JMF Motorsports strengthened its position in the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) America championship following another podium finish at Barber Motorsports Park. Michai Stephens and Mikael Grenier secured second overall and in the Pro class, extending their championship advantage ahead of the season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour.
The No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT3 pairing entered the penultimate round with a four-point advantage following their second-place finish at Road America. Another strong performance allowed them to increase their lead to nine points. Meanwhile, Mercedes-AMG extended its advantage in the Manufacturers’ Championship, further strengthening its position ahead of the finale.
JMF Motorsports extends championship lead with another podium
Stephens and Grenier continued their consistent championship campaign with their second consecutive runner-up finish. Following their podium performance at Road America, the pairing once again challenged at the front of the field during Sunday’s three-hour race at Barber Motorsports Park.
Stephens led during the early stages before Grenier continued the team’s efforts, ultimately securing second overall and in the Pro class. Their performance marked another important result in their championship campaign, allowing JMF Motorsports to extend its advantage in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships.
Consequently, the pairing increased its championship lead from four to nine points, with JMF Motorsports holding 114 points against its nearest challengers’ 105 heading into Indianapolis.
Stephen’s quotes
Following the race, Stephens praised the reliability of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and highlighted the team’s determination ahead of the championship-deciding finale.
“The Mercedes-AMG platform is nothing but exceptional. No matter what you throw at it, you always know that you can rely on the car to be there for you throughout the duration of the run. The JMF Motorsports team does a great job setting it up, and we always try to match the aggression with the objective. “
The final round of the championship is certainly going to be a fight, and that’s also what we all look forward to. At the same time, we now have a better understanding of our terms of engagement. We’re going to give it all that we have when we get there. Indianapolis is not far from my home in Illinois, so to be in and around the home front is always a privilege because you get to see your loved ones. You’re able to physically see them on the corners, which always personally gives me an extra little kick of motivation. But granted, it’s another track. It’s another objective when it boils down to it. However, this one has a championship title at stake, and we’re going to give it all we have.”
Mixed results for Mercedes-AMG’s Pro-Am entries
While Stephens and Grenier secured another podium, Mercedes-AMG’s two Pro-Am entries experienced contrasting fortunes at Barber Motorsports Park.
JMF Motorsports’ Jason Daskalos and Philip Ellis encountered pit stop difficulties in the No. 27 Mercedes-AMG GT3. Despite these setbacks, the pairing completed the race in fifth place in the Pro-Am classification.
Meanwhile, TR3 Racing’s Brayton Williams and Daniel Morad entered the weekend following their victory at Road America. The No. 9 Mercedes-AMG GT3 pairing maintained its competitive form during the opening two hours, battling among the leading three Pro-Am entries. However, their race ended prematurely when they retired during the final 30 minutes.
Consequently, Stephens and Grenier delivered Mercedes-AMG’s strongest result at Barber, securing another important podium as the manufacturer continued its championship campaign.
Mercedes-AMG extends championship advantage ahead of Indianapolis
Despite the mixed results across its three entries, Mercedes-AMG strengthened its position in the GTWC America Manufacturers’ Championship. The manufacturer now holds 114 points, establishing a 14-point advantage over its nearest rival, which enters the final round with 100 points.
Meanwhile, JMF Motorsports approaches the season finale with increased advantages in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships. Having extended its lead from four to nine points at Barber, the team will aim to maintain its competitive form during the championship’s final race.
The 2026 GTWC America season concludes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 8–11 October. With championship titles still at stake, JMF Motorsports and Mercedes-AMG will look to capitalise on their respective points advantages during the Indianapolis 8 Hour.
