GMG Racing Team Owner and Founder James Sofronas has praised Kyle Washington, Riccardo Pera and Ayhancan Güven following their historic victory at the 2026 DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour, which secured the team’s first major endurance racing triumph and the GT World Challenge (GTWC) America Pro-Am Championship.
The trio delivered a commanding performance in the #32 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, finishing 56.209 seconds ahead of Archangel Motorsports’ McLaren. Their victory established a new Indianapolis 8 Hour winning margin record and made GMG Racing the first Pro-Am team to win the event outright in its seven-year history. The result also marked Porsche’s first overall Indianapolis 8 Hour victory and secured the manufacturer’s fourth Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) title.
For Washington, the triumph carried additional significance as he secured his maiden GTWC America Drivers’ Championship alongside GMG Racing’s Pro-Am Teams’ title. The result completed a remarkable 20th-anniversary season for the American outfit, which entered Indianapolis primarily focused on its domestic Championship ambitions before emerging victorious against the entire GT3 field.
GMG Racing completes 20th-anniversary season with landmark victory
GMG Racing’s Indianapolis triumph represented one of the most significant achievements in the organisation’s history, delivering its first major endurance racing victory after two decades competing in motorsport. The California-based team has established itself across several GT racing championships, but its 2026 Indianapolis performance provided a landmark result.
The team entered the season finale holding a narrow advantage in the Pro-Am standings, with Washington and regular teammate Tom Sargent having established themselves among the leading contenders throughout the campaign. However, the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented a considerably different challenge from the regular GTWC America rounds, with a larger field and an eight-hour format requiring effective strategy and consistent execution.
GMG ultimately exceeded its initial objectives, combining the Pro-Am Championship with a record-breaking overall victory. The historic Indianapolis result also demonstrated the strength of the team’s driver combination and its ability to compete against established international GT3 operations.
For Sofronas, the achievement represented a particularly meaningful conclusion to GMG’s anniversary season, rewarding both the team’s personnel and Washington’s longstanding commitment to the operation.
Sofronas praises Washington’s contribution to historic success
Sofronas expressed considerable pride in Washington following the team’s Indianapolis victory, recognising the American driver’s dedication and his importance to GMG Racing’s continued development.
Although Pera and Güven delivered much of the outright pace during the latter stages, Washington’s performance during the opening hours proved essential to the team’s success. His controlled approach allowed GMG to complete the necessary Am-rated driving time while preserving the Porsche for the professional drivers who would subsequently challenge for victory.
Reflecting on the result, Sofronas emphasised how much the achievement meant for Washington, who had worked consistently towards securing his first GTWC America Championship.
“It means a lot, especially for a guy like Kyle who gives and gives and gives and rarely takes,” Sofronas said. “I’m super proud of him.
Sofronas continued, “He deserves it. He worked hard for it. He earned it. You know what, they dominated on Saturday and Kyle had a big part in it.”
The victory represented more than a successful race weekend for GMG, providing a fitting reward for the relationships and efforts that had supported the team’s progress throughout the season.
Washington and Sargent establish foundation for title challenge
Before Indianapolis, Washington had competed alongside Sargent throughout the 2026 GTWC America campaign, with the pair securing two victories and several strong results to establish themselves among the leading Pro-Am Championship contenders.
Their performances included victories at Sonoma and Sebring, alongside third- and fourth-place finishes that helped maintain their position in the standings. Although a difficult Road America weekend temporarily cost them the Championship lead, the pair responded at Barber Motorsports Park, recovering from an early incident to finish third in class.
The Barber result restored their advantage in the standings, giving GMG a six-point lead over Wright Motorsports heading into the double-points Indianapolis finale.
However, Sargent was unable to compete in the decisive event because of his European Le Mans Series commitments. The Australian prioritised his ELMS title challenge with Proton Competition, leaving Washington to complete the GTWC America campaign with a revised line-up.
GMG consequently recruited Porsche drivers Pera and Güven, combining their experience with Washington’s knowledge of the team. Although the replacements ultimately shared the historic Indianapolis victory, Sargent’s earlier contributions remained central to the Championship-winning campaign.
GMG demonstrates competitive pace before Indianapolis race
The revised driver combination quickly established itself among the fastest entries during the Indianapolis weekend, with Güven leading both official test sessions aboard the #32 Porsche.
The Turkish driver initially recorded a 1:24.333 in the opening test before improving to a 1:23.655 during Thursday’s second session. His performance placed GMG ahead of several factory-supported competitors and highlighted the potential of the team’s updated line-up.
