A first overall victory at Indianapolis. A fourth Intercontinental GT Challenge manufacturers’ title. A GT World Challenge America by AWS manufacturer’s crown. Six Porsche entries in the top 10. Led by GMG Racing in the #32 Porsche 911 GT3 R, Porsche customer teams delivered a landmark night at the Brickyard.
GMG Racing won the 2026 DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour with Kyle Washington, Riccardo Pera and Ayhancan Güven sharing the No. 32 Porsche 911 GT3 R, securing Washington’s GT World Challenge America powered by AWS Pro-Am Drivers’ Championship and the team’s Pro-Am Teams’ Championship.
The winning Porsche completed 323 laps and finished 56.209 seconds clear of its nearest rival, becoming the first Pro-Am entry to win the Indianapolis endurance race outright in its seven editions. The result also helped Porsche clinch its fourth Intercontinental GT Challenge manufacturers’ crown and the GT World Challenge America by AWS championship.
GMG’s victory was backed by five consecutive Porsche finishers from sixth through 10th — two Wright Motorsports entries, RS1, Herberth Motorsport and High Class Racing.
Championship mission becomes an overall victory.
Washington started the race and completed his required driving time early. While many rivals suffered contact in the early laps of the race, Washington laid down a solid foundation to hand over a fast and unblemished Porsche 911 GT3 R for Pera and Güven to take through the remaining hours. GMG’s alternative pit strategy brought the team into contention for more than its original Pro-Am target, with the opportunity for overall victory becoming clear as the race developed.
Pera set the fastest lap of the race at 1:23.573 and Güven was relentless in the final stint aboard the No.32 and crossed the finish line by nearly a minute ahead of all rivals. “We came here for Pro-Am,” Güven said. “In the middle of the race, we found out we had a chance for the overall win, so we went for it.
“We won the eight hours, Porsche won IGTC and Kyle won GT World Challenge America Pro-Am. An amazing day for Porsche. Congratulations to everyone. The car was amazing to drive, and the team did a really good job.”
GMG maintained its advantage through the final pit stops, with the team bringing the Porsche home by the largest winning margin in Indianapolis 8 Hour history.
Pera, who joined Washington in place of regular teammate Tom Sargent for the finale, credited the entire operation for the result.
“I mean, it’s amazing, man. We just won overall here at Indianapolis,” Pera said. “I’m really proud of Ayhancan and Kyle. The team did a mega job.
“I’m really, really proud of everyone. It was a really good race, executed really well. I can’t ask for more.”
Washington celebrates team effort.
For Washington, the overall victory added another achievement to a night that also delivered his Pro-Am championship.
“Wow, wow, wow, wow. I don’t know what to say,” Washington said. “Totally unexpected, but the team did amazing.
“We’ve just got so many all-stars from A to Z on the team, starting with the littlest guys in the shop all the way through — engineers, the team in general. The drivers were amazing.
“Honestly, I’m flabbergasted. Totally appreciative of everybody involved.”
Porsche teams collect further honors.
Wright Motorsports’ Dave Musial Jr., Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver Ryan Yardley and factory ace Laurin Heinrich finished sixth overall and climbed the podium in third in Pro-Am in the No. 31 Porsche 911 GT3 R.
RS1’s Jan Heylen, Dyszelski and Daan Arrow finished seventh overall, ahead of Herberth Motorsport’s Ralf Bohn, Alfred Renauer and Robert Renauer in eighth. Bohn claimed the IGTC Independent Cup race victory, while fellow Porsche driver Kerong Li arrived at Indianapolis having already secured the season’s Independent Cup championship.
Wright Motorsports’ Thomas Merrill, Morris Schuring and Kévin Estre finished ninth overall, with High Class Racing’s Li, Anders Fjordbach and Hongli Ye completing the top 10.
Michael Clark, Lars Kern and Colin Braun earned the Hard Charger award after climbing from 27th on the grid to 12th overall in the No. 017 Kellymoss Porsche — a gain of 15 positions. Porsche’s first overall Indianapolis 8 Hour victory came in the event’s final running at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. GMG Racing’s win closed the race’s seven-year chapter at the Brickyard, with the American round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge moving to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for the inaugural Texas 8 Hour weekend on May 7–9, 2027.
