GMG’s Indy victory seals IGTC title for Porsche; Martin crowned drivers’ champion
Kyle Washington, Riccardo Pera, and Ayhancan Güven of GMG Racing won the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour, helping Porsche secure its fourth Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) manufacturers’ title. Maxime Martin became the 11th different drivers’ champion in IGTC history, needing to place fifth or better in the finale to surpass Maro Engel, who was unavailable due to DTM commitments.
Stolz, Martin’s main competitor, was eliminated early due to a crash involving his co-driver Lin Hodenius, allowing Martin to race without significant issues. He finished fifth overall, and fourth among IGTC entrants, earning the title by four points over Engel. Martin’s team led portions of the race, thanks to strong performances by Michai Stephens and Mikael Grenier, but faced challenges during pit strategies.
GMG Racing’s decision to pit 20 minutes before the stint length was crucial. With less than half the race completed, the team was in a strong position when the race ended. Washington, initially running outside the top 10, completed his minimum drive time early, allowing Pera and Güven to take over and secure a commanding victory by 56 seconds, marking the first Pro-Am win in the race’s seven-year history.
Their main competitors included the AF Corse America Ferrari, which temporarily led, but was overtaken by the Turner Motorsport BMW later in the race. Robby Foley’s maneuvers helped secure the Pro title for him and Justin Rothberg. Ultimately, the Archangel McLaren finished second overall, while Martin’s position secured him valuable points despite finishing fourth.
Laurin Heinrich, who had a chance at the drivers’ title, finished sixth in his Porsche alongside his teammates. RS1’s different strategy led to a seventh-place finish for Danny Dyszelski, Daan Arrow, and Jan Heylen, surpassing leading Independent Cup entrants. High Class Racing’s Li Kerong won the title in Suzuka, but a late pit stop impacted his points.
The IGTC season will resume in February with the start of the 2027 campaign in Australia at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour.
