After a dominant weekend at Sonoma by JMF Motorsports, the second round of the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS delivered a compelling and ever-evolving contest at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), where momentum shifted repeatedly across Practice, Qualifying, and the race itself. Initially, JMF Motorsports established itself as the benchmark, leading the early sessions and converting that pace into a dominant Qualifying performance. However, as the weekend progressed, rival teams steadily closed the gap, with Ferrari entries in particular emerging as late contenders.
Although JMF controlled the Pro class on track during the race, changing circumstances ultimately reshaped the outcome. Strategy calls, on-track incidents, and crucial penalties combined to produce a dramatic conclusion, as Wright Motorsports capitalised to secure an unexpected overall victory. Consequently, the COTA weekend not only highlighted outright pace but also reinforced the importance of execution across every phase of a race weekend.
2026 GTWC America: COTA: JMF Motorsports shine early but Ferrari strikes back in final Practice
The GTWC America powered by AWS began its weekend at Circuit of The Americas with changing momentum across three Practice sessions under bright and increasingly hot conditions. Initially, JMF Motorsports set the benchmark as Michai Stephens and Mikael Grenier topped the opening session in their No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with a 2:04.678 lap. John Gilliland and Loek Hartog followed in second overall and led Pro-Am in the No. 88 Porsche 911 GT3-R (992) EVO, while Turner Motorsport’s BMW entry secured third.
Subsequently, JMF reinforced its advantage in Practice 2. Stephens and Grenier improved to a 2:03.908, maintaining control at the top. Moreover, Mercedes-AMG machinery dominated the Pro-Am ranks, with TR3 Racing’s Brayton Williams and Daniel Morald finishing second overall, ahead of the sister JMF car driven by Jason Daskalos and Lorcan Hanafin. As a result, JMF appeared firmly in command heading into the final session.
However, the competitive order shifted in Practice 3. Triarsi Competizione surged ahead as Sebastian Mascaro and Ricky Agostini recorded a session-best 2:05.219 in the No. 18 Ferrari 296 GT3. Wright Motorsports followed closely in second, just 0.161 seconds adrift, while AF Corse USA completed the top three overall and led the Pro class. Meanwhile, GMG Racing secured fourth, and JMF slipped to fifth. In addition, AF Corse USA led the Am class, underlining Ferrari’s late-session strength as teams finalised preparations.
Results: Practice 1, Results: Practice 2, Results: Practice 3
2026 GTWC America: COTA: JMF Motorsports dominates disrupted Qualifying
Qualifying for the 2026 GTWC America powered by AWS at COTA delivered another intense and unpredictable chapter in the CieloVision GT World Texas powered by Samsung weekend. Although pace proved decisive, a mid-session interruption reshaped the competitive picture and forced teams to adapt under pressure.
A red flag in Qualifying 2 halted several drivers on flying laps. Consequently, the field faced a compressed final run, where execution became critical. Despite this disruption, JMF Motorsports maintained control and secured a commanding double pole across the Pro and Pro-Am categories, while AF Corse USA emerged on top in Am.
Results: Qualifying 1, Results: Qualifying 2, Results: Combined Qualifying
Pro Class Qualifying
Qualifying 1: Stephens leads early charge
From the outset, JMF Motorsports translated Practice pace into Qualifying performance. Michai Stephens set the benchmark with a 2:04.360 in the No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT3, immediately placing the team at the front.
Meanwhile, Cameron Lawrence responded with a strong lap in the No. 6 Ford Mustang GT3 to secure second. Matias Perez Companc followed closely in the No. 12 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, ensuring AF Corse USA remained firmly in contention.
As the session progressed, drivers attempted to close the gap. However, Stephens’ time remained unbeaten, giving JMF an early advantage heading into the second segment.
Qualifying 2: Grenier controls interrupted session
In the second session, Mikaël Grenier quickly reasserted JMF Motorsports’ dominance. He delivered a 2:03.976 lap, which ultimately stood as the fastest time despite the interruption caused by the red flag.
