Race Report: GT World Challenge America – Circuit of the Americas
Austin, Texas – In a thrilling climax to the second round of the 2026 GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, Wright Motorsports clinched both Pro-Am class and overall victory at the Circuit of the Americas. The #31 Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Dave Musial Jr. and Ryan Yardley, emerged victorious in a three-hour event marked by strategic battles and unexpected penalties.
Race Summary
Despite leading most of the race, the #34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, driven by Michai Stephens and Mikaël Grenier, faced a setback due to two late penalties. After finishing first on the track, they were relegated to second overall due to a ten-second post-race penalty, solidifying their Pro class victory—marking their second win of the season.
Key Results:
- Overall Winner: #31 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R
- 2nd Place: #34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO
- 3rd Place: #242 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, with Therese Lahlouh and Thomas Merrill finishing just 8.7 seconds behind.
The race initiated with Stephens taking an early lead, but multiple Full Course Yellows disrupted the momentum. Notably, the #6 Dollahite Racing Ford Mustang GT3 did not finish after a breakdown on the opening lap.
Technical Insights and Incidents
The race featured pivotal moments, including:
- A collision involving Brayton Williams in the #9 TR3 Racing Mercedes-AMG, which spun Todd Coleman’s #69 Archangel Motorsports McLaren, necessitating another Full Course Yellow.
- A well-timed pit strategy for the leading Porsches during these yellows helped them reclaim positions post-restart.
- Grenier managed to build a substantial lead, but penalties for blocking and track limit violations hindered their progression.
With under 20 minutes remaining, Grenier’s radio issues complicated matters, particularly as the #29 Turner Motorsport BMW, piloted by Robby Foley, had fresh tires. Ultimately, Grenier crossed the line first, but the time penalties allowed Yardley to secure the overall win by 4.3 seconds.
Pro-Am Standings
- Wright Motorsports achieved a notable 1-2 finish in the Pro-Am class, alongside their overall triumph.
- 4th in Pro Class: Turner Motorsport’s Foley and Justin Rothberg.
- 5th Place Overall: Veteran Jan Heylen and co-driver JP Martinez, with a fierce battle against Tom Sargent leading to a narrow victory.
Noteworthy Performances
- The #163 AF Corse USA Ferrari took the Am class win, outpacing the #11 Lone Star Racing entry.
- The #27 JMF Mercedes-AMG retired from a top-ten position in the last hour due to front splitter damage.
The next event for the GT World Challenge America is scheduled for May 9 at Sebring International Raceway, promising further excitement as the championship intensifies.
Provisional Race Results
A detailed classification of race results can be accessed through the official GT World Challenge documentation.
Images & Data Credit: SRO Motorsports America
