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 standings at Barber Motorsports Park after fighting back to finish third in class. The result turned the pair’s three-point deficit entering the weekend into a six-point advantage over Wright Motorsports drivers Ryan Yardley and Dave Musial Jr.
However, Sargent confirmed that Barber marked his final GTWC America appearance of 2026. The Indianapolis 8 Hour clashes with the European Le Mans Series finale at Portimão, where he remains firmly in contention for the LMGT3 championship with Proton Competition.
Sargent prioritises ELMS championship opportunity
Sargent shares the No. 75 Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 with Matt Kurzejewski and Porsche factory driver Richard Lietz. The trio heads to the Portimão season finale fourth in the LMGT3 standings on 61 points, only 12 behind championship-leading Team Qatar by Iron Lynx.
With 26 points still available, six crews remain mathematically capable of claiming the championship. That position has ultimately determined Sargent’s programme for the clashing weekend.
“My deal was to prioritize the ELMS championship if we were in contention at the final race,” Sargent told Sportscar365. “So this season I’ve been pushing to give Kyle the maximum amount of breathing room in points he could have going into the final race.
“It is really tough for me to miss the final round of GTWC America. I looked at every possibility to do both races but it’s physically not possible with the time zones.”
Sargent joined the Proton Competition programme at the beginning of the year and immediately made an impact. He, Kurzejewski and Lietz won the opening ELMS round at Barcelona, with Sargent taking the No. 75 Porsche to the chequered flag on his championship debut.
They later returned to the top of the LMGT3 standings after Spa before losing ground during the wet Silverstone round. Even so, their 61-point total keeps them within striking distance of Team Qatar by Iron Lynx on 73, TF Sport on 70 and Proton’s sister No. 77 on 62.
Washington left to complete GTWC America title fight
Sargent’s absence creates a significant change for GMG Racing as it attempts to convert its newly regained Pro-Am lead into the championship at Indianapolis.
Washington and Sargent arrived at Barber three points behind Yardley and Musial following a difficult Road America round. Their No. 32 Porsche then recovered from 12th on the combined Qualifying order to complete the Pro-Am podium, while the Wright Motorsports pairing finished seventh in class.
That swing leaves GMG six points ahead entering a finale that carries double championship points, significantly increasing the potential movement in the standings.
Sargent believes the progress Washington has made gives GMG every opportunity to complete the job without him.
“Kyle and myself have done a lot of racing over the years together and his development has been amazing. So I knew we would be in close contention come the end of it.
“I have maximum faith and confidence in the team and the replacement lineup we have coming for the race though and I’ll be eagerly watching from Portugal that’s for sure.”
GMG Racing has not yet announced who will replace Sargent alongside Washington at Indianapolis, although the team is understood to have a Porsche factory driver lined up for the third seat required for the eight-hour race.
GT Academy implications remain unclear
Sargent’s decision also creates uncertainty around his SRO GT Academy campaign. He currently holds a substantial advantage in the GT World Challenge America GT Academy standings, having accumulated 156 points compared with Yardley’s 95.
Sargent established that advantage through a remarkably strong opening portion of the campaign. He maximised his GT Academy score through each of the first four rounds before adding further points at Road America, giving him considerable breathing room heading towards Indianapolis.
However, it remains unclear whether missing the final event will affect either his points total or his eligibility for the overall award.
The SRO GT Academy winner from GT World Challenge America, GT World Challenge Asia, GT World Challenge Australia and the British GT Championship’s GT3 class will earn a fully funded drive at the 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in a Motopark-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
Sargent therefore heads into October with championship opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic, but only one can receive his direct attention. While Washington and GMG Racing attempt to defend their six-point Pro-Am advantage at Indianapolis, Sargent will focus on erasing a 12-point deficit at Portimão and completing his debut ELMS season with the LMGT3 title.
