Michai Stephens has placed continual development at the centre of his 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) America powered by AWS championship pursuit with JMF Motorsports.
Stephens and team-mate Mikael Grenier lead the Pro standings with 78 points in the No. 34 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. JMF has also claimed three of the opening four overall pole positions, establishing the Canadian team as a consistent contender during its second season at GT3’s Pro level.
However, Stephens measures his progress through more than championship positions, podium finishes and outright speed. The American has focused on understanding the car, managing each race stint and contributing more effectively to the wider team operation as he pursues his first Pro championship.
Stephens finds clarity in his second GT3 season
Stephens entered his first GT3 campaign with limited experience of the car’s performance and the demands surrounding a professional programme.
Therefore, his first season required him to build confidence behind the wheel while learning how the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO responded across different circuits, conditions and race situations.
During his second campaign, Stephens has shifted his attention towards the smaller details that influence performance throughout a weekend.
“Year one was about getting over some of the internal fears of what I could or could not do behind the wheel,” Stephens explained. “I’ve been open-minded to the learning curve and I have been able to absorb more of those little nuances. Now I have a better perspective on how the car can perform, how our team can perform, but certainly how I can perform as well.”
JMF Motorsports has followed a similar development path. The team now understands its strengths more clearly and can address weaknesses with experience from a full season of Pro competition.
Stephens also accepts responsibility for increasing his technical contribution and helping the team place the car in its strongest operating window.
“We walked into the season with a bit more clarity on our expectations,” Stephens said. “At the conclusion of year one, we certainly walked into year two knowing where some of our strengths and weaknesses lie and how to be a more complete package. I would say that I was probably the one that needed to step it up the most with really comprehending the processes that lead into putting a car of this performance in the right operating window so we can get the most out of it through all stages of the weekend.”
That greater understanding has helped Stephens and Grenier challenge consistently at the front. However, their progress extends beyond the Qualifying pace that has produced three pole positions.
Race management becomes central to Stephens’ progress
Stephens has placed greater emphasis on understanding how the car develops throughout a stint.
A GT3 car’s balance can change considerably as fuel burns away, tyres degrade and track conditions evolve. Consequently, a driver must manage more than immediate lap time during a three-hour race.
Stephens has worked to understand those changes and adapt his driving before the car’s behaviour starts to compromise performance.
“The overall pace was a step in the right direction this year,” he stated. “But even more importantly than that, managing the duration of the race and how the car balance shifts from the start of the stint to the end of the stint has been what I’ve been focusing on.”
GTWC America’s move to a three-hour race format has increased the importance of that approach. Although the previous 90-minute contests rewarded outright pace and efficient pit work, the longer races give teams more opportunities to influence the result through strategy, preparation and execution.
Stephens believes the endurance format also highlights the contribution of every person within the operation.
“I’ve built a great deal of respect and admiration for how the three-hour structure has allowed for the teams to play a much more significant role in the weekend,” he explained. “It is a personification of motorsport. Even though us as the drivers get the opportunity to stand on the podium, we didn’t get there on our own.”
That perspective supports Stephens’ team-first approach. While drivers receive much of the public recognition, engineers, mechanics, strategists and other personnel determine whether the car can compete at the front.
Second Mercedes entry expands JMF’s options
JMF Motorsports has strengthened its technical programme by entering a second Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO in the Pro-Am category.
The additional entry gives the team more data during Practice and allows each crew to examine different setup directions. JMF can then compare both cars and combine the most effective solutions.
The two-car operation also creates more strategic flexibility. Each crew can explore different approaches to tyre use, fuel consumption and stint management before sharing its conclusions across the garage.
“Having another asset on track that can go in a different direction from a car setup perspective or strategy perspective allows both sides of the team to converge on a healthy middle ground,” Stephens elaborated. “We also have varying resources in terms of tyre utilisation and fuel, and so it allows for both sides of the garage to try new things.”
The second car has also produced competitive results in Pro-Am, giving JMF another opportunity to contend for victories and podiums.
More importantly, the expanded programme has accelerated the team’s learning process during its second GT3 season. JMF can now gather more information during each session and respond more quickly when conditions change.
Summer break gives Stephens time to recharge
The championship’s summer break has given JMF time to assess the opening half of its season before competition resumes at Road America from 28 to 30 August.
Stephens maintains a demanding schedule away from the circuit, so he has used the break to recover while continuing his preparation.
He also recognises the emotional demands that accompany a championship campaign. The pause allows everyone within the team to step back from competition before returning with renewed focus.
