NASCAR to boost Cup Series power for 2026 season
Advertisement
After ten grueling hours of racing, Paul Miller’s #48 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, driven by Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Connor De Phillippi, crossed the finish line 55 seconds ahead of the rest. Their win marked the team’s second victory of the season, following an earlier success at Watkins Glen in June. Starting from pole, the BMW trio controlled much of the race, with Harper making the decisive pass on Nicky Catsburg’s Corvette in the final hour.
The No. 4 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Pratt Miller Motorsports, driven by Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg and Nico Varrone, finished second. Rounding out the podium, the No. 3 Corvette of Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims came in third, enough to seal the GTD Pro championship title.
For Garcia, the result represents the fifth WeatherTech Championship of his career, adding to previous GTLM titles in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021, and extending his record as one of Corvette Racing’s most decorated drivers. The duo entered the final with a slight lead over DragonSpeed’s Albert Costa, whose title hopes faded into obscurity.
Costa’s No. 81 Ferrari 296 GT3 received multiple penalties, first for an unattended wheel in pit lane and then for contact with another Ferrari at Turn 10. A subsequent drive-through penalty following an incident with the No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3 ended DragonSpeed’s bid for the crown.
Advertisement
NASCAR antitrust lawsuit nears possible settlement as teams, league seek resolution
Elsewhere in GTD competition, AF Corse posted a dominant 1-2 for Ferrari, with Simon Mann, Lilou Wadoux and Alessandro Pier Guidi taking class honors in the No. 21 Ferrari, followed by the No. 023 Triarsi Competizione car. Winward Racing secured back-to-back GTD titles after initial chaos in the opening laps effectively sealed their championship lead.
The massive first lap crash through the Esses eliminated multiple contenders and decided the Bob Akin Award for AWA’s Orey Fidani, after Inception Racing’s Brendan Iribe was sent off. Fortunately, Ferrari driver Manny Franco, whose spin caused the crash, escaped unharmed.
For Paul Miller Racing and Corvette, Petit Le Mans capped an unforgettable season, marked by championship-caliber resilience, execution and precision in two of IMSA’s most competitive GT classes.
Fountain