The 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) powered by AWS season is rapidly approaching its conclusion, with the Global Manufacturers’ Championship entering its decisive stages as the remaining continental series complete their final rounds.
In North America, Barber Motorsports Park hosted the penultimate round of the GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS campaign and the final conventional three-hour race of the season. The championship now heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour, where GTWC America competitors will join the Intercontinental GT Challenge field for their respective season finales.
Following the Barber Motorsports Park round, Mercedes-AMG continues to lead the GT World Challenge Global Manufacturers’ Championship with 1,027 points. Porsche remains its nearest challenger on 964, while Ferrari holds third with 890.
Mercedes-AMG retains global championship lead
Mercedes-AMG added another 48 points to its global championship total at Barber, keeping the manufacturer at the top of the standings as the season approaches its conclusion.
Notably, Mercedes-AMG Team JMF Motorsports led the marque’s challenge in Alabama. Michai Stephens and Mikael Grenier finished second overall and in the Pro class aboard the No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, adding another significant result to their consistent 2026 campaign.
The pairing had arrived at Barber leading the GTWC America Pro championship and strengthened that position with their second consecutive runner-up finish. Stephens and Grenier now carry a nine-point Drivers’ Championship advantage into Indianapolis after moving to 114 points.
Their result also ensured JMF Motorsports remained at the top of the Pro Teams’ standings. The Canadian squad now holds 114 points, nine clear of AF Corse USA and ten ahead of Turner Motorsport.
Meanwhile, Jason Daskalos and Philip Ellis added further points for Mercedes-AMG with fourth in Pro-Am aboard the sister No. 27 JMF Motorsports entry.
The combined performances allowed Mercedes-AMG to maintain its position at the head of the global standings. With 1,027 points, the manufacturer holds a 63-point advantage over Porsche heading into the next phase of the championship.
Porsche remains Mercedes-AMG’s nearest challenger
Porsche continues to occupy second in the global manufacturers’ standings after another productive GTWC America weekend.
The marque placed cars on both the Pro and Pro-Am podiums at Barber, with McCann Racing, RS1 and GMG Racing contributing strong results across the two categories.
Michael McCann Jr. and Zachary Vanier delivered Porsche’s Pro podium. The McCann Racing pairing used an alternative strategy to move into contention before Vanier defended third during the closing stages.
Robby Foley applied late pressure in the Turner Motorsport BMW, but Vanier held the position and secured McCann Racing’s second Pro podium of the season.
Porsche also placed two cars on the Pro-Am podium. Danny Dyszelski and Jan Heylen finished second for RS1, while Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent completed the top three for GMG Racing.
The latter result carried particular significance for the GTWC America championship. Washington suffered contact during the opening stages and fell a lap behind, but GMG Racing recovered through strategy and pace before Sargent completed the drive back to the podium.
Their recovery allowed Washington and Sargent to reclaim the Pro-Am Drivers’ Championship lead. They arrived in Alabama three points behind Wright Motorsports’ Dave Musial Jr. and Ryan Yardley but leave with a six-point advantage.
Porsche therefore remains Mercedes-AMG’s closest global challenger with 964 points, although the gap has increased to 63.
Ferrari closes with Barber victory
Ferrari produced the strongest outright result among the leading global championship manufacturers at Barber as AF Corse USA converted another pole position into victory.
Matias Perez Companc and Frederik Schandorff continued the No. 12 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO’s remarkable qualifying record by securing overall pole for the third consecutive GTWC America round.
The pair then carried that pace into Sunday’s three-hour race. After losing the lead during the contest, AF Corse USA recovered through the pit sequence before Schandorff returned the Ferrari to the front.
Perez Companc and Schandorff ultimately secured the overall and Pro victory, giving AF Corse USA its second Pro win of the season. The result also moved Perez Companc into second in the GTWC America Drivers’ Championship, nine points behind Stephens and Grenier.
Ferrari added another class victory through AF Corse USA’s Am entry.
Jay Schreibman reunited with Oswaldo Negri for Barber after the latter missed the previous two rounds through injury. Despite encountering difficulties during the race, the pair brought the No. 163 Ferrari home to claim another Am victory.
Schreibman consequently extended his championship advantage, while Negri strengthened his position in second.
With 890 points, Ferrari remains third in the global manufacturers’ standings. The marque sits 74 points behind Porsche and 137 behind Mercedes-AMG as the international championship moves towards its final events.
Mercedes-AMG leads top three into closing stages
The Global Manufacturers’ Championship continues to place Mercedes-AMG firmly at the head of the order after Barber.
Mercedes-AMG leads with 1,027 points, while Porsche follows on 964. Ferrari remains third on 890.
Behind the leading trio, BMW M occupies fourth with 661 points. Audi Sport sits fifth on 592, while McLaren follows with 269. Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Ford and Corvette complete the manufacturer classification.
However, several rounds remain across the four continental GT World Challenge championships, leaving more opportunities for the standings to change before the global title reaches its conclusion.
GT World Challenge Global Manufacturers’ standings
- Mercedes-AMG – 1,027 points
- Porsche – 964
- Ferrari – 890
- BMW M – 661
- Audi Sport – 592
- McLaren – 269
- Aston Martin – 185
- Lamborghini – 145
- Ford – 84
- Corvette – 0
Beijing and Barcelona up next
The global championship continues immediately with two events across the 2–4 October weekend.
GT World Challenge Asia heads to the Beijing Street Circuit for its season finale, with the Chinese event featuring the final two one-hour races of the campaign.
At the same time, GT World Challenge Europe travels to Barcelona for the final Sprint Cup weekend of the season. Both championships will therefore provide Mercedes-AMG, Porsche and Ferrari with further opportunities to add to their global totals before attention shifts back towards North America.
GTWC America then concludes at the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour, where its competitors will share the grid with the Intercontinental GT Challenge field.
With Mercedes-AMG leading Porsche by 63 points and Ferrari still within reach of the leading pair, the next rounds in Beijing and Barcelona will provide another important chapter in the 2026 Global Manufacturers’ Championship fight.
