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Sunday Season Finale: GT America and GT4 America Crowns Champions in Dramatic Fashion

 

WEERTS WINS INDY 8 HOUR TO CLINCH IGTC DRIVERS' TITLE; PORSCHE CROWNED MANUFACTURERS' CHAMPIONS

 

> WRT beats Wright by 0.260s on corrected time
> Au claims IGTC Independent Cup and Pro-Am victory with Herberth
> Provisional Result: Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS

 

 

Charles Weerts is the new Intercontinental GT Challenge champion after the BMW he shared with Team WRT co-drivers Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde overcame Wright Motorsports on corrected time to win a nail-biting Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS by just 0.260s.

Porsche also clinched its first IGTC manufacturers’ title since 2020 despite a five-second post-race penalty costing it victory at the Brickyard where Laurin Heinrich battled valiantly but ultimately in vain to remain sufficiently ahead of Vanthoor over the final 30 minutes.

The German shared his 911 GT3 R with newly crowned Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS champions Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer who more than played their part in Wright’s eye-catching performance against the factory-supported international entries.

GruppeM’s Mercedes-AMG, meanwhile, enjoyed a trouble-free run to third overall in the hands of Maro Engel, Jules Gounon and Mikael Grenier. They were there or thereabouts all afternoon without ever mounting a serious victory challenge.

IGTC’s third and final championship, the Independent Cup, was won by Antares Au who also clinched the event’s Pro-Am victory in seventh overall with his Herberth co-drivers Loek Hartog and Patric Niederhauser.

The result remains provisional subject to technical checks.


BMW GOES BACK-TO-BACK AT THE BRICKYARD

The late battle between WRT and Wright was the culmination of two very different journeys to the head of the field.

Van der Linde started fourth but ended the opening stint second after battling pole man Niederhauser before their strategies diverged during the first Safety Car period. Herberth’s decision not to stop left it out of sequence with the rest, and its Pro-Am line up also ensured it dropped behind the Pro contingent once Au climbed aboard.

WRT’s #31 BMW was the chief benefactor and had established a 30-second lead just before half-distance when a Safety Car bunched the pack. That advantage was partly down to the battle for second involving GruppeM’s Mercedes-AMG and the second WRT entry crewed first by Dan Harper and then Augusto Farfus who collectively charged from 23rd to second over the first four hours following the post-qualifying engine change that dropped them to the back of the grid.

At that stage Harper and Max Hesse were firmly in drivers’ title contention. Indeed, passing the sister car would have seen them leapfrog Weerts in the standings. But their afternoon was ultimately derailed by a broken diffuser that dropped the car out of contention.

Instead, it was Wright’s decision not to pit during the next Safety Car period that brought Heinrich, Skeer and Adelson firmly into contention. The Porsche led approaching the end of hour five and then benefitted from stopping just before the next Safety Car period, which bunched the pack and prevented the car from losing a lap. Skeer then cycled back up to second when the rest of the field pitted under caution.

Second then became first soon after the restart when he completed a fine move on Alec Udell’s Corvette, which elected not to pit. He continued out front until Van der Linde caught and passed the 911 with two-and-one-quarter hours remaining.

Still, the Porsche remained firmly in contention and re-took the lead when #31 served a five-second penalty at its next pitstop. Heinrich and Vanthoor were now in to the finish but the advantage appeared to lie with Wright’s entry, which duly edged clear.

However, an infringement at its final pitstop offered WRT a glimmer of hope. Weerts was already cruising towards the drivers’ crown and Porsche was unlikely to lose the manufacturers’ title, but the proxy battle for Indy 8 Hour victory was played out roughly five seconds apart. The gap fluctuated by a few tenths each lap as both drivers attempted to fuel save after re-setting their stint lengths, but with 10 minutes remaining Vanthoor had the gap closer to four seconds.

Heinrich began the final tour 4.5s ahead but could only increase that by two tenths and ultimately missed out on victory by a similar margin.

WRT, BMW, Vanthoor and Van der Linde, meanwhile, completed back-to-back wins at the Brickyard to also finish second in IGTC’s standings behind their co-driver and new champion Weerts.

GruppeM came home 20.8s behind the M4 to complete an IGTC manufacturer podium lock-out, while the Racers Edge Acura and DXDT Corvette ensured as many different manufacturers finished inside the top five.

