Tom Sargent has strengthened his lead in the 2026 North American SRO GT Academy standings after securing a fourth consecutive maximum score during the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS round at Road Atlanta.
The Australian has collected every available point through the opening four rounds of the 2026 season. As a result, he now holds a commanding advantage as the contest for a fully funded Silver Cup seat at the 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa moves beyond its halfway stage.
Although Sargent and Kyle Washington finished third in the Pro-Am class aboard the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3-R (992) EVO, Sargent again delivered the strongest performance among the nine eligible GT Academy drivers in the areas that determine the championship’s points allocation.
Sargent secures another maximum score
Sargent established his advantage during Qualifying by setting a 1:19.613. The lap placed him fifth overall and third among the Pro-Am runners, while also giving him a clear margin over the other GT Academy contenders.
He then reinforced that performance during the race. Sargent recorded the fastest lap outright with a 1:20.277, beating every other driver in the field and completing another maximum-scoring weekend.
Consequently, he added 36 points to his total and extended his perfect record to 144 points after four rounds. He now leads fellow Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver Ryan Yardley by 65 points.
While the championship standings reflect Sargent’s pace over a single lap, his consistency across each event has also played a central role in building his advantage. He has maximised his score at every round, leaving his rivals with limited opportunities to reduce the gap.
Previous Spa appearance provides valuable experience
Sargent already understands the demands of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa after contesting the event for the first time in 2025. That experience introduced him to the size of the field, the level of competition and the operational challenges that drivers face throughout the race.
“Last year I had the opportunity to contest the Spa 24 for the first time,” said Sargent. “It’s a big eye-opening event for anyone doing it for the first time with 75 other cars on track with you. You’re going against hundreds of the best GT drivers in the world at one of the most famous circuits.”
Beyond the scale of the event, Sargent also learned how closely officials enforce the sporting regulations. Although several procedures remain familiar because SRO organises both championships, he identified track limits as one of the most important areas for drivers to manage.
“Thankfully, being an SRO event, a lot of the rules carry over, but there are still some differences and things you need to be on top of to make sure you don’t incur penalties,” he explained. “The biggest thing with European events is their track limits and how they’re policed and enforced. There is very little room for error and the penalties are big.”
Those penalties can have a lasting effect during such a closely contested race. Therefore, Sargent believes his previous appearance would allow him to approach a return with a clearer understanding of the event’s rhythm.
“This race is so competitive and so hard to gain an advantage that any loss is multiplied, and it’s so hard to get that time back. It would be nice to compete in this event again with experience now, knowing the rhythm and the flow.”
Sargent highlights the need for pace and consistency
Although avoiding penalties remains essential, Sargent stressed that teams must also produce a car capable of competing at the front. The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa requires performance over a single lap, but it also demands a stable and manageable package throughout the full race.
Sargent encountered that challenge during his first appearance, when he competed with a new team and two fellow drivers who also lacked previous experience of the event. Despite those circumstances, the crew completed a strong debut.
“We had such a good debut when I was there last time with a brand-new team and three new drivers for the event,” he explained. “As I mentioned, minimizing penalties and losses is so crucial there, but you also need a fast race car. You need to focus on building a car that is quick over one lap but is also driveable and compliant for 24 hours. This is a very hard balance to achieve, but something I hope my experience can help with.”
His assessment places equal importance on speed, predictability and long-run performance. Over 24 hours, drivers must manage changing conditions, traffic and tyre behaviour without sacrificing the pace required to remain competitive.
Experience could support a future Silver Cup crew
Should Sargent secure the GT Academy prize, he expects his previous Spa appearance to help the entire Silver Cup line-up. His first-hand knowledge could assist the crew as it prepares for the event and adapts to the demands of the circuit.
“I would expect to be one of very few drivers in the GT Academy that has contested Spa before, and I think it would be nice to help bring that experience on board,” he shared. “Lining up in a Silver Cup car is always nice when you’re driving with people at a similar level. Although a lot of the year we may be competitors, for this one event we’ll all come together as teammates, so I’m sure I’ll be sharing everything that I’ve learned to help speed up the process.”
The GT Academy candidates compete against one another throughout the season, but the winning drivers must ultimately work together at Spa. Sargent therefore views the prize as both an individual opportunity and a collective challenge.
Sargent carries a commanding lead beyond halfway
After four rounds, Sargent has placed himself firmly in control of the North American SRO GT Academy standings. His Qualifying pace and fastest race lap at Road Atlanta delivered another perfect points haul, while his 65-point advantage gives him a substantial margin over Yardley.
However, the remaining rounds will continue to assess the qualities that determine the GT Academy outcome. Sargent must maintain the speed and consistency that have defined his season so far as the competition approaches its closing stages.
For now, his flawless 144-point total leaves him as the clear benchmark. Moreover, his previous experience at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa gives added relevance to his pursuit of the fully funded 2027 Silver Cup drive.
