+ Washington, Pera and Güven win final 8 Hour by record 56 seconds
+ Fifth place enough for Mercedes-AMG’s Martin to beat absent Engel
+ Bohn denies Li record-setting Independent Cup win
+ DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour Result
Victory for GMG Racing’s Kyle Washington, Riccardo Pera and Ayhancan Güven at the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour proved more than enough for Porsche to clinch its fourth Intercontinental GT Challenge manufacturers’ title, while Maxime Martin became IGTC’s 11th different drivers’ champion in as many years.
The Belgian came into the season finale needing to beat his Mercedes-AMG colleague Luca Stolz and finish no lower than fifth of IGTC’s entrants to overturn the advantage of Maro Engel whose DTM commitments prevented him from racing at the Brickyard.
Stolz was removed from the championship reckoning after just 10 minutes when his co-driver Lin Hodenius crashed into Kellymoss’ prone Porsche at Turn 1, resulting in the Lone Star entry’s retirement. Martin faced no such dramas and went on to finish fifth overall, but fourth of the Intercontinental entrants, to seal the crown by four points over Engel.
His JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG led the second and third hours thanks to Michai Stephens and Mikael Grenier but was shuffled back to second during a fraught out-lap that resulted in AF Corse America’s Ferrari becoming the net leader despite RS1’s Porsche often appearing at the head of the field due to its alternative pitstop cycle.
But it was another 911 GT3 R that executed the race-winning strategy call with less than half of the distance complete. GMG’s decision to pit 20 minutes before exceeding #32’s stint length presented an opportunity to be in prime position when the chequered flag dropped. And with the race remaining green to the finish, that’s exactly how its afternoon panned out.
Washington, the team’s Am driver, was running outside the top 10 when he made way for Pera. Crucially, however, the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS regular – who was also chasing a domestic title – completed his minimum drive time early in proceedings, leaving the way clear for his Pro co-drivers to complete the race.
Güven and Pera, who set fastest lap, were both outstanding thereafter en route to a record 56-second victory margin. In doing so, GMG’s crew also became the first Pro-Am combination to win the 8 Hour in its seven-year-history.
They seldom shared the same section of circuit as their main victory rivals, which at half distance appeared to be the AF Corse America Ferrari shared by Matias Perez Companc, Nicklas Nielsen and Frederik Schandorff who relieved JMF’s Mercedes-AMG of the lead with five hours left.
However, the 296 GT3 was steadily reeled in by the pole winning Turner Motorsport BMW that finally found a way past as darkness began to fall. Robby Foley’s move on Schandorff – which he was forced to repeat after the final pitstops – ultimately sealed the domestic Pro title for himself and Justin Rothberg.
Both cars were ultimately beaten to second overall by the Archangel McLaren of Todd Coleman, Thomas Fleming and Aaron Telitz who enjoyed a stellar run from eighth on the grid.
That car’s non-IGTC status meant Martin collected fourth place Intercontinental points despite completing the overall top five alongside Grenier and Stephens whose victory hopes faded as the day progressed.
Laurin Heinrich arrived at Indy with an outside chance of winning the drivers’ crown but ultimately came home sixth in the Wright Motorsport’s Porsche he shared with Dave Musial and Ryan Yardley.
RS1’s alternative strategy contributed towards Danny Dyszelski, Daan Arrow and Jan Heylen finishing seventh and ahead of the two leading Independent Cup entrants. High Class Racing’s Li Kerong claimed the title at Suzuka but was denied the maximum 100 points by Ralf Bohn and Herberth after Leo Ye pitted in the final 30 minutes.
IGTC now takes a break until February when its 2027 campaign begins in Australia at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour.
