GMG Racing Clinches Overall Victory at 2026 DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour
In a stunning display of strategy and teamwork, GMG Racing secured an overall victory in the final round of the 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) at the Indianapolis 8 Hour race. The #32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Kyle Washington, Riccardo Pera, and Ayhancan Güven, not only triumphed in the Pro-Am class but also marked Porsche’s third consecutive IGTC race win, culminating in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Washington, the Am driver, also clinched the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am title in the season finale, despite the absence of regular co-driver Tom Sargent. Key to GMG’s victory was an early full-course yellow that allowed Washington to optimize his stint, enabling Pera and Güven to finish strongly. With the last five hours and 38 minutes run under green flag conditions, Güven maintained a commanding lead, finishing 56.209 seconds ahead of the competition after 322 laps.
Archangel Motorsports’ #69 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, piloted by Todd Coleman, Tom Fleming, and Aaron Telitz, finished second overall, showcasing competitive consistency against Pro class leaders. The #29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 EVO, driven by Justin Rothberg, Robby Foley, and Connor De Phillippi, completed the podium, finishing third overall and first in the Pro class. This victory secured their third consecutive championship in GT World Challenge America following two previous Pro-Am title wins.
A pivotal battle for the Pro class unfolded between Foley and Frederik Schandorff in the #12 AF Corse USA Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo. After an intense duel, Foley overtook Schandorff with 82 minutes remaining, ultimately sealing the championship for his team.
Fourth place went to the #12 Ferrari, followed closely by the #34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO in fifth. Notably, Maxime Martin captured the IGTC Drivers’ Championship with his performance, overtaking Maro Engel despite a challenging race for his teammates.
Porsche dominated the remainder of the top ten, with five entries rounding out the standings. In the Am class, the #11 Mad Joker Racing Mercedes-AMG claimed victory, finishing ahead of the #163 AF Corse USA Ferrari but facing scrutiny due to ongoing investigations surrounding an incident late in the race.
Out of 27 starters, only five failed to finish, including notable retirements due to mechanical issues and accidents.
This race concluded a dramatic season for the IGTC, with GMG Racing and Porsche solidifying their championship pedigree on an international scale.