Porsche’s manufacturers’ championship triumph was also thanks to RS1’s Jake Pedersen, Kay Van Berlo and Trent Hindman who finished sixth overall and fourth in IGTC. 

A little further back came Herberth’s Pro-Am winners Niederhauser, Hartog and Au who sealed the Independent Cup mid-race when Prince Jefri Ibrahim’s Triple Eight JMR Mercedes-AMG retired.

Mercedes-AMG’s best hope for points appeared to be, in qualifying trim at least, Lone Star Racing’s entry. But it fell out of contention thanks to a long first pitstop and related recurring battery issue.

Ayhancan Guven’s chances of defending his drivers’ championship lead were also dealt a blow by an early puncture. GMG’s afternoon went from bad to worse thereafter before the car was officially retired.

A tenth season of Intercontinental GT Challenge begins at the Bathurst 12 Hour on January 31 – February 2.

 

 

Saturday Ends with a Bang: Champions Crowned in Indy 8 Hour Last Lap Showdown

 

NIEDERHAUSER BAGS INDY 8 HOUR POLE FOR PORSCHE AND HERBERTH

> Pro-Am entry starts up front for second year running
> IGTC manufacturers lock out the top 10
> Result: Pole Shootout

 

 

Patric Niederhauser’s rapid opening lap was enough to seal Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS pole position for Herberth Motorsport and Porsche this evening.

The Swiss set a blistering 1m22.564s to beat the impressive Alex Palou (Lone Star Racing) to top spot by 0.114s, while 2023 pole winner Laurin Heinrich (Wright Motorsports) completed the first three.

It was the second time in as many years that a Pro-Am entry featuring Antares Au – who leads the Intercontinental GT Challenge Independent Cup standings – beat the IGTC and Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS Pro entries in qualifying.

It was made possible by the #10 911 GT3 R progressing to the 10-car Shootout from Friday afternoon’s three-part qualifying session – an impressive achievement on its own given the Pro entries should have enjoyed a natural advantage.

That difference was negated in the 15-minute Shootout when nine factory drivers representing Porsche, Mercedes-AMG and BMW contended for pole.

In previous years P1 was only settled after a back-and-forth scrap. But Niederhauser’s early effort, which was 0.4s faster than anyone else at the time, left the rest playing catch up.

His advantage was whittled away by both Palou – who outqualified Arjun Maini and Maro Engel on debut in the same machinery – and Heinrich who’d earlier set fastest time in qualifying, but never bettered.

The latter finished 0.189s down on pole but 0.059s ahead of Dries Vanthoor (Team WRT) in the best placed of four BMWs that made the Shootout. His co-driver Charles Weerts therefore starts two places behind fellow Intercontinental title contender Luca Stolz.

Maini was next up in Triple Eight JMR’s Mercedes-AMG featuring Prince Jefri Ibrahim, which ensured that both IGTC Independent Cup contenders will start in the overall top five tomorrow.

His factory colleague Engel lines up alongside in the GruppeM machine that topped Qualifying earlier today, while last year’s Indy winner Philipp Eng slotted ST Racing’s M4 into seventh.

Further BMWs entered by WRT – whose second car includes championship protagonists Dan Harper and Max Hesse – and Random Vandals plus the RS1 Porsche completed the Pole Shootout positions.

Three of IGTC’s four title contenders made the Shootout. The exception was championship leader Ayhancan Guven who has work to do from 14th if he’s to beat the likes of Weerts, Stolz and Harper/Hesse to 2024’s drivers’ crown tomorrow.

Saturday’s IGTC and Fanatec GT America season finale goes green at 12:15 EDT (GMT -4). Watch it live on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.

 

 

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#IGTC SOCIAL MEDIA

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INTERCONTINENTAL GT CHALLENGE

Intercontinental GT Challenge represents the highest echelon of long-distance GT racing.

Established in 2016, the series’ purpose couldn’t be simpler: reward the manufacturer and drivers who achieve the best collective results in the world’s greatest standalone endurance events.

The proliferation of GT3, built on more than a decade of manufacturer involvement and SRO’s Balance of Performance stability, has resulted in it becoming the de facto senior class for all of the world’s most prestigious GT races. This offers manufacturers an incentive to compete in all such events by employing regional customer teams without the expense of freighting cars around the world.

