GMG Racing arrives at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with momentum across three SRO America championships, as the 2026 season reaches its midpoint.
The team enters the weekend leading five championship battles while remaining firmly in contention in four others. Across GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS, GT America powered by AWS and McLaren Trophy America, GMG Racing will field six drivers in four classes, with five races and six hours of competition ahead.
Washington and Sargent reclaim Pro-Am lead
Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent lead GMG Racing’s charge into Road Atlanta after reclaiming the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am driver and team championship leads at Sebring.
The No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo crew took its second win from the opening three races last month. That result followed victory at Sonoma and fourth place at Circuit of The Americas, giving Washington, Sargent and GMG Racing 62 points. They now hold a seven-point advantage over their nearest rivals.
Team founder and principal James Sofronas believes the team’s preparation for GT World Challenge America’s new race format has helped shape its strong start.
“This is a new era in GT World Challenge America with the three hour races and all of us at GMG Racing have been working on and within this new format since it was announced,” said GMG Racing Founder and Principal James Sofronas.
“We knew it would suit the championship experience of the GMG Racing team and would fit the driving styles of Kyle and Tom perfectly as well. The hard work you put into a racing program doesn’t always equal success, but by just focusing on and maximizing everything within our control has paid off so far this season. We said going into Sebring, the third race of a season is when you typically take a look at the points.
“Heading into the mid-season race this weekend at Road Atlanta, the points picture is the best it has looked all year. The plan is to keep our heads down, our focus clear and keep doing what we have been doing one race at a time.”
Washington credits team chemistry
Washington has developed a strong partnership with Sargent across three seasons. Moreover, he has seen GMG Racing continue to strengthen its wider operation, including through its facilities at The Thermal Club.
As the team enters Road Atlanta with championship expectations, Washington says the group’s growing cohesion has played a major role in its results.
“The team is really coming together,” Washington said. “This is basically our third year together and we’re really gelling. Tom is doing an amazing job, management is doing great, and we have great new facilities at The Thermal Club, so we can work on the cars a lot more.
“You know, it’s a lot of people that have to come together. You have to be a really good team and a little bit lucky to make it to the top spot. We have been lucky a couple times already this year, but the saying is you make your luck, so it could mean we might be well prepared and good too! I do feel a little more pressure because we do have a big team now, and we’re all counting on being in podium positions, and not just there for the racing.
“So, I take it a little bit more seriously, and I think my skills, with Tom’s coaching and really all the coaches I have had in the last five years, it all adds up to understanding the car more.”
Sargent sees promise after Sebring win
While GMG Racing took victory at Sebring, Sargent described a demanding run to the flag. Contact, off-track moments and changing race conditions all shaped the event, yet the team still converted its pace into another major result.
Consequently, Sargent arrives at Road Atlanta encouraged by the team’s championship position and by the fact that some of GMG Racing’s traditionally stronger circuits still remain on the calendar.
“Kyle took huge hits on the opening lap, which knocked him back, and then I finished it up with some pretty big hits as well,” Sargent said.
“Then I went flying through Turn 1 in the dirt, so to say it was not a clean run is a bit of an understatement! In my mind, it was just racing, there was nothing on anyone, and in the end we brought it home. The car is obviously so good, the GMG Racing team is doing great, and there’s no denying that and we had the pace. The safety car in the last hour worked out too for us.
“The next race in Atlanta is the mid-season rounds, so it’s good to be leading the championship again. Sebring and Sonoma have traditionally been our worst rounds of the year, but now we have won both of them, with some of our sweet tracks, like Road America and Barber, still to come. Road Atlanta is a bit of an unknown, but GMG Racing and Kyle have been there, we all had a good test recently, and I think we will be okay. It suits our style.”
McLaren Trophy title defence gathers pace
GMG Racing also enters Road Atlanta as the reigning and inaugural McLaren Trophy America Team Champion. The team has started its title defence strongly and leads the 2026 team standings with 24 points, four clear of its closest challenger.
In addition, first-year GMG Racing drivers Deniz Teoman and Randy Highland both lead their respective Papaya Cup championship battles. The Papaya Cup recognises McLaren Trophy Pro-Am and Am drivers over a certain age or with limited race experience.
Teoman and Jeff Cook delivered GMG Racing’s first McLaren Trophy win of the season last month in Miami. The No. 5 GMG Racing McLaren Artura Trophy pairing won the Am class and finished second overall after leading the opening half of the race from pole position.
