Ryan Yardley has earned a fully funded drive at the 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa after winning the inaugural American edition of the SRO GT Academy, following the conclusion of the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The New Zealander secured the prestigious award after a competitive campaign with Wright Motorsports, where he partnered Dave Musial Jr. in the Pro-Am category. Their consistent performances helped the pair finish second in the Drivers’ Championship, while Yardley’s individual speed and race pace earned him the Academy prize. Unlike the conventional championship standings, the Academy evaluates drivers on their individual performances throughout the season, placing particular emphasis on qualifying pace, race speed and consistency.
Yardley will now join British GT Championship Academy winner Jarrod Waberski in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 that Team Motopark will operate at the 2027 Belgian endurance classic. The respective Academy winners from GT World Challenge Asia and Australia will complete the four-driver line-up, bringing together emerging GT racing talent from different championships for the event on 24–27 June.
Yardley celebrates SRO GT Academy triumph
Yardley’s victory represents an important opportunity to advance his international GT racing career, providing him with a place at one of the world’s most prestigious endurance races. The 28-year-old secured the American Academy prize following the Indianapolis 8 Hour, which concluded the GTWC America season and determined the remaining championship outcomes.
Although Yardley and Musial narrowly missed the Pro-Am Drivers’ Championship, the New Zealander demonstrated the individual qualities that the Academy aims to recognise. His performances throughout the seven-round campaign ultimately proved sufficient to earn the fully funded Spa opportunity, rewarding his consistency against a competitive field of eligible young drivers.
Following his success, Yardley expressed his excitement about the achievement and the prospect of joining the other Academy winners at Spa-Francorchamps.
“It’s an incredible feeling to come away from the Indianapolis 8 Hour as the SRO GT Academy winner,” said Yardley. “SRO has put together a fantastic program, and I’m thrilled to have come out on top.
I’m really looking forward to meeting the other GT Academy winners from around the world as we join forces next year to take on one of the biggest sports car races in the world, the 24 Hours of Spa.”
The result provides Yardley with another significant step in his development, allowing him to build on his North American GT3 experience while preparing for a major international endurance racing challenge.
Strong campaign with Wright Motorsports supports Yardley’s Academy bid
Yardley’s GTWC America campaign provided a strong foundation for his Academy success, with the Wright Motorsports driver regularly challenging near the front of the Pro-Am field alongside Musial. The pair began their season with a second-place finish at Sonoma Raceway before securing victory at Circuit of The Americas, establishing themselves among the leading championship contenders during the opening rounds.
Their consistent performances continued as the season progressed, although several difficult weekends complicated their title challenge. Nevertheless, Yardley and Musial recovered to secure third place at Road America, capitalising on GMG Racing’s retirement to move into the Pro-Am Championship lead. The result also strengthened Yardley’s Academy position, where his individual performances had kept him among the leading contenders throughout the campaign.
However, the championship order changed again at Barber Motorsports Park. GMG Racing’s Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent recovered from an early setback to finish third, while Wright Motorsports managed seventh in class. The outcome returned GMG Racing to the top of the Pro-Am standings, leaving Yardley and Musial six points behind heading into the double-points Indianapolis finale.
For the final round, Wright strengthened its line-up with Porsche factory driver Laurin Heinrich, who joined Yardley and Musial in the #31 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo. The trio ultimately finished sixth overall and third in Pro-Am at the Indianapolis 8 Hour, completing a competitive season that delivered second place in the Drivers’ Championship.
Indianapolis finale determines American SRO GT Academy winner
While Yardley entered Indianapolis with an opportunity to challenge for the Pro-Am Championship, he also faced a separate battle for the SRO GT Academy title. The competition had experienced a significant reshuffle shortly before the finale, following a decision by the Sporting Board concerning the eligibility of several leading drivers.
Tom Sargent had dominated the Academy standings for much of the season, securing four consecutive maximum scores during the opening rounds and accumulating 156 points. His performances had established a commanding 61-point advantage over Yardley following Barber Motorsports Park. However, the Australian could not contest Indianapolis because of his European Le Mans Series commitments, where he joined Proton Competition for its own season finale.
The Academy’s participation requirements generally require drivers to contest the full season unless the Sporting Board accepts exceptional circumstances. Consequently, the Board removed Sargent, Alex Sedgwick and Lorcan Hanafin from the Academy standings after determining that they had not satisfied those requirements. The decision did not redistribute their previously earned points among the remaining competitors.
Yardley therefore entered Indianapolis with 95 points, nine ahead of McCann Racing’s Zachary Vanier. Despite that advantage, the Academy’s individual performance-based scoring system meant that Vanier retained an opportunity to challenge for the prize. Yardley successfully defended his position during the finale, securing the inaugural American Academy title and the fully funded Spa drive.