 

2024 IGTC CALENDAR
February 16-18: Repco Bathurst 12 Hour (Australia)
May 30 - June 2: ADAC Ravenol 24h Nurburgring (Germany)
June 27-30: CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa (Belgium)
October 3-5: Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS (USA)

 

 Friday Round Up: Herberth Motorsport Claims Highly Coveted Pole Shootout

After an intense pole shootout showdown, Herberth Motorsport claimed pole position for the Indy 8 Hour.
 

 

PREVIEW: PORSCHE, BMW AND MERCEDES-AMG ALL VYING FOR IGTC TITLES AT THE BRICKYARD

> Full-season entrants separated by 25 points
> Güven heads list of drivers’ championship contenders
> Entry list: Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS

 

 

Intercontinental GT Challenge 2024 concludes this Saturday (October 5) at the Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS where all three full-season entrants – Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-AMG – can still win the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championships.

The trio’s cars comprise 80% of the 25-strong entry list for an event that also doubles up as the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS season finale.

Porsche leads both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ standings but does not have a IGTC Pro line-up amongst its seven entries. BMW and Mercedes-AMG, on the other hand, both have two full strength factory crews at their disposal.

That will make things very difficult for co-championship leader Ayhancan Güven who is part of GMG Racing’s Pro-Am effort. The Turk is seven points ahead of Charles Weerts whose BMW colleagues and fellow title contenders Dan Harper and Max Hesse share WRT’s other M4 GT3. Luca Stolz, meanwhile, is aiming to follow in the recent footsteps of Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon by winning the championship for Mercedes-AMG.

There is one more mathematical but also absent contender: Laurens Vanthoor is tied with Güven after sharing Bathurst and Nürburgring victories. But he will only win the championship if Güven were to retire and the other title protagonists fail to overcome their starting deficits.


PORSCHE | 7x 911 GT3 R | MANUFACTURERS’ POINTS: 99

A mix of domestic and international teams represent Stuttgart at Indianapolis where Porsche could win its first Intercontinental crown since 2020.

As already mentioned, the manufacturer is without a full factory entry. But its seven 911 GT3 Rs do include two Fanatec GT America Pro combinations – which must feature at least one Silver-graded driver – that have the potential to fight for a top six finish or better if the BMW and Mercedes-AMG IGTC Pro cars trip up.

They could also bag pole position in the Shootout, just as Laurin Heinrich sensationally did in Huber’s Pro-Am entry last year. This time he returns with Wright Motorsports, while three more Porsche drivers – Patric Niederhauser, Bastian Buus and Güven – respectively join Herberth, EBM and GMG in the Pro-Am class.

Güven undoubtedly faces a tough challenge to maintain his drivers’ championship lead, but Porsche’s prospects of winning the manufacturers’ crown are a little better. Per IGTC’s rules, only the two best placed finishers per entrant score points on their manufacturer’s behalf. Porsche leads that classification by 16 points with 43 available for finishing first and second.


BMW | 7x M4 GT3 | MANUFACTURERS’ POINTS: 83

Last year’s Indy winners ultimately lost both championships to Mercedes-AMG. This season, it must overturn deficits in both standings if it’s to clinch a first and possibly second IGTC title since 2020. 

A glance at the entry list suggests BMW means business at the Brickyard where two full factory crews and three IGTC Pro cars head up its contingent of seven M4 GT3s.

Weerts spearheads its drivers’ title assault after scoring maximum IGTC points last time out at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. His seven-point deficit is also the same as the difference between finishing first and second, meaning a victory would guarantee him the championship based on a superior result at the finale.

The Belgian shares WRT’s #31 M4 GT3 with last year’s Indy winners Sheldon van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor. They can no longer win the drivers’ title thanks to partnering their regular Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS co-driver.

BMW also has a second opportunity in the shape of Dan Harper and Max Hesse who lie fourth in the standings and 14 points behind Porsche’s leading duo. Both factory drivers compete with ROWE Racing in Fanatec GT Europe. But while the team surroundings might be changing this weekend, their usual Endurance Cup co-driver Augusto Farfus remains alongside them at the 8 Hour – an event he won en route to the IGTC drivers’ crown in 2020.

There’s also a third IGTC Pro entry courtesy of Random Vandals Racing who pair 2020 Indy winner and BMW factory driver Connor De Phillippi with IndyCar regular Conor Daly. 

Elsewhere, another of last year’s victors, Philipp Eng, partners fellow long-time works Pro Bill Auberlen in ST Racing’s Fanatec GT America Pro entry.


