example of our role in shaping the future of motorsport," said Mel Harder, President and General Manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. "The Corkscrew, dramatic elevation changes and technical nature of our circuit create one of the toughest tests in racing. Seeing autonomous racecars progress from mastering the course to executing strategic passing maneuvers demonstrates just how rapidly this technology is advancing, and we're excited to once again serve as the stage for that progress.

Nine IAC university teams will participate in the IAC race during the Grand Prix of Monterey weekend, including:

  • AI Racing Tech - University of California, Berkeley (California), with University of Hawai'i (Hawai’i), University of California, San Diego (California), Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania)

  • Autonomous Tiger Racing - Auburn University (Alabama)

  • CAST Racer - California Institute of Technology (California)

  • Cavalier Autonomous Racing - University of Virginia (Virginia)

  • IU Luddy - Indiana University (Indiana)

  • KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (South Korea)

  • PoliMOVE-MSU - Politecnico di Milano (Italy), Michigan State University (Michigan), University of Alabama (Alabama)

  • Purdue AI Racing - Purdue University (Indiana)

  • UNIMORE Racing - University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy)

Companies, governments, universities, and non-profits interested in participating in the Indy Autonomous Challenge event at Laguna Seca can contact info@indyautonomouschallenge.com.

About Indy Autonomous Challenge

Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) is dedicated to advancing autonomous technologies through high-speed racing. IAC engineers and constructs the IAC AV-24 racecar and organizes competitions among 10 university-affiliated teams from around the world, challenging them to program AI drivers to pilot the fully autonomous racecars. IAC aims to create a platform for the development and real-world validation of physical AI systems, driving innovation in the safety and performance of autonomous vehicles. Founded in 2019, IAC has been based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. In February 2025, IAC established a commercial spin-out company, Aidoptation BV, headquartered at Droneport in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Aidoptation seeks to transition the learnings and technology of IAC’s autonomous racing program to advance safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways.

Follow IAC on social media for updates and highlights:

About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned motorsport facility located in Monterey, California operated and managed by Friends of Laguna Seca, a 501c(3) non-profit. Nestled among scenic hills, it has a rich history of hosting premier racing events, making it a favorite destination for motorsport enthusiasts from around the world. The raceway features challenging turns and elevation changes including the world-famous Corkscrew, providing a thrilling experience for both drivers and fans. Friends of Laguna Seca is committed to delivering top-tier racing and entertainment experiences year after year. Find out how you can get involved at FriendsOfLagunaSeca.org.

Contacts

Indy Autonomous Challenge Media Contact:
Emma Salvadori - emma.salvadori@aidoptation.com