The strong testing results carried into qualifying, where Güven initially secured second in Superpole with a 1:22.807. The lap placed him only 0.002 seconds behind Turner Motorsport’s Robby Foley, who secured pole position in the #29 BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
However, the team’s promising qualifying result was subsequently overturned following technical inspections. The Porsche failed the minimum ground-clearance requirements, resulting in the deletion of its Superpole time and a lower starting position.
Despite the setback, GMG’s pace provided encouragement ahead of the eight-hour race, with the team confident that its Porsche remained capable of challenging the leading competitors.
Washington’s opening stints provide platform for victory
Washington started the Indianapolis 8 Hour from the midfield, facing the challenge of navigating a competitive GT3 field while protecting the team’s Championship aspirations.
The opening stages featured several incidents, including accidents that forced leading Pro competitors into retirement. However, Washington avoided those difficulties, maintaining a consistent pace and ensuring the #32 Porsche remained competitive.
Rather than attempting to match the outright speed of the professional drivers around him, Washington concentrated on completing his required driving time without compromising the car. He successfully completed a double stint during the opening hours, allowing GMG to satisfy its mandatory Am-rated driving requirements early in the race.
The decision provided considerable strategic flexibility, leaving Pera and Güven to complete the remaining stints without needing to return Washington to the wheel.
Although the Porsche remained outside the leading positions when he handed over, Washington had delivered exactly what the team required. His clean performance provided the foundation for GMG’s subsequent strategy, which would ultimately transform its Pro-Am Championship challenge into an outright victory.
Washington credits team personnel for Championship success
Following the race, Washington reflected on the significance of securing his first Championship and the collective effort required to deliver GMG’s historic result.
The American acknowledged how much his understanding of racing had developed since joining the sport, particularly regarding the responsibilities of the personnel working behind the scenes. He also emphasised the importance of consistent preparation throughout the season, recognising that the team’s success depended on far more than the performances of its drivers.
Washington expressed his gratitude towards everyone involved in GMG’s programme, highlighting the dedication required to prepare a competitive car for each event.
“Well, as I say on my kids’ report cards, I think we exceeded expectations for the year, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team,” Washington said. “When I first got into racing, I didn’t really understand how many parts there were to the program. We have 30-plus people on the team, every one of them with a specific job, and if one of them doesn’t do it, it all falls apart. Every single one of these guys just worked their asses off, way more than me, quite frankly. I am just so proud of them. They gave us a great car every weekend, and, you know, we got lucky. We had some luck on our side too. You got to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good. And we were good.”
The result rewarded Washington’s development as a driver while recognising the contributions of the wider GMG operation.
Pera and Güven bring GMG into contention
Following Washington’s opening stints, Pera and Güven took responsibility for moving the Porsche through the field and challenging the leading competitors.
Pera immediately demonstrated competitive pace, recovering positions while establishing GMG among the leading Pro-Am entries. His performance also helped the team close the gap to several Pro competitors, creating opportunities to challenge for a stronger overall result.
Meanwhile, Güven maintained the pace he had demonstrated throughout testing and qualifying, ensuring GMG remained competitive as the race progressed. The combination of both drivers proved particularly effective as the team began considering an alternative strategy.
Rather than following the same pit-stop sequence as its rivals, GMG committed to an approach that would allow the #32 Porsche to complete its remaining stops at favourable intervals before the chequered flag.
The official IGTC race account highlighted the significance of the team’s decision to stop approximately 20 minutes before reaching its permitted stint limit, positioning it to capitalise on uninterrupted running.
With Washington’s mandatory driving time complete, Pera and Güven could focus entirely on maintaining the pace necessary to execute that strategy successfully.
Pera praises effective strategy and execution
Pera’s contribution proved especially important as GMG moved towards the front, with the Italian delivering competitive stints despite making his first appearance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
His familiarity with Porsche GT3 machinery allowed him to adapt quickly to the circuit’s demands, while his race pace helped the team recover positions during the middle stages. As GMG’s alternative strategy began producing results, Pera also played a significant role in maintaining the team’s advantage over its rivals.
The Italian praised Washington’s opening performance and Güven’s contribution while highlighting the importance of the team’s preparation and execution.
“The execution of the race was really good,” Pera said. “The team did a really good job on the car and on the strategy side. I jumped in the car after Kyle did a really mega job, and then I was able to make up some positions and get to the front. Then Ayhancan also drove really amazingly. The strategy was good. We realized we were fast, we could win the race, and we stayed out of trouble. At the end, we just reached first position. It’s amazing.”
The Indianapolis victory represented an impressive outcome for Pera’s first appearance at the venue, rewarding his performance and the team’s confidence in its revised line-up.