“I certainly don’t stop getting up early just because we’re not on a race weekend,” he laughed. “This little time for a reset is allowing the team and I to reflect, but also recharge as well. For such a passionate environment, a chance to refuel your heart and your spirit to come back fighting as strong as ever is quite healthy. We’ve been using this time wisely and I hope that shows when we return.”
JMF will resume its title challenge with two three-hour races remaining before October’s Indianapolis 8 Hour finale.
Therefore, Stephens and Grenier must combine their early-season speed with consistency as every point becomes increasingly important.
Road America brings Stephens closer to home
Road America carries additional personal significance for Stephens because it represents the closest round to his hometown of Chicago. The Wisconsin circuit gives his family and friends an opportunity to attend the event and support him as he attempts to extend his championship lead.
Stephens values their presence and even looks for them around the circuit while driving.
“I really enjoy always having family around me,” Stephens said. “I know specifically which corner they will be located at, and I get a kick out of being able to lay eyes on them as I’m driving past. When you’re surrounded by the people who are the reason why you walk this earth and have supported every step that has led up to these moments, I really enjoy having them as close as possible.”
Their support also shapes how Stephens views success. Although he wants to win, he draws greater satisfaction from sharing those achievements with the people who helped create his opportunities.
“Winning is quite neat, but it’s not everything,” Stephens continued. “Right now, I see securing a result as a gesture to those that allow me to be in these positions. I very much enjoy seeing everybody else’s reaction to the victory, whether it’s my family, Mr. Farrow, or our partners and friends of the team. The joy it brings them really makes me happy and encourages me to keep pushing for more.”
That personal connection adds another layer to an already important championship weekend.
However, Road America also appeals to Stephens because of its atmosphere, accessibility and demanding layout.
Stephens praises Road America experience
Road America allows spectators to explore different parts of the circuit and choose how closely they engage with the event. Fans can watch from several corners, visit the paddock and interact with teams, drivers and series personnel throughout the weekend.
Stephens believes that freedom gives the venue a distinctive character.
“Fans have the liberty to walk and experience whatever they wish,” he said. “They can pick and choose their level of interaction with the venue, the teams, the drivers and all the operational staff. I believe that’s what really makes Road America quite unique. They can engage with it in their own way and get exactly what they want out of their weekend.”
Meanwhile, the circuit challenges drivers with high speeds, elevation changes and several committed corners.
Stephens has raced at Road America in both GT4 and GT3 machinery. His experience in the two categories has shown him how increased speed and aerodynamic performance transform the circuit.
“The GT4 car allows you to find the rhythm of the track and all the different characteristics that make it Road America,” he explained. “It gave you the liberty to explore track characteristics such as the variance in the exit curbs, apex curving, minor undulations, and things of that nature. But the car itself is still operating at a different ride height and a different performance window. In a GT3, you’re experiencing it at such a higher rate of speed. The corners become quite committed, but as you build confidence, the aero starts to settle the car and those sections become even more enjoyable. The Kink is forever going to be a bit nerve-wracking, but it’s still so fun.”
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO’s additional speed increases the commitment that Road America demands. However, the aerodynamic grip also allows Stephens to attack the circuit’s fastest sections with greater confidence.
“Humbly confident” Stephens maintains measured title approach
Stephens will return from the summer break at the top of the Pro standings, but he does not intend to change his approach. Instead, he wants JMF to focus on each immediate objective while maintaining confidence in its ability to win the championship.
“The approach is always to remain humbly confident that we are deserving of the end goal,” he said. “The long-term objective is the championship, but we have to remain mindful of the short-term objectives we must secure along the way. And for myself personally, it’s about improving on all the various elements that I feel I could have done better leading up to this point in the season.”
That approach reflects the development-focused mindset that has guided Stephens through his second GT3 campaign.
Championship success remains the ultimate objective. Nevertheless, Stephens continues to value the lessons, relationships and collective work that shape the pursuit.
“It’s our relationship with the journey,” Stephens reflected. “The journey of becoming Pro class champions, if we’re so privileged to do so. It’s certainly a ride that’s filled with many details, many souls, and we hope to be able to accomplish it together come the end.”
Stephens and JMF Motorsports will carry that philosophy into Road America as they attempt to protect their championship lead.
Their early-season pole positions and points have established the No. 34 crew as a title contender. However, Stephens believes the team’s continued learning and collective development will ultimately determine whether it converts that position into a Pro championship.
