Wright Motorsports continued its 2026 GTWC America campaign at Sebring International Raceway with another determined showing in a demanding three-hour race. The Ohio-based team faced intense heat, changing race conditions, and late pressure, yet still delivered a strong Pro-Am result with the No. 31 Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Dave Musial Jr. and Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver Ryan Yardley secured fourth in Pro-Am after combining smart strategy with measured execution. As a result, the pairing extended its run of top-four finishes to three consecutive rounds, following second place at Sonoma and victory at Circuit of The Americas.
Meanwhile, the sister No. 242 Porsche entry of Therese Lahlouh and Thomas Merrill fought through adversity to gain further experience in their first GT3 championship season. In addition, Wright Motorsports also continued its GT America powered by AWS programme with Dave Musial and Jon Manship in the SRO3 class.
Musial Jr. and Yardley continue consistent 2026 GTWC America Pro-Am campaign at Sebring
Musial Jr. and Yardley entered Sebring with momentum after a strong start to their debut GT World Challenge America season. Although they qualified fifth in class and tenth overall, the No. 31 Porsche remained firmly in the Pro-Am fight from the early stages.
Musial Jr. handled the opening half of the race and kept the car in contention while the team committed to an early pit stop strategy. By topping off on fuel, Wright Motorsports created greater flexibility for the second stint and gave Yardley room to attack later in the race.
Yardley took over just before the halfway mark and quickly settled into fifth position. Shortly afterwards, he advanced to fourth and placed the No. 31 Porsche in position to capitalise as the race intensified.
“Fourth place is a strong result, but we’re definitely leaving Sebring wanting more,” said Dave Musial Jr. “Ryan and the team did an awesome job. Let’s keep pushing!”
Late-race fight highlights Yardley’s pace
As the race moved into its closing stages, Yardley became locked in a fierce battle with another Pro-Am Porsche. The pair exchanged positions multiple times, creating one of the most competitive fights in the class.
Then, with around 45 minutes remaining, a Full Course Yellow reset the field and set up a final sprint to the finish. Yardley kept the No. 31 Porsche in the fight and crossed the line fifth in class. However, a post-race penalty for a competitor elevated Musial Jr. and Yardley to fourth in the final classification.
Consequently, the result continued their impressive run of consistency and reinforced the team’s ability to score strongly even when the podium remains just out of reach.
“Another solid weekend alongside Dave Musial Jr. and Wright Motorsports,” added Ryan Yardley. “A P4 result at the end shows the consistency we have as a team. I’m excited to keep learning this GT3 platform, and looking forward to heading to Road Atlanta in a month’s time.”
Lahlouh and Merrill battle through Sebring adversity
On the other side of the garage, Lahlouh and Merrill faced a more challenging race in the No. 242 Porsche. The duo started 14th overall and ninth in class, but an early setback in the opening stint forced them into recovery mode.
Nevertheless, they continued to push forward throughout the race. By staying focused and managing the difficult conditions, they brought the car home 12th overall and eighth in class.
Although the final result did not match their expectations, the weekend gave the pairing valuable mileage and further experience in their first GT3 championship season.
“Sebring was a wild ride as always,” exclaimed Therese Lahlouh. “Not quite the result we were hoping for, but a spectacular effort from the whole team at Wright Motorsports and my co-driver Thomas Merrill. We brought the fight, dug deep in the heat, and now come out stronger for it. As much as I wish it was another podium, I’m proud I pushed as hard as I could and made mistakes I can learn from. I can’t thank my team enough for all the hard work in brutal conditions. Let’s go get that hardware in Atlanta!”
Merrill praises team effort after tough 2026 GTWC America weekend at Sebring
Merrill also recognised the challenge Sebring presented. The Florida circuit demanded focus, patience, and resilience, especially as heat and race intensity tested both drivers and crew.
Despite the setbacks, the No. 242 crew completed the race and gathered important data ahead of the next round. Therefore, Wright Motorsports left Sebring with lessons that can support both Porsche entries as the season progresses.
“It was a bit of a character-building weekend,” echoed Thomas Merrill. “Sebring is really something else. Big thank you to Therese and the entire Wright Motorsports team for digging deep and powering through such a tough race in the heat. They really soldiered on, and this only makes us more eager for the next one at Road Atlanta.”
GT America programme gains more Sebring experience
In GT America powered by AWS, Dave Musial and Jon Manship also represented Wright Motorsports in the SRO3 class. Both drivers competed in the weekend’s doubleheader sprint races aboard the No. 72 and No. 216 Porsche 911 GT3 R entries.
The 40-minute races unfolded in sweltering Florida heat and created another difficult challenge around Sebring. Although the results did not meet the drivers’ ambitions, the outings still provided useful experience in demanding conditions.
Wright Motorsports turns focus to Road Atlanta
After a busy Sebring weekend, Wright Motorsports now shifts its attention to the next round of the 2026 SRO America season. The team will return to action from 12–14 June at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
With Musial Jr. and Yardley carrying three consecutive top-four finishes, and Lahlouh and Merrill continuing to build experience, Wright Motorsports heads to Georgia with momentum, determination, and another opportunity to fight for silverware.
