Indianapolis 8 Hour Testing Highlights Competitive Field
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Testing for the Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS commenced today, drawing a competitive mix of established GT World Challenge America teams and notable “wild card” entrants.
Team WRT aims for its third consecutive overall victory, fielding two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs, including the #777 Al Manar Racing car, driven by GT star Valentino Rossi, alongside regulars Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts. Rossi’s participation enhances the event’s appeal, particularly following their recent success at the Suzuka 1000km.
Noteworthy vehicles include Herberth Motorsport’s black and gold #7 Porsche 911 GT3 R and EBM’s #61 Porsche, among others. The Mercedes-AMG lineup is well represented with teams such as Lone Star Racing in their #80 GT3 EVO and Kenny Habul’s #75 Express team.
In the first test session, Philipp Eng in the #51 Random Vandals Racing BMW led the field with a time of 1:23.636, narrowly surpassing van der Linde’s 1:23.724. Mikaël Grenier followed in third driving the #34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG.
Test Session 1 Results:
- #51 Random Vandals Racing BMW – Philipp Eng – 1:23.636
- #46 WRT BMW – Kelvin van der Linde – 1:23.724
- #34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG – Mikaël Grenier
- #75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG – Chaz Mostert
- #777 WRT BMW – Al Faisal Al Zubair
Pirelli GT4 America Season Finale
The Pirelli GT4 America series prepares for its season finale this weekend, featuring a double-header ahead of the Indianapolis 8 Hour. Jan Heylen, fresh off an IMSA title, will replace Riley Dickinson in the #7 ACI Motorsports Porsche alongside Curt Swearingin.
The championship standings are tight, with Kenton Koch and Kevin Boehm leading the Silver class and looking to secure their title in the opening race.
GT America Expands Competitors
The GT America series is experiencing record entries, with 18 provisional entries expected, including two new Ferrari 296 GT3s. This resurgence signals a promising finish to a challenging 2025 season.
Date Change for Sebring Round
SRO America will move its Sebring round to May 8-10, earlier than originally planned, to avoid conflicts with the Ferrari Challenge. This adjustment includes a night race scheduled for Saturday, which Greg Gill, President and CEO of SRO America, emphasized as being in the best interest of competitors.
McLaren Trophy America Updates
McLaren Trophy America will support the Miami Grand Prix with two races next May, marking a significant milestone for the championship in its second season.
As the Indianapolis 8 Hour approaches, teams are positioned to provide a thrilling contest at the Brickyard, setting the stage for a dynamic and competitive race weekend.
