Turner Motorsport celebrated a milestone moment at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), as Robby Foley and Justin Rothberg secured their first podium finish of the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) America season. Moreover, the result marked their first top-three finish since stepping up to the highly competitive Pro class.
Consequently, the performance underlined the duo’s steady progress and growing confidence against top-tier opposition.
Strong start builds early momentum for Turner Motorsport in GTWC America at COTA
Rothberg launched the No. 29 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from third position in class and immediately faced intense competition. Despite early pressure and close battles, he navigated the opening laps cleanly.
As the race unfolded, two caution periods reshaped the order. However, Rothberg capitalised effectively, moving into second place while avoiding the incidents that caught out others. He then focused on consistency, gradually extending the gap to the chasing pack. With discipline and control, Rothberg handed the car over in a strong position, setting the stage for the final stint.
Following the driver change, Foley took over with clear intent. He maintained strong pace throughout his stint and, as the race entered its final phase, began pushing harder in pursuit of the leader.
In the closing 40 minutes, the pressure intensified. Although a late opportunity briefly opened the door to challenge for victory, Foley ultimately fell just short. Nevertheless, he secured an impressive second-place finish, delivering valuable championship points.
Reflecting on the result, Foley said, “It was a great day today at COTA getting our LATICRETE BMW on the podium, our first in the Pro class for Justin and I. The race was a little uneventful at times, but also eventful at the end with the race leader gifting us the chance at the win but came up a little bit short. But P2 is great points, and we’ll try to take that to Sebring.”
Confidence growing in the Pro Class
For Rothberg, the podium represented both validation and motivation. After a challenging opening round at Sonoma, the improvement at COTA highlighted the crew’s upward trajectory.
He said, “It felt really good to finish on the podium for the first time in the Pro class. Sonoma didn’t go as well as I had hoped – I felt like I still had more in me, so to come here and be competitive, fighting with the Pro class was good, and even to be fighting for the win. Hoping to get on the top step soon!”
Therefore, the result not only boosts morale but also reinforces their belief that a victory is within reach.
Team execution proves decisive
Team owner Will Turner praised the collective effort, particularly given the challenges posed by late regulatory adjustments ahead of the race weekend.
He said, “I’m super proud of the drivers and the team to execute basically a perfect race, especially considering the rules changed just before this race. We had to be careful not to get caught out. Congrats to Robby and Justin on their first Pro podium of the year. I have a feeling it won’t be their last.”
With a breakthrough podium now secured, Turner Motorsport heads to the next round at Sebring International Raceway with renewed confidence.
Importantly, the performance at COTA demonstrates that Foley and Rothberg can compete at the front of the Pro field. If they maintain this trajectory, their first victory of the season may arrive sooner rather than later.