Although several competitors lost potential improvements, the closing minutes still produced movement. Robby Foley surged into second in the No. 29 BMW M4 GT3 EVO with a late effort. Shortly after, Frederik Schandorff secured third for AF Corse USA, reinforcing the team’s strong overall pace.
Combined result: JMF secures overall pole
By combining both sessions, JMF Motorsports confirmed its superiority. Stephens’ opening benchmark, paired with Grenier’s session-leading lap, secured the ROWE Pole Award for the No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT3.
AF Corse USA claimed second overall, while Turner Motorsport moved ahead of Dollahite Racing to take third. Therefore, consistency across both sessions once again proved decisive under the combined format.
Pro-Am Class Qualifying
Qualifying 1: Daskalos sets the tone
In Pro-Am, Jason Daskalos delivered a composed and effective lap to lead the class in the No. 27 Mercedes-AMG GT3. His performance also placed him among the top five overall, underlining the car’s competitiveness.
Behind him, Dave Musial Jr. secured second in the No. 31 Porsche 911 GT3 R. At the same time, JP Martinez slotted into third in the No. 28 RS1 Porsche, as multiple Porsche entries battled closely for position.
Qualifying 2: Sargent rises amid late pressure
Following the restart, Tom Sargent seized the initiative for GMG Racing. He placed the No. 32 Porsche 911 GT3 R at the top of the Pro-Am order and near the front overall, maximising the limited green-flag running.
Aaron Telitz then followed in the No. 89 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, while Riccardo Agostini secured third in class for Triarsi Competizione in the Ferrari 296 GT3.
Combined result: JMF holds firm
Despite Sargent’s standout lap, the combined times favoured JMF Motorsports. As a result, the No. 27 entry retained Pro-Am pole position, completing a dominant Qualifying performance for the team.
GMG Racing will start second in class, while RS1 edged ahead of Wright Motorsports in the final combined order after a closely contested battle.
Am Class Qualifying
AF Corse USA delivers under pressure
In the Am category, AF Corse USA set the pace from the beginning. Jay Schreibman led Qualifying 1 in the No. 163 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, establishing an early advantage over the field.
Subsequently, Ozz Negri reinforced that performance in Qualifying 2. He ensured the team maintained its position despite the disrupted running, demonstrating both pace and composure.
2026 GTWC America: COTA: Late drama and strategy shake-up define Texas thriller
The 2026 GTWC America powered by AWS concluded its CieloVision GT World Texas powered by Samsung weekend at COTA with a dramatic three-hour contest shaped by strategy, traffic, and penalties.
Although JMF Motorsports controlled the Pro class throughout, a late post-race penalty ultimately altered the overall result. As a result, Wright Motorsports’ Dave Musial Jr. and Ryan Yardley inherited a memorable outright victory after a composed and calculated performance in Pro-Am.
Pro Class: Control, setbacks, and recovery
When the race began, Michai Stephens launched cleanly from the front in the No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT3 and immediately asserted control. However, an early Full Course Yellow interrupted the opening rhythm after the No. 6 Ford Mustang GT3 encountered issues on the first lap.
Once racing resumed, Stephens maintained his advantage while trouble unfolded behind. Notably, the No. 12 Ferrari suffered transponder issues, forcing an unscheduled pit intervention that dropped it out of contention.
Mid-race strategy shapes the order
As the race approached halfway, teams initiated driver changes. Stephens handed over to Mikaël Grenier while retaining the class lead. Meanwhile, Turner Motorsport moved into second, with McCann Racing holding third as the order stabilised.
Grenier later rejoined from his final stop with a comfortable margin. Nevertheless, traffic soon complicated matters, as he encountered Pro-Am runners while navigating through the field.