Academy rewards individual performance beyond race results
The SRO GT Academy aims to identify and develop emerging professional GT drivers, providing opportunities for competitors who demonstrate the potential to progress through the international sportscar racing structure. The programme targets FIA Silver-rated drivers under the age of 30, offering a separate competition alongside their regular championship commitments.
Unlike traditional Drivers’ Championships, the Academy does not determine its standings solely through finishing positions. Instead, it evaluates individual performances through factors including qualifying speed, outright race pace and consistency. This approach allows the programme to assess drivers who compete for different teams and alongside teammates with varying experience levels, reducing the influence of factors that can affect conventional championship results.
The format proved particularly relevant in GTWC America, where eligible drivers competed across both the Pro and Pro-Am categories. Although their cars and teammates presented different competitive circumstances, the Academy’s performance-based system allowed them to challenge for the same prize.
Yardley’s success therefore represented more than Wright Motorsports’ results in the Pro-Am Championship. His individual performances throughout the campaign ultimately secured the award, despite the team missing out on the class title at Indianapolis. The programme consequently recognised his development and consistency over the season while providing a direct opportunity to demonstrate his abilities at an international level.
Yardley joins Waberski in Team Motopark’s 2027 Spa line-up
Yardley becomes the second driver to secure a place in the Academy’s 2027 Spa programme, joining British GT Championship winner Jarrod Waberski. The Anglo-South African claimed the first available seat following a closely contested Academy battle with Charles Clark, which reached its conclusion at Brands Hatch.
Waberski entered the British GT finale holding a 12-point advantage, but Clark reduced the gap considerably during the final weekend. Nevertheless, Waberski maintained his lead and secured the Academy title by just two points, earning his place in the fully funded programme.
The pair will now compete together in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 under Team Motopark’s management. The German operation brings extensive experience in developing emerging motorsport talent, having competed across single-seater and GT championships. Its involvement will provide the four Academy winners with an established team as they prepare for one of the most demanding events on the GT racing calendar.
For Yardley, the opportunity will also introduce a different technical challenge. After spending the 2026 GTWC America campaign in Wright Motorsports’ Porsche machinery, he must adapt to the Mercedes-AMG GT3 while developing an effective working relationship with teammates from different international championships.
The official confirmation of Yardley’s Academy triumph establishes the first half of Motopark’s 2027 line-up, with the remaining two drivers yet to earn their places through the Asian and Australian competitions.
International expansion strengthens opportunities for young GT drivers
The SRO GT Academy’s expansion in 2026 represents another step in the organisation’s efforts to support young drivers and create clearer pathways into professional GT racing. SRO originally introduced the initiative through the Championnat de France FFSA GT before extending the concept into multiple international championships.
The expanded programme now incorporates British GT alongside GT World Challenge America, Asia and Australia, allowing competitors from different regions to demonstrate their abilities under a shared performance-based evaluation structure. Each competition offers its leading eligible driver an opportunity to progress beyond their domestic championship, with the four winners joining forces for the fully funded Spa entry.
The initiative also provides an opportunity for drivers who may not otherwise secure the financial backing required to compete in major international endurance events. By covering the cost of the 2027 Spa programme, SRO gives the Academy winners a chance to gain valuable experience against established professional drivers and factory-supported teams.
However, the transition will demand more than individual speed. The four drivers must adapt to unfamiliar teammates, equipment and team procedures while preparing for the physical and strategic challenges of a 24-hour race. Their ability to work together will therefore prove essential as Team Motopark develops its programme ahead of the Belgian event.
Spa opportunity offers Yardley another step in international career
With Yardley and Waberski now confirmed, attention turns towards the remaining Academy contests in Asia and Australia, which will determine the final two members of the 2027 line-up. Once the competitions conclude, Team Motopark can begin preparing its complete driver combination for the challenge at Spa-Francorchamps.
The 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa will take place from 24–27 June, bringing together leading GT3 manufacturers, factory-supported drivers and experienced endurance racing teams. The event’s demanding circuit, large field and unpredictable conditions will present a considerable challenge for the four Academy graduates, particularly as they adapt to their new team and car.
Nevertheless, the opportunity represents a significant reward for Yardley’s achievements throughout the 2026 GTWC America season. His consistent performances with Wright Motorsports helped secure second place in the Pro-Am Championship, while his individual pace earned him the Academy prize and a place in one of the sport’s most prestigious races.
Although the Indianapolis finale ended without the domestic title he had pursued alongside Musial, Yardley leaves the season with an opportunity to compete on a much larger international stage. His 2027 Spa appearance will provide a platform to demonstrate his abilities against some of the world’s leading GT drivers while continuing his progression towards a professional endurance racing career.
