IMSA Support Series Prepare for Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta
Road Atlanta, GA — This week, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta hosts four IMSA support series ahead of the 28th annual Motul Petit Le Mans on Saturday. This event marks the season-ending races for the Michelin Pilot Challenge, VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, and Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, while also being a crucial penultimate round for the Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
Michelin Pilot Challenge: Title on the Line
A robust field of 43 cars — 27 in Grand Sport (GS) and 16 in TCR — is set for the Fox Factory 120. The championship has two significant title fights, particularly in GS, where Luca Mars and Jan Heylen in the #28 RS1 Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport lead with three wins. Their advantage has narrowed to just 100 points over Sean McAlister and Jeff Westphal in the #39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO.
A top-five finish for Mars and Heylen will secure their championship. The TCR class sees tight competition with three teams, led by Louis-Philippe Montour and Karl Wittmer in the #93 MMG Honda Civic FL5 TCR, just 70 points from the title.
VP Racing SportsCar Challenge: A Historic Farewell
A grid of 25 cars will compete in the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, featuring the last races for the previous-generation V8-powered LMP3 cars. Valentino Catalano in the #30 Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports Duqueine D08 needs only to start the first race to clinch his championship, having already secured seven victories this season.
The GTDX class is also shaping up, with Adam Adelson (#24 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R) poised to secure the inaugural GTDX Championship this weekend.
Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup: $250,000 on the Table
The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup returns with a 34-car entry. Jeremy Fletcher leads the standings by 50 points after a double-header sweep at VIR, with Nathan Nicholson and Tyler Gonzalez closely chasing. The competition promises to be fierce, with two-time champions Jared Thomas and Gresham Wagner also in the mix.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America: The Road to COTA
While the season for the Porsche Carrera Cup North America culminates at Circuit of the Americas, Road Atlanta serves as a critical battleground. Ryan Yardley (#78 Topp Racing) enters with a 10-point lead over defending champion Riley Dickinson (#91 Kellymoss) following a strong Indianapolis performance. Zachary Vanier (#9 JDX Racing) remains in contention, trailing Yardley by 35 points.
Scott Blind (#45 Ruckus Racing) has already captured the Masters title, while JP Martinez leads the Pro-Am standings and needs consistent finishes to secure his title.
With crucial stakes and the thrill of motorsports, this weekend promises an electrifying display of talent and competition in the heart of Georgia.