MERCEDES-AMG | 6x GT GT3 | MANUFACTURERS’ POINTS: 74

The defence of both IGTC titles has not gone entirely to plan for Mercedes-AMG in 2024 after it failed to win at Bathurst, Nürburgring or Spa. But it has previously won at the Brickyard and also finished two-three there last year before sealing the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles in Abu Dhabi.

A 25-point starting deficit and IGTC’s scoring system makes it highly difficult for Mercedes-AMG to retain its manufacturers’ title. Indeed, six of the seven Porsches have to retire for Affalterbach to have any chance.

Its hopes therefore predominantly rest with Stolz who’s joined in Lone Star Racing’s entry by Fabian Schiller and three-time reigning IndyCar champion Álex Palou. The Spaniard is making his first GT3 start outside of Japan this weekend so his performance will likely and understandably overshadow that of Mercedes-AMG’s two seasoned works drivers who know the car inside out.

Nevertheless, it’s Stolz – IGTC’s runner-up last year – who starts 17 points behind Güven and Vanthoor. Finishing any lower than second would therefore rule him out of this season’s title fight.

The other factory car, run by GruppeM Racing, features reigning champion Jules Gounon, Maro Engel and Mikael Grenier. The latter is 25 points shy of top spot so can therefore still tie with Güven and Vanthoor by winning at Indy. However, his sole victory would be trumped on countback by their first place finishes at Bathurst and Nürburgring.

Elsewhere, SunEnergy1 and Kenny Habul return to IGTC for the first time since finishing second overall at Bathurst.


INDEPENDENT CUP | 3x ENTRIES

All three Independent Cup entrants – Antares Au, Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Adrian D’Silva – make the trip to Indy.

Au starts 25 points ahead of Ibrahim but is not yet assured of the championship title. Indeed, a DNF for Herberth’s Porsche, which also features Loek Hartog and Niederhauser, would leave the door ajar for Triple Eight JMR whose Mercedes-AMG must win its class regardless. 

Ibrahim scored maximum points at Bathurst with Jordan Love, whom he partners again this weekend along with Arjun Maini, before Au claimed victories in Germany and Belgium. D’Silva, meanwhile, is yet to win but could still play a role in the championship battle if Au was to non-score.

Qualifying, Pole Shootout and the entire Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS is live on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel this Friday and Saturday.


INDIANAPOLIS 8 HOUR PRESENTED BY AWS TIMETABLE

WEDNESDAY 2 OCTOBER
13:30 – 15:00: Test Session 1
16:10 – 17:40: Test Session 2

THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER
16:00 – 16:30: Bronze Test
18:45 – 20:15: Free Practice

FRIDAY 4 OCTOBER
10:45 – 12:15: Pre-Qualifying
15:05 – 15:20: Qualifying 1
15:27 – 15:42: Qualifying 2
15:50 – 16:05: Qualifying 3
17:35 – 17:50: Pole Shootout

SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER
12:15 – 20:15: Race

 

 

Star Studded Lineups Take On the Indy 8 Hour

 

Entry List | Timetable | Event Tickets 

 

This year’s eagerly awaited Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS features a remarkable roster of international talents poised to tackle the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway from morning until night. The eight-hour endurance race, the longest held at the Brickyard, will unite the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS and the Intercontinental GT Challenge championships, culminating in a final showdown across the FGTWCA Pro, IGTC Pro, and Pro-Am classes.


With open paddock access bringing fans closer than ever to the heart of the action, in addition to an array of local vendors, fan zones, autograph sessions, and activations, attendees will be treated to a spectacular weekend at one of the best venues in motorsports.


 

FGTWCA Pro Class


 

The FGTWCA Pro category boasts a fierce lineup of teams, featuring seasoned competitors that are looking to take big strides in the championship-deciding round, which is worth crucial double points.


 

Notably, the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 992 GT3 R of Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer and the No. 63 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Alec Udell and Tommy Milner are only separated by 7 points, meaning that whoever comes out on top at IMS will be awarded the title. DXDT Racing’s winning streak, which stands at eight consecutive victories, makes them the plausible favorites heading into the event, but with eight hours on the clock, anything can happen.


