Michelin GT Challenge Preview: Key Insights Ahead of VIR
Next week’s Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) features a competitive entry list of 23 cars, split between ten GTD PRO and 13 GTD entries. With only three races remaining in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the stakes are higher than ever for teams vying for championship points.
In the GTD PRO standings, the No. 3 Pratt Miller Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, driven by Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims, leads. With 30 points separating them from second-place Albert Costa of DragonSpeed, the Corvette team’s four podium finishes, despite not yet securing a victory, place them in a strong position. Defending champions Laurin Heinrich and Klaus Bachler in the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R are third, followed by the No. 64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3 and two entries from Paul Miller Racing.
Madison Snow, coming off a victory at Road America alongside Neil Verhagen in the No. 1 Paul Miller BMW, is also notable as the defending winner at VIR.
In the manufacturers’ championship, Chevrolet holds a 17-point lead over BMW, with Ferrari trailing by 56 points.
In GTD standings, Winward Racing’s No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3, driven by Russell Ward and Philip Ellis, leads with a substantial 112-point advantage over Vasser Sullivan Racing’s Lexus RC F GT3. Casper Stevenson from Heart of Racing Team sits third, with Kenton Koch, last year’s VIR winner, following closely after a recent victory.
Triarsi Competizione’s No. 021 Ferrari 296 GT3 will close out the year with Koch and Onofrio Triarsi as drivers, despite initial doubts about their participation. Team owner Onofrio Triarsi affirmed their commitment: "We have a commitment to finish out the year running this other entry, and we will."
Additionally, Robert Wickens will make his final appearance in the No. 36 DXDT Racing Corvette during this sprint season. Finally, the battle for the IMSA Bob Akin Award is now a tie between Orey Fidani of AWA and Brendon Iribe of Inception Racing, setting the stage for a "best-of-three" contest for a coveted invitation to the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours.
This critical juncture at VIR will undoubtedly impact the championship dynamics as teams strive for success in the season’s final stretch.
