Sebring International Raceway carries history, character, and challenge for every team that races there. However, for TR3 Racing, the legendary Florida circuit means even more. The South Florida-based TR3 Racing team returned to Sebring for Round 3 of the 2026 GTWC America season with deep local roots, renewed energy, and a clear sense of homecoming.
Founded by the Romanelli brothers as the motorsport arm of TR3 Performance, the team built its reputation across the final years of the Pirelli World Challenge era and the transition into GT World Challenge America. Through multiple manufacturers, race formats, wins, and podiums, TR3 Racing became a familiar name in the SRO America paddock.
Now, after stepping away following the 2023 season to develop other areas of the operation, TR3 Racing has returned for 2026 with a refreshed programme. The team fields the No. 9 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo in Pro-Am for Brayton Williams and Daniel Morad, while Sebring offers the ideal setting for the next stage of its comeback.
Sebring gives TR3 Racing a familiar stage
TR3 Racing arrived at Sebring with more than competitive intent. The circuit has played a major role in the team’s story, from testing and development to personal memories built over years in Florida motorsport.
Because of that history, the weekend carried a different emotional weight. Sebring’s bumps, heat, humidity, and atmosphere created a demanding environment, yet they also reinforced why the venue holds such value for the team.
“Sebring’s like a second home for us,” team owner Gregory Romanelli said. “We do a lot of testing here in the off-season, and during the season as well. We’ve had a lot of success here at Sebring in various different categories. It’s always a pleasure to be here, I love Sebring. I know the heat and the humidity can be tough to handle, but it adds character to the track. We’re extremely happy to be here. If you can be fast here, you can be fast anywhere.”
TR3 Racing blends old strengths with new energy
Although TR3 Racing already holds an established place in the SRO America paddock, its 2026 return combines familiar foundations with fresh ambition. The team has rebuilt around a strong core group, while the Pro-Am programme brings together Williams and Morad in the No. 9 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
Morad’s return adds an important layer of continuity. He previously raced with TR3 Racing during its Mercedes-AMG programme in 2023, and his experience gives the team a proven reference point as it pushes to regain front-running form.
“We’re thrilled to have been able to come back to SRO after a two-year break with the proper team and the proper drivers in order to put something very competitive together. Daniel came to race with TR3 when we were with Mercedes in ’23. Once we got this year’s program back up and running, Daniel was always in the back of my mind to have in the car, and we’re happy to have him back. He’s a stellar driver on and off track, and makes everyone laugh. The whole team atmosphere has been tremendous ever since he came back to the program.”
Continuity strengthens the revived programme
While driver selection has played a central role in TR3 Racing’s return, the team has also relied on continuity behind the scenes. Many members of the core operation remained connected to the wider organisation, even during the break from GT World Challenge America competition.
As a result, the renewed programme quickly gained rhythm. Familiar working relationships helped the team rebuild efficiently, while shared experience created a stable environment for both performance and development.
“The main group and the organization are very similar,” he said. “Everyone knows each other very well. Even though maybe they didn’t work all together on this program, they’ve worked on different programs as well, so everyone’s very familiar with each other.”
Williams takes major step into GT3 competition
Alongside Morad’s return, Williams has become a key part of TR3 Racing’s 2026 story. He is making his GT World Challenge America debut this season after building a long-standing relationship with the team.
Romanelli first connected with the Williams family through track-day programmes at The Concours Club in Florida. From there, Brayton quickly showed the qualities required to move towards professional racing. Therefore, TR3 Racing has focused on creating the right environment for his progression as he adapts to GT3 machinery.
“Brayton being pretty much the first year professionally racing, he’s done a phenomenal job in and out of the car,” Romanelli said. “GT3 is the highest level of racing you can go racing in, and being in SRO, the paddock’s extremely competitive. For being his first season here, he’s right where he needs to be in order to be competitive. We’re taking everything race by race and ensuring that the environment is comfortable in order to best encourage progression, which only further helps us progress as a team as well.”
Sebring preparation supports Williams’ progression
TR3 Racing’s preparation for Williams’ move into GT3 included extensive testing with Mercedes-AMG support. Significantly, much of that work took place at Sebring, which made the home-state round even more meaningful for the team and driver.
That preparation gave Williams a strong foundation before his full-season campaign began. Moreover, returning to a circuit where he first sampled GT3 machinery provided a useful benchmark for his development.
“This is where Brayton drove a GT3 car for the first time,” Romanelli noted. “His first laps this weekend were just as fast as the last ones from our most recent test. Our preparation as a team going into a race is the same as all the other races, but for Sebring, it’s a little bonus that instead of flying somewhere, we get to drive in. For us, it’s always about trying to give it our best that we can.”
Mercedes-AMG partnership shapes TR3 Racing’s return
TR3 Racing’s revived GT World Challenge America programme also centres on its relationship with Mercedes-AMG. After working with the manufacturer in 2023, the team returned to the platform for 2026 because of both the car’s performance and the strength of the customer racing support.
The No. 9 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo gives TR3 Racing a competitive foundation in the Pro-Am class. At the same time, the manufacturer relationship has helped the team settle quickly back into the SRO America environment.
“What we have with Mercedes is honestly something special,” Romanelli said. “They made us feel at home. As soon as we switched to them in 2023, that’s mainly the reason why we came back to them. The product is phenomenal. The car is still extremely competitive in any championship that you look at worldwide.”
TR3 Racing backs new GT World Challenge America format
As GT World Challenge America continues with its revised single-race, three-hour format, TR3 Racing sees opportunity in the championship’s direction. Although the team’s early results have not fully reflected its pace, Romanelli believes the ingredients remain in place for stronger finishes as the season develops.
The new structure places a greater emphasis on strategy, endurance execution, and teamwork. Consequently, it suits a team that values preparation, driver development, and operational consistency.
“I really like the format change,” he said. “I think it’s the right direction. It feels more competitive and entertaining, in addition to being more optimal structurally.”
Romanelli reflects on family memories at Sebring
Beyond the racing programme, Sebring also connects deeply to Romanelli’s personal history. Before TR3 Racing competed professionally, the Romanelli family spent weekends at the circuit during track-day events, building memories that still influence the team’s relationship with the venue.
Therefore, returning to Sebring in GT World Challenge America represents more than a race weekend. It reflects the team’s roots, its Florida identity, and its continued commitment to the SRO America paddock.
“I’m a Florida boy,” Romanelli said with a smile. “I love Sebring. For me, everything around here is entertaining. I mean, the track is awesome, and they have great food here as well. I always send my father a picture if I get a breakfast sandwich here. That’s what we were doing when we were kids here. The whole atmosphere around here is very different, and it’s the history of Sebring that makes it special.”
TR3 Racing looks ahead with renewed confidence
Ultimately, Sebring offered TR3 Racing a meaningful checkpoint in its 2026 comeback. The team returned to familiar ground with a revived Mercedes-AMG programme, a returning professional in Morad, a developing talent in Williams, and a core group that already understands how to work together.
Although the season still has room to grow, TR3 Racing has built a clear platform for progress. With Sebring reinforcing both its history and its ambitions, the team now continues its GT World Challenge America campaign with confidence, familiarity, and renewed purpose.