 

Laurin Heinrich will be joining Wright Motorsports as the third driver for the final race, while DXDT Racing are coming equipped with Corvette factory driver Alexander Sims. With two definitively stellar lineups, this title face off is going to be fierce.


 

Meanwhile, the No. 28 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3 of Varun Choksey and Bill Auberlen currently holds the last spot in the top 3, which the No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 EVO22 of Zach Veach and Luca Mars will be seeking to snatch away given the opportunity. ST Racing have recruited Philipp Eng for the task, who also currently competes in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe. Meanwhile, the latter have opted for IndyCar alumnus Gabby Chaves.


 

Jake Pederson and Trent Hindman are stepping up to the Pro class in the No. 85 RS1 Porsche 992 GT3 R, joined by the likes of Kay van Berlo, who is currently a championship hopeful in Pirelli GT4 America.


 

IGTC Pro Class


 

In the IGTC Pro class, the field is stacked with premier entries representing elite global teams and manufacturers. Each one of them will be gunning for outright victory in this grueling eight-hour race.


Team WRT are back in the fold, returning with double entries. Last year’s edition came with both highs and lows for the team, as one of the BMW M4 GT3 entries claimed the overall victory, while the other machine ran into issues that put them 11 laps down. This time, the No. 31 BMW M4 GT3 consists of international sensations Dries Vanthoor, Charles Weerts, and Sheldon Van Der Linde. The No. 33 entry consists of the impressive lineup of Augusto Farfus, Daniel Harper, and Max Hesse.


 

Although the No. 99 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT3 only debuted in the series a few short rounds ago, the team has proven they are prepared to challenge for wins, and their aim is to do exactly that. Boasting a driver lineup with talents such as Kenton Koch, IndyCar driver Conor Daly, and BMW M Motorsport works driver Connor De Phillippi, they will certainly be ones to watch.


Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing is set to return to the competition as well after finishing third overall in 2023. This time around, Mercedes factory drivers Maro Engel, Jules Gounon, and Mikael Grenier are at the helm of the No. 130 Mercedes-AMG GT3.


 

Lone Star Racing is also joining the field with the No. 4 Mercedes-AMG GT3, co-driven by Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz, in addition to recently crowned three-time IndyCar Champion Alex Palou.


 

Pro-Am Class


 

The FGTWCA Pro-Am class consists of a strong field of established teams vying for class honors, and the potential to disrupt the overall leaderboard.


The No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3 is leading the charge in the class championship with Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen, however, Turner Motorsport’s Justin Rothberg and Robby Foley have been slowly trying to close the points gap with the No. 29 BMW M4 GT3. It would be a tall order as the former has a 31-point advantage heading into Indianapolis, but the fight isn’t over just yet. With John Capestro-Dubets and Patrick Gallagher joining the respective teams, the battle is truly on.


Comparatively, the No. 64 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R and No. 91 Regulator Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 have been battling hard all season long, treating spectators to thrilling wheel-to-wheel action. Blake McDonald, Bryan Sellers, and Patrick Liddy will be flying the Chevrolet banner, while Jeff Burton and Phillip Ellis are set to be accompanied by Elias Seppänen. Additionally, the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R is still within striking distance with Kyle Washington, Tom Sargent, and Ayhancan Guven teaming up together.


As Flying Lizard Motorsports continue to learn the ins and outs of their No. 8 BMW M4 GT3 following a mid-season manufacturer switch, Elias Sabo and Andy Lee will be aiming for a strong result to wrap up their 2024 campaign with BMW ace Nick Yelloly.


Herberth Motorsport was on the podium last season, earning a second-place finish, and returns in an attempt to one-up themselves with Antares Au, Loek Hartog, and Patric Niederhauser in the No. 10 Porsche 992 GT3 R.


 

Porsche is a popular manufacturer choice amongst this year’s teams, with Ashish Patel, Yannick Mettler, and Alex Fontana opting for the German brand with the No. 21 Car Collection Motorsports entry. EBM’s Adrian D’Silva, Brendon Leitch, and Bastian Buus did the same for their respective No. 61 machine, in addition to series regulars MMG with the No. 92 Porsche, co-driven by Jean-Frederic Laberge, Kyle Marcelli, and their third driver to be announced at a later date.


 

Mercedes-AMG will also be well represented on this global stage, the No. 75 SunEnergy1 of Kenny Habul, Lucas Auer, and Jayden Ojeda, and No. 888 Triple Eight JMR of Prince Jefri Ibrahim, Jordan Love, and Arjun Maini both utilizing the Mercedes-AMG GT3 platform.