Alternative pit-stop strategy proves decisive
GMG’s victory ultimately depended on a strategic decision that initially made the #32 Porsche appear out of sequence with several of its leading rivals.
While other competitors followed conventional pit-stop intervals, GMG adopted a different approach, calculating its remaining fuel and stint requirements around the scheduled finish. The strategy initially obscured the Porsche’s true position relative to its rivals because the leading entries were operating on different pit-stop cycles.
However, as the race continued without further caution periods, the advantage of GMG’s approach became increasingly apparent. The final five hours and 39 minutes ran under green-flag conditions, allowing the team to complete its planned stops without an unexpected neutralisation disrupting its calculations.
Pera and Güven maintained strong lap times throughout the remaining stints, while the team’s pit crew executed the required stops efficiently. As the different strategies converged, the Porsche moved into a position to challenge for overall victory.
By the closing stages, GMG had established a substantial advantage over its nearest competitors, leaving Güven to complete the final stint with the team’s strategy having delivered exactly the result it had targeted.
Güven reflects on redemption after previous Indianapolis disappointment
For Güven, the Indianapolis victory carried additional significance following a disappointing previous appearance with GMG Racing.
The Turkish driver had competed with the team two years earlier while leading the IGTC Drivers’ Championship, but a difficult race prevented him from capitalising on that position. His return in 2026 therefore provided another opportunity to deliver a strong performance at the venue.
Although GMG entered the race primarily focused on Washington’s Pro-Am title, the team’s ambitions expanded as its alternative strategy began producing results. Pera and Güven consequently increased their pace, recognising that an outright victory had become achievable.
Güven reflected on the team’s determination to return stronger and the moment when its approach began paying off.
“I came here two years ago with this team as the IGTC leader but unfortunately we had a really bad race,” Güven said. “However, ever since that day, we’ve kept telling ourselves that we’d come back stronger. Kyle put in a really good stint, and we were hopeful that the strategy would pay off. Halfway through the race, it became clear to us that we might even be able to aim for overall victory. From that moment on, with Riccardo at the wheel, we really put our foot down, and in the end, it worked out really well.”
The result provided a memorable response to that earlier disappointment and added another major GT3 achievement to Güven’s racing record.
Record victory delivers multiple milestones for GMG and Porsche
Güven completed the final stint without significant difficulties, bringing the #32 Porsche home 56.209 seconds ahead of Archangel Motorsports’ McLaren.
The margin established a new Indianapolis 8 Hour winning record, while GMG became the first Pro-Am team to secure overall victory in the event’s seven-year history. The result also delivered Porsche its maiden outright Indianapolis 8 Hour triumph, adding another important achievement to the manufacturer’s international GT3 programme.
For Washington, the success secured his first GTWC America Drivers’ Championship after a season in which he and Sargent had consistently challenged for strong results. GMG Racing also claimed the Pro-Am Teams’ Championship, completing a double title-winning campaign.
The victory carried additional significance for Porsche’s IGTC ambitions, with the manufacturer entering Indianapolis holding a commanding advantage over Mercedes-AMG.
GMG’s overall triumph secured the maximum 25 Manufacturers’ Championship points available from its leading entry, while Wright Motorsports contributed another ten through Laurin Heinrich’s sixth-place finish. Those results increased Porsche’s final total to 167 points, securing its fourth IGTC Manufacturers’ title.
The achievement completed a successful run of consecutive victories at Spa-Francorchamps, Suzuka and Indianapolis, underlining Porsche’s strength across the final three rounds of the season.
GMG concludes anniversary season with historic achievements
The Indianapolis 8 Hour provided a fitting conclusion to GMG Racing’s 20th-anniversary motorsport season, rewarding the team with its first major endurance racing victory and both GTWC America Pro-Am titles.
Washington’s controlled opening double stint established the foundation for the team’s success, while Pera and Güven delivered the pace necessary to capitalise on its alternative strategy. The result also reflected the efforts of the team’s personnel, whose preparation and race execution proved essential to securing the victory.
Sargent’s contributions throughout the regular season remained equally important, with his performances alongside Washington establishing the Championship position that GMG carried into Indianapolis. Although he could not compete in the finale, his earlier results had helped create the opportunity for the team’s title-winning conclusion.
For Sofronas, Washington and the wider GMG organisation, the result represented the culmination of a season built on consistent performances, effective teamwork and resilience during challenging weekends.
Having entered Indianapolis primarily focused on securing the Pro-Am Championship, GMG ultimately achieved considerably more. Its record-breaking overall victory, combined with Washington’s maiden title and Porsche’s fourth IGTC Manufacturers’ crown, provided a landmark conclusion to the team’s anniversary campaign.
