GMG Racing endured a frustrating yet competitive weekend at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in the second round of the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS. Despite showing front-running pace throughout Practice, Qualifying, and the race, Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent ultimately finished fourth in the Pro-Am class after an early safety car period compromised their strategy.
Nevertheless, the team demonstrated resilience and speed, recovering significant ground in a race that remained green for nearly its entire duration after the opening interruptions. At the same time, Washington continued to build momentum in the GT America championship with another podium finish.
Early Safety Car defines Pro-Am outcome at Round 2 of the 2026 GTWC America at COTA
From the start, GMG Racing positioned itself as a serious contender for victory. Washington took the opening stint in the No. 32 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo and ran among the leaders before the race was neutralised by consecutive full-course cautions.
However, the timing of the second Safety Car proved decisive. While several competitors managed to pit before the field slowed, Washington and others missed that critical window. Consequently, the eventual podium finishers gained a strategic advantage that proved impossible to overturn.
Despite this setback, Washington and Sargent pushed relentlessly during the remaining two hours and 40 minutes of uninterrupted green-flag racing, reducing a significant gap but ultimately falling short.
“It is definitely what everybody calls ‘one of those racing things,’ but no one expected the last two hours plus of the race to go entirely green,” said GMG Racing Founder and Principal James Sofronas. “We tried to get in the pits with the others during that caution but paid the price the entire race. Still, Kyle never quit pushing and Tom showed again he is the fastest guy in the series and why he has already won four races this year in Porsches around the world. Fourth is still good points, and the championship battle is all on now, but this was a tough one to take. We will shift the focus to Sebring two weeks from now and get back on the top step of the podium.”
Sargent sets benchmark pace in recovery charge
As the race progressed, Tom Sargent delivered an impressive recovery drive. Not only did he set the fastest lap of the race with a 2:04.138, but he also clawed back a substantial portion of the deficit to the leaders.
Moreover, his performance underlined GMG Racing’s raw pace, even in adverse circumstances. The team regained up to 50 seconds in a short period, highlighting what might have been without the early disruption.
“When you’re doing a championship, winning is amazing but every race is just maximizing, even maximizing your bad days,” Sargent said. “For us, it shouldn’t have been a bad day, but because of the timing of the safety car, it ended up being a bad day. So, we made the most of it and got back to P4. I don’t know how many seconds we regained, 40 or 50 seconds in a pretty short period of time, really quick. The guys did a good job on the strategy, we did the best we could, but it just wasn’t our day today. I expected a few more safety cars, considering how hot and greasy it was, but that’s just the way it is.”
Washington strengthens GT America title bid
Although the GT World Challenge result proved disappointing, Kyle Washington delivered a strong response in GT America powered by AWS competition. He secured a second-place finish in Sunday’s sprint race, marking his second runner-up result of the season.
As a result, Washington remains firmly in the early championship fight. While Memo Gidley has established a commanding lead with four consecutive victories, Washington holds a strong position to capitalise on any shift in momentum.
Importantly, his consistency across both championships reinforces his status as a dual-threat contender as the season progresses.
Focus shifts to Sebring showdown
Looking ahead, GMG Racing will quickly turn its attention to the next round at Sebring International Raceway on 8–10 May. The circuit holds positive memories for Washington, who claimed a GT America victory there last season.
Therefore, the team approaches the upcoming event with renewed determination. While COTA exposed how quickly strategy can reshape a race, it also confirmed GMG Racing’s underlying pace and competitiveness.
Ultimately, if execution aligns with performance at Sebring, GMG Racing will remain a formidable force in both GT World Challenge America and GT America as the 2026 season continues to unfold.
