A new chapter began for Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama as the series visited Arizona’s APEX Motor Club for the first time to open the 2026 season.
Located less than an hour from Phoenix, Arizona, APEX hosted four classes of racing on Saturday and Sunday in temperatures that reached 80 degrees, despite varying conditions throughout the country.
Hankins records weekend sweep in 992 class.
Winning overall in both rounds was Brannan Hankins – his first weekend sweep in the series after scoring one win in Sprint Challenge the year prior.
Hankins ran amongst Jordan Darling & David Fabi in the Pro-Am class, both of which made their Porsche Sprint Challenge debut at APEX. Hankins would start from pole and finish first in both races.
In the 992 Masters class, the weekend victories were split between Henry Marshall on Saturday and Laura Ely on Sunday.
After competing in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in previous seasons, Marshall emerged unscathed from a Lap 1 Race 1 incident with multiple cars to go on to take the win on his debut race with the striking HM Road Racing #278 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.
Black Sheep’s Ely made her race-winning pass on Sunday with 20 minutes in the contest over the previous day’s victor.
Herback captures first-ever Sprint Challenge win.
In the Cayman Masters class, Greg Herback secured his first Sprint Challenge career victories at APEX Motor Club.
Fittingly, during the Olympics weekend, the former downhill ski racer won both races over the weekend, just one year after finishing in second place in the same class standings.
Herback finished ahead of Justin Lewis, another series debutant at APEX Motor Club.
As the singular Cayman Pro-Am competitor, Zach Bradford – also running his first Sprint Challenge season – finished first-in-class on both Saturday and Sunday in his #14 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
Enthusiasts take the wheel at Porsche GT Track Day.
Running alongside the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West event on Sunday was the first Porsche GT Track Day of 2026, hosted by Porsche Motorsport North America.
More than 35 guests participated in the exclusive experience, which allowed them to bring their 21 Porsche road cars out for nearly two hours of open lapping on the exclusive APEX Motor Park circuit.
The guests enjoyed full VIP hospitality throughout the day, including paddock tours, a meet and greet with legendary Porsche racer Darren Law, and experienced an unforgettable finale of hot laps in the newly-delivered Porsche 911 Cup car (Type 992.2), and a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.
Professional racers Andy Lee & Brandon Chappell each piloted the Porsche race cars, delivering thrilling rides that capped off a high-octane day immersed in Porsche motorsport.
While the USA West division returns for its next event at Sonoma Raceway on April 10 – 12, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama starts its season at Sebring International Raceway from March 6 – 8, just before the historic 12 Hours of Sebring weekend.
The Central Florida event also doubles as the start of the 2026 Porsche Endurance Challenge North America by Yokohama season.
All Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West y Yokohama races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by following Porsche Motorsport North America on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter and by subscribing to the newsletter.
Race 1 Podium.
992
Pro-Am
- Brannan Hankins #295
- Jordan Darling #218
- David Fabi #230
Masters
- Henry Marshall #278
- Laura Ely #209
- Manuel Gil Del Real #270
Cayman
Pro-Am
- Zach Bradford #14
Masters
- Greg Herback #49
- Justin Lewis #75
Race 2 Podium.
992
Pro-Am
- Brannan Hankins #295
- Jordan Darling #218
- Mark Crigler #204
Masters
- Laura Ely #209
- Manuel Gil Del Real #270
- Henry Marshall #278
Cayman.
Pro-Am
- Zach Bradford #14
Masters
- Greg Herback #49
- Justin Lewis #75
Full results from all sessions can be found here, and all photos can be found here.