Penalties add late tension
In the closing stages, Grenier received a drive-through penalty and a further 10-second post-race penalty following contact in traffic. Despite this, he managed the situation effectively and rebuilt enough of a gap to secure the Pro class win on the road.
“I knew I had a drive-through, but we lost the radio and I could only hear ‘drive-through,’ and I saw the board, so I did it,” said Grenier. “Somebody else on the team told me we had a 10-second penalty, which I didn’t understand. At least we got the points for the Pro class, which is the most important. I need to avoid those mistakes, but we got first-place points in Pro.”
Stephens reflected on the team’s performance and the lessons learned. He said, “We just keep learning out here. It’s certainly a continuation of the humbling aspect of motorsport. Mikaël gave it his absolute all, the team gave it their all, and we’re still excited for the road ahead. It’s all about focusing forward in the championship.”
Pro-Am Class: Strategy and consistency deliver rewards
The Pro-Am race quickly developed its own narrative. Early contact resulted in a puncture for the No. 69 McLaren, while officials later penalised the No. 9 Mercedes for its role in the incident. Shortly after, debris triggered another Full Course Yellow, once again compressing the field.
Wright Motorsports takes control
At the halfway point, the pace intensified. GMG Racing briefly set the benchmark lap, yet Wright Motorsports steadily moved into a commanding position. Ryan Yardley led the class, with teammate Thomas Merrill running directly behind to form a provisional one-two.
Although alternative strategies briefly shuffled the order, Wright Motorsports executed clean pit stops and regained control heading into the final hour.
Late fight for the podium
In the closing minutes, RS1 defended strongly against a charging GMG Racing entry to secure third in class. However, the spotlight remained on Wright Motorsports, which maintained its formation to the finish.
At the chequered flag, Dave Musial Jr. and Ryan Yardley secured the Pro-Am victory, with Merrill and Therese Lahlouh completing a one-two result for the team. Crucially, Grenier’s post-race penalty elevated Musial Jr. and Yardley to overall winners.
Yardley reacted to the unexpected result: “I just found out that we won overall. I knew we had the class win, but had no idea about the overall win, so that’s pretty awesome. Massive credit to Dave for the first stint and to the team at Wright Motorsports for the awesome strategy. They made my life easy at the end.”
Musial Jr. praised the collective effort, saying, “I’ve been trying to work really hard and step it up. The team did great, everything worked out in our favor, we had a great strategy, good pace, and we did everything we needed to do. You can’t ask for anything more.”
Am Class: Wheel-to-wheel battle to the finish
In the Am category, the fight for victory remained intense throughout. One hour into the race, Jay Schreibman and Jay Logan battled closely for the lead, exchanging positions in a spirited contest.
Although Logan briefly moved ahead, minor damage added another layer of complexity to the fight.
Decisive execution secures victory
Following the driver changes, Oswaldo Negri and Marc Austin continued the duel, running nose-to-tail for extended periods. However, AF Corse USA ultimately executed the cleaner race, allowing Negri and Schreibman to edge ahead in the final phase.
“It’s a pretty demanding track, especially if you want to push,” said Negri. “Today was incredible because we executed perfectly. Jay did a great stint, we had great strategy, great pit stops, and we did what we wanted to do. It was a great battle, and we knew it would probably happen with the tire strategy they were playing.”
Schreibman added, “What a great day and what a great track. The team was perfect, the pit stop execution was great, and the racing was super fun with the Mercedes. It was great sportsmanship and an amazing win in my first-ever double stint. I was worried about that in this Texas heat, but it all came together today.”
Momentum shifts heading to Sebring
Ultimately, the race showcased the complexity of endurance racing, where execution, discipline, and adaptability define success. While JMF Motorsports secured vital Pro class points, Wright Motorsports capitalised on every opportunity to claim a landmark overall victory.
Looking ahead, the championship now moves to Sebring International Raceway on 8–10 May 2026. Consequently, teams will aim to carry momentum forward as the title fight continues to build intensity.
