Pit Debrief

Motorsport news

Pit Debrief

Motorsport news

Category: Intercontinental GT Challenge

Pit Debrief brings you extensive news, opinions and exclusive interviews on the Intercontinental GT Challenge, including the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Maro Engel leads Luca Stolz, Maxime Martin and Laurin Heinrich into the 2026 IGTC title decider at the Indianapolis 8 Hour.
Photo Credit: SRO | Fred Hardy

2026 IGTC | Indianapolis 8 Hour | Preview | Absent Engel leads Stolz, Martin and Heinrich into title decider

Karishma Persad010 mins

The 2026 Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) reaches its conclusion at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, with Maro Engel attempting to defend a championship lead from afar as Luca Stolz, Maxime Martin and Laurin Heinrich chase him in Saturday’s DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour. A record 28 cars will contest the final IGTC race at Indianapolis before…

Read Full News
Tom Sargent, Alex Sedgwick and Lorcan Hanafin lose SRO GT Academy eligibility, handing Ryan Yardley the lead before Indianapolis.
Photo Credit: SRO | Fabian Lagunas

Tom Sargent loses SRO GT Academy eligibility ahead of 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour finale

Karishma Persad07 mins

Tom Sargent has lost eligibility for the 2026 SRO GT Academy despite entering the final GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS round with a commanding 61-point lead, after the Sporting Board ruled that he had not fulfilled the programme’s full-season participation requirement due to his absence from the Indianapolis 8 Hour. Sargent, Alex…

Read Full News
Thomas Fleming joins Todd Coleman and Aaron Telitz in Archangel Motorsports’ McLaren for the 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour.
Photo Credit: SRO

Thomas Fleming joins Archangel Motorsports for 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour

Karishma Persad05 mins

McLaren GT3 Junior Driver Thomas Fleming will join Todd Coleman and Aaron Telitz in Archangel Motorsports’ #69 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO for this weekend’s DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour. The trio will compete in the Pro-Am category at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, combining Coleman and Telitz’s established GT World Challenge America powered by AWS partnership with Fleming’s…

Read Full News
Morris Schuring joins Kévin Estre and Thomas Merrill in Wright Motorsports’ revised Pro line-up for the 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour.
Photo Credit: SRO

Schuring joins Estre and Merrill in revised Wright Motorsports 2027 Indianapolis 8 Hour entry

Karishma Persad06 mins

Wright Motorsports has revised one of its Porsche line-ups for this weekend’s DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour, with Morris Schuring joining Thomas Merrill and Kévin Estre in the #120 Porsche 911 GT3 R for the eight-hour season finale. Therese Lahlouh, who had originally been due to share the car with Merrill and Estre, will not compete…

Read Full News
Marcus Ericsson will join younger brother Hampus Ericsson and Derek DeBoer at Random Vandals Racing for the 2026 DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour, completing the team's Pro-Am line-up for the season-ending endurance race. The 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner will drive the No. 99 BMW M4 GT3 EVO as the GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS and Intercontinental GT Challenge conclude their respective seasons at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ericsson had already emerged as the expected third driver when the provisional 29-car Indianapolis 8 Hour entry appeared earlier in September. Random Vandals Racing has now officially confirmed his addition alongside its full-season pairing of Hampus Ericsson and DeBoer. Marcus Ericsson joins Random Vandals Racing Random Vandals Racing confirmed Ericsson's addition ahead of the Indianapolis finale, bringing one of the circuit's most recognisable recent winners into its GTWC America programme. Ericsson has also maintained a presence around the SRO America paddock throughout 2026 while supporting his younger brother. Hampus and DeBoer have shared the No. 99 BMW throughout their full-season Pro-Am campaign, with Marcus now joining them for the championship's longer endurance finale. The Swede expressed particular excitement about the opportunity to compete alongside his brother again. “I’m incredibly excited to join Derek and my younger brother Hampus in the Random Vandals Racing No. 99 BMW,” said Marcus Ericsson. “Racing alongside Hampus and sharing a car with him is something I cherish deeply, so I’m very grateful to Random Vandals for giving us the opportunity to do this together. “I’ve been following and supporting Hampus and Derek throughout the season, and it’s clear to see the potential in both of them and the entire team. “Hopefully, my extensive experience and knowledge of Indianapolis Motor Speedway will allow me to contribute to the team and help secure a strong result. The BMW M4 GT3 will be a new experience for me, but with the expertise and support of the Random Vandals team, I’m confident I’ll get up to speed quickly.” Ericsson brothers reunite in GT3 machinery Indianapolis will mark the second time that Marcus and Hampus Ericsson have shared a race car. The brothers first competed together at the Michelin 12H Malaysia at Sepang International Circuit in December 2025. They joined Axel Bengtsson and Thomas Karlsson in Leipert Motorsport's Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2, marking their first race together and their first appearances in GT3 competition as a pairing. Marcus has since added further GT3 experience. Earlier this year, he contested the Rolex 24 at Daytona with Wayne Taylor Racing, sharing its Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 with Danny Formal, Trent Hindman and Graham Doyle. However, the Indianapolis 8 Hour will give him his first competitive outing in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. For Hampus, meanwhile, the finale completes his first full GTWC America season with Random Vandals. He and DeBoer have represented the team throughout 2026 after Random Vandals reduced its programme to a single Pro-Am BMW following its 2025 Pro championship-winning campaign. Hampus highlighted the significance of sharing the BMW with his brother while also pointing towards Marcus' extensive Indianapolis experience. “Getting the chance to share the BMW M4 GT3 RVR car with my brother at Indianapolis is something I’ve dreamed about for a long time, so to finally make it happen is pretty special,” said Hampus Ericsson. “Derek and I have built a really strong relationship throughout the season, and I’m looking forward to bringing Marcus into the mix and seeing what the three of us can do together. “Marcus knows IMS extremely well, and his experience there will be a huge asset to the team as we fight for a strong result.” Indianapolis experience strengthens Random Vandals line-up Ericsson brings extensive knowledge of Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the Random Vandals line-up. Most notably, he won the 2022 Indianapolis 500 and has continued competing at the venue throughout his IndyCar career. His familiarity with the circuit therefore adds another element to a line-up that already has a full season of experience with the BMW and GTWC America's three-hour format. His Indianapolis knowledge could prove particularly useful as Random Vandals prepares for an eight-hour race that requires the team to manage a significantly different challenge from the championship's regular rounds. Team owner Paul Sparta welcomed Ericsson's arrival and highlighted the energy he expects the IndyCar driver to bring to the programme. “It’s exciting and an honor to have Marcus in a Random Vandals car for the Indy 8 Hour. He’s really pumped up for the event, and I am certain he’ll bring huge energy and performance to the team. “Given his hot streak at the end of the IndyCar season, we can’t wait to get him on track.” Two Indianapolis stars join GTWC America finale Ericsson becomes the second high-profile IndyCar driver confirmed for the 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour. Five-time IndyCar champion Álex Palou will also return to GT3 competition at the event, joining Lin Hodenius and Luca Stolz in the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing entry. While Palou will compete in Pro, Ericsson joins a Pro-Am Random Vandals line-up that features two drivers with extensive links to Indianapolis alongside DeBoer. The additions strengthen an already sizeable field as GTWC America and the IGTC prepare to decide their respective championships. For Random Vandals Racing, the event also provides another opportunity to build on its 2026 campaign before the team turns its attention towards a possible two-car GTWC America programme in 2027. Ericsson, Hampus and DeBoer will share the No. 99 BMW M4 GT3 EVO when the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour brings the 2026 GTWC America season to a close at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Photo Credit: IMSA

Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson joins Random Vandals Racing for Indianapolis 8 Hour

Karishma Persad05 mins

Marcus Ericsson will join younger brother Hampus Ericsson and Derek DeBoer at Random Vandals Racing for the 2026 DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour, completing the team’s Pro-Am line-up for the season-ending endurance race. The 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner will drive the No. 99 BMW M4 GT3 EVO as the GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by…

Read Full News
Álex Palou joins Mercedes-AMG for the Indianapolis 8 Hour as GTWC America and IGTC championship battles reach the 2026 finale.
Photo Credit: SRO | Jason Doudt

Palou returns to Indianapolis 8 Hour as Mercedes-AMG targets GTWC America and IGTC titles

Karishma Persad06 mins

Five-time IndyCar champion Álex Palou will return to the Indianapolis 8 Hour with Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing as the manufacturer prepares to fight for titles across two championships at the 2026 season finale. The Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) and GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS will conclude their seasons at the DESDER…

Read Full News
Team KRC is considering a full 2027 IGTC campaign with Tony Ruan after confirming its Macau return with Augusto Farfus.
Photo Credit: SRO | Gruppe C Photography

Team KRC eyes full 2027 IGTC campaign and confirms Macau return

Karishma Persad06 mins

Team KRC is considering a full Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) campaign in 2027 as the Taiwanese BMW squad continues expanding its international racing programme. The team has already contested two IGTC events this season, making its championship debut at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour before expanding to two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs for the Suzuka…

Read Full News
Waberski can now watch the remaining Academy battles knowing that he has already secured his place on the grid.
Photo Credit: SRO

Waberski becomes first 2026 SRO GT Academy winner to secure 24 Hours of Spa seat

Karishma Persad05 mins

Jarrod Waberski has become the first 2026 SRO GT Academy winner to secure his place in next year’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa after edging Charles Clark by only two points at the British GT Championship season finale. The Anglo-South African entered the Brands Hatch weekend 12 points clear of Clark before the Century Motorsport…

Read Full News
Tom Sargent will miss the 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour to pursue the ELMS LMGT3 title with Proton Competition at Portimão.
Photo Credit: SRO | Fabian Lagunas

Tom Sargent to miss Indianapolis 8 Hour as ELMS title bid takes priority

Karishma Persad04 mins

Tom Sargent will miss the season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour despite leading the GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS Pro-Am standings as he prioritises his 2026 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) LMGT3 title challenge. The Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver and GMG Racing teammate Kyle Washington returned to the top of the Pro-Am…

Read Full News
Connor De Phillippi will join Robby Foley and Justin Rothberg in Turner Motorsport’s BMW for the 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour.
Photo Credit: SRO | Fabian Lagunas

Turner Motorsport adds De Phillippi for GTWC America Indianapolis finale

Karishma Persad07 mins

BMW factory driver Connor De Phillippi will join Turner Motorsport for the 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour, completing the team’s line-up for the GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS season finale. De Phillippi will join Robby Foley and Justin Rothberg aboard the #29 BMW M4 GT3 EVO for the October event at Indianapolis Motor…

Read Full News