Wright Motorsports remains firmly in the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) America Pro-Am championship fight after navigating a challenging penultimate round at Barber Motorsports Park.
Dave Musial Jr. and Ryan Yardley entered Barber at the top of the Pro-Am standings after taking the championship lead during the previous Road America round. However, a difficult three-hour race reshuffled the order, leaving the No. 31 Porsche 911 GT3 R pairing six points behind the championship leaders ahead of the season finale.
Nevertheless, Wright Motorsports limited the damage during an eventful Barber Motorsports Park round and ensured that Musial Jr. and Yardley will arrive at Indianapolis with an opportunity to fight for the Pro-Am title.
Musial Jr. makes early progress at Barber
The No. 31 Porsche started Sunday’s race 11th overall and seventh in the Pro-Am class. Musial Jr. immediately looked to make progress and gained two positions during the opening stages after contact between two other Pro-Am competitors.
However, the race soon faced its first interruption. A Full Course Yellow approximately 35 minutes into the contest brought the field back together before racing resumed with two hours and 20 minutes remaining.
Another Full Course Yellow followed shortly before the two-hour mark and created an additional challenge for Musial Jr. An out-of-class competitor spun and stopped on the racing line, forcing the Wright Motorsports driver to slow considerably as he negotiated the incident.
Despite the disruptions, Musial Jr. kept the Porsche running and maintained the team’s championship hopes before handing the car over to Yardley shortly before the halfway point. The pairing’s efforts formed part of an eventful three-hour contest that ultimately saw AF Corse USA take the overall victory while Archangel Motorsports won Pro-Am, according to the official GTWC America Barber race report.
Following the race, Musial Jr. highlighted the importance of patience as Wright Motorsports worked to protect its championship position.
“We had to stay patient today and make the most of every opportunity that came our way,” said Dave Musial Jr. “There were a few moments where we could have lost a lot of ground, so bringing the car home and keeping ourselves in the championship fight was important. Ryan did a great job in the second half of the race, and now we’re only six points out heading into the finale at Indy.”
Yardley keeps championship hopes alive
Yardley took over the No. 31 Porsche shortly before the halfway mark and returned to the circuit ninth in the Pro-Am order.
With the championship implications firmly in focus, he methodically worked his way forward during the second half of the race. Mishaps for competitors ahead provided opportunities, and Yardley gained two positions as Wright Motorsports continued to maximise what had become a difficult afternoon.
Consequently, Musial Jr. and Yardley reached the chequered flag with their title hopes intact. Although the weekend cost them the championship lead they had carried into Barber, the pairing remains just six points behind heading into the decisive final round.
The result therefore leaves Wright Motorsports with everything still to play for when GTWC America concludes its season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“Tough day at Barber but I’m super proud of Dave and the whole team at Wright Motorsports for digging deep,” added Ryan Yardley. “We got some valuable points, and now go to Indy in a position to fight for a championship. I’m looking forward to the 8 Hour and the battle that awaits.”
Heinrich joins Musial Jr. and Yardley for Indianapolis title decider
Attention now turns towards the Indianapolis 8 Hour, where the championship will offer double points and provide Musial Jr. and Yardley with their final opportunity to overturn the six-point deficit.
Porsche factory driver Laurin Heinrich will join the full-season pairing in the No. 31 Porsche for the eight-hour contest. Wright Motorsports confirmed Heinrich’s addition ahead of the season finale, strengthening the crew for GTWC America’s longest race of the year.
Heinrich also brings previous success with the team at Indianapolis. He helped Wright Motorsports secure the Pro class victory at the 2024 Indianapolis 8 Hour, giving the No. 31 line-up experience of winning together at the venue.
His arrival forms part of a strengthened two-car Indianapolis programme for Wright Motorsports, with Heinrich and Kévin Estre completing the team’s endurance line-ups for the finale.
No. 242 Porsche targets Indianapolis return
Meanwhile, Wright Motorsports withdrew the No. 242 Porsche 911 GT3 R of Therese Lahlouh and Thomas Merrill from the Barber weekend as Lahlouh recovered from an acute illness and allergic reaction.
The team prioritised Lahlouh’s health and recovery rather than contesting the penultimate round. Wright Motorsports confirmed the decision before the event, while Pit Debrief reported the withdrawal as the team shifted its attention towards Indianapolis.
Lahlouh and Merrill now plan to return for the season finale, where Estre will join them in the No. 242 Porsche. The Porsche factory driver will add further experience to Wright Motorsports’ line-up as the sister entry looks to close the campaign with a strong result.
Wright Motorsports takes title fight to Indianapolis
Although Barber produced a difficult afternoon, Wright Motorsports leaves the penultimate round with its principal championship objective still within reach.
Musial Jr. and Yardley arrived in Alabama with a narrow lead but will head to Indianapolis six points behind the Pro-Am championship leaders. However, double points at the final round ensure that the championship remains open heading into the eight-hour contest.
After limiting its losses at Barber, the No. 31 crew can now focus entirely on the title decider. Musial Jr., Yardley and Heinrich will therefore enter the Indianapolis 8 Hour aiming to convert a season-long championship challenge into success at the final opportunity.
The 2026 GTWC America season concludes with the Indianapolis 8 Hour at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 8–10 October.