 

Finally, the No. 163 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3, which has previously competed in the Am class in prior rounds this season, is stepping up to the Pro-Am class to join the competition with Jay Schreibman, Oswaldo Negri, and Toni Vilander. They will be joined by fellow AF Corse counterparts Custodio Toledo, Riccardo Agostini, and Cedric Sbirrazzuoli in the No. 88 Ferrari.


Let’s Get Racing


 

The Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS and IGTC fields are set to take to the track on Thursday, October 3rd. Click here for the full schedule of the upcoming round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.


 

Tickets are on sale here. Catch all the action from the Racing Capital of the World for the longest endurance race in Indy and the only race finishing under the lights.


 

If you can’t make it to Indy, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #Indy8H.

 

Into the Final Stretch for GT America’s Championship Decider at Indy

 

Entry List | Timetable | Tickets


 

The final two rounds of the GT America powered by AWS championship are upon us, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway is setting the stage for a thrilling weekend of racing as the SRO3 class title fight is coming down to the wire. The GT4 class championship has already been decided, but there are still two coveted wins up for grabs. From October 4th to 6th, competitors will battle for a chance to cement themselves in the Brickyard’s history as they take on the 2.43-mile, 14-turn road course layout.


 

Fans will have plenty to enjoy with open paddock activities, including autograph sessions, local vendors, a Car Corral, and the pre-race grid walk for Saturday’s main event, the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS. This GT-only endurance race is the longest at IMS and brings together the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS and the Intercontinental GT Challenge championships.


 

SRO3 Class


 

There was a change in hand for the SRO3 class lead following the previous rounds in Birmingham, as Jason Daskalos had a stellar weekend. By claiming back-to-back victories in his No. 27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, he regained the top spot in the standings ahead of Johnny O’Connell. Although the driver of the No. 3 SKI Autosport Audi R8 LMS GT3 claimed a second-place result in Race 2, he faced setbacks in Race 1 which saw him finish at the back of the field. In turn, this allowed Justin Rothberg to close the points gap a little bit more with the No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3.


 

Kyle Washington moved himself into the Top 5 in the standings after claiming third and fourth-place finishes for GMG Racing with the No. 32 Porsche 992 GT3 R entry. He will also be joined by James Sofronas for the final rounds as he makes another appearance with the No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3.


 

The No. 02 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO of Jason Bell returned to the podium as well after he was promoted to third-place in Race 2. It was a different story for Tim Savage and Ross Chouest as their No. 007 ProSport Competition Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO and No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 tangled on track, and both will be seeking a better outcome in Indianapolis.


 

Mirco Schultis is also set to make a comeback as the driver of the No. 70 MISHUMOTORS Callaway Corvette Z06R GT3 joins the grid. The grand finale event also welcomes Scott Dollahite to the track in the No. 46 Dollahite Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3.


 

Additionally, the field is joined by two GT2 class entries as familiar faces Dan Knox and CJ Moses return to the grid in their respective No. 10 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT2 and No. 58 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT2.


 

GT4 Class


 

Although Isaac Sherman has already wrapped up his championship campaign following his clean sweep at Barber Motorsports Park, he will always be on the hunt for more wins in his No. 098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. The title winner has stood on the podium in nearly every race this season, and is looking to take the top step yet again.


 

Runner-up Curt Swearingin has also accumulated an impressive number of top 3 finishes with his No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS, and there is no doubt that he will want to claim the final wins of the year.


 

Gray Newell continues to sit third in the standings with his No. 25 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, but victory lane has eluded him so far this season in this championship, and there would be no better place to earn his first win in GT America than Indianapolis Motor Speedway.


 

The ongoing battle between Nicholas Shanny in the No. 21 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M4 GT4 G82 and Todd Parriott in the No. 31 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 has been excitingly close all season long. The advantage swung in Shanny’s direction last time out in Birmingham as he finished third in Race 2, with Parriott concluding both sprints in fourth. Damir Hot will also be back on track to accompany his Flying Lizard Motorsports teammate, driving the No. 05 Nissan Z NISMO GT4.


 

Finally, McLaren is coming equipped with two entries, represented by Alan Grossberg in the No. 102 TPC Racing McLaren Artura GT4, and Alan Teo in the No. 085 Orlando Motorsports Services McLaren Artura GT4.


