Philip Ellis will make a one-off return to GTWC America powered by AWS this weekend as the championship heads to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the fourth round of the 2026 season.
The Mercedes-AMG factory driver will replace Lorcan Hanafin in the No. 27 JMF Motorsports Pro-Am entry, where he will share driving duties with Jason Daskalos. Hanafin will miss the Road Atlanta event after receiving a late call-up to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a TF Sport/JMR Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
The championship will visit Road Atlanta from June 12-14, with the venue returning to the SRO America calendar for the first time since 2011.
Ellis steps in for Le Mans-bound Hanafin
Ellis brings proven GTWC America experience back to the paddock. The Mercedes-AMG factory driver previously became a regular front-runner in the SRO America-run championship with DXDT/Regulator Racing, although that operation does not compete in the series this year.
Now, he returns in the Pro-Am class with JMF Motorsports as Hanafin switches focus to Le Mans. As a result, Daskalos will gain an experienced replacement for a weekend that could prove important in the class battle.
JMF will also field its Pro-class entry at Road Atlanta, with championship leaders Michai Stephens and Mikael Grenier looking to protect their advantage after a tighter Sebring round. The official entry list names Ellis alongside Daskalos in the No. 27 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
Simonsen set for GTWC America debut with AF Corse
The Road Atlanta entry list features another late change, as Benny Simonsen will replace the injured Ozz Negri in the Am class.
Negri recently underwent surgery after rupturing his Achilles tendon, which ruled him out of the event. Therefore, Simonsen will make his GT World Challenge America debut in the No. 163 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo alongside Jay Schreibman.
Simonsen, the brother of the late Allan Simonsen, adds another experienced name to the field as AF Corse adjusts its line-up for the Georgia weekend.
2026 GTWC America Road Atlanta grid reduced to 19 cars
GTWC America will run with a 19-car field at Road Atlanta. The entry has dropped by two cars compared with last month’s event at Sebring International Raceway.
The partial-season Ferrari from Triarsi Competizione does not appear on the Road Atlanta entry. Meanwhile, the Chouest Povoledo Racing Corvette, which only joined practice sessions for GT America powered by AWS preparation, also drops away from the field.
Despite the smaller grid, the field still features a competitive mix across Pro, Pro-Am and Am. The official entry list confirms cars from manufacturers including Mercedes-AMG, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Ford and Chevrolet.
Pro title fight tightens after Turner breakthrough
The Pro class arrives at Road Atlanta with renewed pressure at the top of the standings. Turner Motorsport’s Robby Foley and Justin Rothberg cut the gap to JMF’s Stephens and Grenier after claiming their breakthrough win at Sebring.
That result reduced the deficit to five points and gave Turner a clear opportunity to continue its charge in Georgia. However, Stephens and Grenier still lead the class and will aim to respond quickly as the season reaches its midway phase.
Road Atlanta’s fast, flowing layout should create a different challenge from Sebring. Consequently, qualifying and traffic management could play key roles across the three-hour race.
Porsche crews continue to control Pro-Am
While the Pro fight has tightened, the Pro-Am class remains firmly shaped by Porsche momentum. Drivers racing the Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo occupy the top four positions in the class standings.
GMG Racing’s Kyle Washington and Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver Tom Sargent lead that group after taking their second class win of the season last time out. With that form behind them, they will head to Road Atlanta as one of the key crews to beat.
However, Ellis’ arrival at JMF adds further intrigue to the Pro-Am contest. His experience and pace could help Daskalos challenge immediately, even with the driver change coming for a one-off appearance.
SRO America returns to Road Atlanta after long absence
Road Atlanta replaces Virginia International Raceway on this year’s calendar and brings GT World Challenge America back to a venue with deep sports car heritage.
The track last appeared on the SRO America calendar in 2011, when Pirelli World Challenge served as a support series for Petit Le Mans. Its return gives the championship another high-speed venue during a season that has already visited Sonoma, Circuit of the Americas and Sebring.
Track action for GTWC America competitors begins on Friday with a test session and opening practice. Two further sessions follow on Saturday before qualifying takes place in the evening.
The weekend will conclude with Sunday’s three-hour feature race at 3:30 p.m. EST, with live coverage available on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.