Meanwhile, Highland and debuting GMG Racing driver Michael O’Brien finished third in Pro-Am in the No. 7 GMG Racing McLaren Artura Trophy. Their result extended GMG Racing’s McLaren Trophy run to six podium visits from the first three races.
Sofronas says the McLaren Trophy programme has given GMG Racing another reason for optimism.
“We are just as proud of our McLaren Trophy success this year as we are with our championship-leading GT World Challenge campaign,” Sofronas said.
“In some ways, it is even more gratifying as our McLaren entries are with completely new drivers to our team this year. The entire group, most recently with the addition of Michael O’Brien beginning at Miami, has gelled in a way that is reminiscent of the bond Kyle and Tom built over the last three years together. Plenty of racing ahead on all fronts this season, but we are encouraged by the immediate success all of our teams and drivers have demonstrated and incredibly proud of their early accomplishment.”
Highland prepares for Road Atlanta debut
Road Atlanta will offer a new challenge for both Highland and O’Brien. However, the pair recently tested at the circuit with their GMG Racing team-mates, giving them valuable preparation before the mid-season McLaren Trophy races.
Highland expects the circuit’s elevation changes and high-speed corners to create a demanding but exciting weekend.
“This will be our first time for me and Michael racing at Road Atlanta,” Highland said. “Testing there recently with our GMG Racing teammates in preparation for this week’s Trophy event was invaluable. It definitely paid dividends with getting familiar with the track layout and prepping the car setup, which is an area that the GMG engineering team excels in. First impression of the track and its setting was amazing, lots of elevation change, several high-speed corners, and it will certainly present different and exciting challenges from our last outing at Miami. Going into this week’s race, we’re optimistic about continuing to improve our results and ability to be in the Pro-Am podium mix throughout the weekend.”
Teoman, Cook and the No. 5 team sit second in the overall McLaren Trophy Am standings with 28 points. They trail the class leaders by five points and hold a 12-point advantage over third place.
Highland, now partnered by O’Brien for the rest of the season, sits fourth in the overall Pro-Am standings with 21 points. He stands three points behind third and six points ahead of fifth.
O’Brien targets another step forward
O’Brien joined GMG Racing at Miami and quickly reached the podium with Highland. Now, he wants to build on that start as he continues to learn the car, the team and the championship environment.
The British McLaren Racing Champion also praised GMG Racing’s preparation after the team completed its Road Atlanta test.
“We’ve been working hard since Miami to keep improving our performance, and Randy’s ability to learn quickly means that we’re continuing on a positive trajectory rolling into Atlanta,” O’Brien said.
“I’ve been getting more comfortable with the team and the car set up, so I think I can take another step from Miami. I’m really looking forward to taking on one of America’s most iconic road courses with Randy and trying to continue his podium streak! We were fortunate enough to enjoy a successful test last week, with the GMG crew understanding the track’s unique demands. First impressions of the track were great, and I’m loving the old school, bumpy feel that the track has to offer.”
Washington also remains in GT America contention
Alongside his GT World Challenge America campaign, Washington remains in the GT America powered by AWS title fight for the second consecutive year.
At Sebring, he took his third runner-up finish from the first six races of the GT America season. He started Sunday’s race from pole and finished second, following a third-place result in Saturday’s sprint. As a result, Washington became the only multi-series GT driver at Sebring to reach the podium in three different races across the weekend.
That form gives GMG Racing another major storyline at Road Atlanta, where Washington will again balance multiple championship pursuits.
Busy Road Atlanta schedule awaits
GMG Racing’s Road Atlanta weekend will begin on Saturday, June 13, with McLaren Trophy and GT America sprint races running back-to-back at 2:25 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. EDT respectively.
On Sunday, June 14, McLaren Trophy will return at 9 a.m., before the final GT America race starts at 12:15 p.m. EDT. The three-hour GT World Challenge America race will then close GMG Racing’s weekend at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
All races and qualifying sessions from Road Atlanta will stream live on the GTWorld YouTube channel, SRO Motorsports Twitch and SRO RaceControl powered by Vbrick.
Ultimately, GMG Racing enters Road Atlanta with title momentum across several fronts. Washington and Sargent lead the Pro-Am fight, the McLaren Trophy squad continues its strong title defence, and Washington remains in GT America contention. With the season now reaching its midpoint, Road Atlanta gives the team a major chance to strengthen its position across the SRO America paddock.