 

Let’s Get Racing


 

The GT America Powered by AWS field is set to take to the track for Practice 1 on Thursday, October 3rd. Click here for the full schedule of the GT America weekend.


 

If you can’t make it to Indianapolis, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #Indy8H.

  

New Manufacturers, New Grid Record: Indianapolis 8 Hour Primed to be Biggest Finale to Date

 

Entry List | Timetable | Event Tickets 

 

Only one round remains and the stage is set for the highly anticipated Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS, with an impressive lineup of international talents ready to take on Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The eight-hour endurance will see both the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS and the Intercontinental GT Challenge championships come together and face off in one final showdown at the Racing Capital of the World.


A Global Highlight in Endurance Racing


The event serves as the continent’s longest-running GT3-only endurance race, as it begins in the daylight before transcending into darkness, with the track illuminated by headlights and fireworks in the final hours. It is a standout that blends the tradition of endurance racing with the excitement of modern GT3 competition, and it has firmly established itself as a must-watch event on the global motorsports calendar.


The Indy 8 Hour is also the final event on the Intercontinental GT Challenge schedule, and is the only stop on North American soil, with the globe-trotting series having previously completed endurance races across the world, including prestigious events such as the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour, the Nürburgring 24 Hours, and the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.


A Battle of Legendary Manufacturers


While many driver and team championships will ultimately be decided in this final round, the Indy 8 Hour presents a unique opportunity to witness the world’s leading elite manufacturers battle it out for global recognition.


In regards to the Intercontinental GT Challenge championship, the series rewards the manufacturer and drivers who achieve the best collective results in the world’s greatest standalone endurance events, offering manufacturers an incentive to compete in all events by employing regional customer teams without the expense of freighting cars around the world.


 

For the Indy 8 Hour, all BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche GT3 cars across all classes are nominated to score IGTC points, but only each of their two best finishers will contribute towards the manufacturers' standings, with points only being scored at the end of the race.


Additionally, the GT World Challenge global manufacturers championship is still on the line, with Porsche leading the way as Mercedes-AMG attempts to close the gap. With the margins being so slim, every position gained, and every point earned could change everything. As it currently stands, less than 300 points separate the two, and it will be a tight battle to the very end.


 

This will also be the first time that the all-new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R will be on the starting grid in this event, marking a historic moment as this will be the first true test of endurance for the American icon in a GT3-only global competition.


A Plethora of Powerhouse Teams


 

On top of all the American teams we have come to know and love, the Indy 8 Hour will welcome some of the most well-known and dominant teams from across the pond.


Porsche is already well represented in America, with Wright Motorsports, RS1, MMG, and GMG Racing returning to the competition, but they will also be joined by iconic teams such as Herberth Motorsport, Car Collection Motorsports, and EBM.


It is a similar tale for BMW, who will also feature seven entries total with the likes of Flying Lizard Motorsports, Turner Motorsport, Random Vandals Racing, and double entries from ST Racing and notably Team WRT, who have distinguished themselves by scoring wins internationally, including an overall victory in this very same event last year.


Mercedes-AMG are joining the fight with six cars, including Lonestar Racing, Chouest Povoledo Racing, SunEnergy1, Regulator Racing, and Triple Eight JMR, and Team GruppeM Racing.


DXDT Racing will make up the dual effort from Chevrolet, with AF Corse taking on that same responsibility for the elite Ferrari brand. Meanwhile, Racers Edge Motorsports are the lone team flying the flag for Acura.


Fans: Don’t Miss Out


 

The Indy 8 Hour is more than just a race—it’s an experience, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the perfect setting to witness the action unfold. Fans can not only expect top-tier racing but also an immersive atmosphere with fan zones, open paddock access, local vendors and activations, and opportunities to meet drivers and teams.


This is a must-attend event if you want to take in the full magnitude of International endurance racing under the lights, and the incredible ambiance that only IMS can provide.


 

Witness the Action Firsthand at IMS


 

The Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS promises to be a grand spectacle that cannot be missed, with teams across all classes prepared to push the limits in pursuit of glory in an incredible display of endurance racing at its finest.


 

Stay tuned for further updates, including the unveiling of driver lineups, as we approach one of the most exciting weekends on the SRO America and IGTC calendars. Tickets are available for purchase now. 
       

 

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