A return to Sonoma Raceway brought familiar results for Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, as Brannan Hankins remained undefeated, Anna Cecchi completed a Cayman Pro-Am sweep, and Matt Dusek scored his first victories of the season during Velocity Invitational.
Circuit of The Americas provided an assortment of experiences for Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama drivers ranging from first wins to scorching temperatures, and to arguably the most crucial of all – additional track time at one of the country’s most technical road courses.
A new name topped the GT3 Cup Pro-Am leaderboard for the first time at COTA, as Mark Crigler celebrated his inaugural series victory on Saturday afternoon. It came during the hottest race seen throughout the weekend, as track temperatures reached above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Crigler and his Crigler Sport LLC team finally broke through after four consecutive podium finishes dating back to the opening weekend at Apex Motor Club. But, Brannan Hankins – Friday’s winner at COTA in the same class – had been dominant since the season’s first green flag with Loftus Motorsports.
Hankins did face strong competition, though, en route to his Race 1 win. Class newcomer Alex Pratt was posting fastest laps of the day in second place and clawed to within a second of Hankins, but eventually fell off his rival’s pace.
Both drivers took their learning experience to the sister Porsche Sprint Challenge North America races at COTA, also on Friday and Saturday.
In Race 2, the closest competitor to Crigler was Manuel Gil Del Real (Paradaime Performance Engineering) in the 992 GT3 Cup Masters class. Gil Del Real also became a first-time winner in Sprint Challenge USA West at COTA, and took home Saturday’s top trophy as well.
The father-daughter duo of Greg and Anna Cecchi (Charlie Hayes Racing) popped back onto the Sprint Challenge USA West scene at COTA.
The younger Cecchi ran uncontested in the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Pro-Am class for two wins.
Meanwhile, the elder Cecchi joined two fellow Porsche single-make drivers – Greg Herback and Justin Lewis – in the Cayman Masters class. Herback and Lewis are poised for a season-long showdown in Sprint Challenge USA West and the former only led by 14 in the championship arriving at COTA.
The duo alternated victories in Austin, Texas, with Herback winning on Friday and Lewis winning on Saturday. The elder Cecchi finished second in both contests and crucially, Herback forwent points after an out-lap incident prevented him from competing in Race 2.
All four Cayman class drivers hopped between both the Sprint Challenge USA West and North America fields at COTA for a total of four races apiece.
Porsche GT Track Day made its Circuit of The Americas debut, giving participants the chance to drive the world-famous Austin circuit alongside the combined Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West race weekend.
Drivers tackled COTA’s demanding 3.4-mile layout in their own Porsche road cars through lead-follow and open-lapping sessions as changing Texas weather added to the experience throughout the day.
Porsche Austin supported the event with three Porsche 911 GT3 lead-follow cars and professional driver coaches.
Participants also received behind-the-scenes access to the Porsche Sprint Challenge paddock, including meet-and-greet opportunities with drivers and tours of Porsche Motorsport North America operations.
The day concluded with high-speed hot laps in Porsche one-make race cars driven by Alec Udell and Riley Giacomazzi.
Karel Staut’s unbeaten Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama run finally came to an end at Circuit of The Americas on Friday, only for the Kellymoss driver to respond the next day by returning straight to victory lane in Race 2.
JDX Racing’s Matthew Siegal would win the first race of the weekend, his first in the series.
After starting on pole in Race 1, Danny Dyszelski (TOPP Racing) was nudged off the racetrack by Staut in the Esses on the opening lap. After claiming all pole positions and wins to date throughout 2026, Staut was issued a 20-second penalty despite leading the rest of the race, ultimately finishing ninth-in-class.
But behind him in a last-lap shootout, Matthew Siegal (JDX Racing) powered past Dyzselski for second place and grabbed the win – his first in Sprint Challenge North America after finding success in the sister USA West series.
Dyszelski, in his return to the series since last season, held onto second with Riley Giacomazzi claiming his second podium of the year in third.
However, Staut returned to his winning ways in Race 2, familiarly starting from first and finishing first. Dyzselski ran second-place throughout the contest, while the fight for third highlighted the opening half of the 35-minute, plus one-lap race. Blake McGovern would secure the spot, marking his fourth third-place finish of 2026.
The GT3 Cup Masters season-long battle between Mark Boden (Fall-Line Motorsports) and Alain Scalzo (Scalzo Autosport) continued at COTA. The pair split not only the wins, but also the second-place finishes at the Austin, Texas circuit.
Boden finished first on Saturday, with Scalzo in second. The pair swapped positions on Sunday, with Scalzo victorious and Boden finishing runner-up. Scalzo nearly swept the weekend if not for a minor track-limit penalty in Race 1, while Boden settled for runner-up behind his rival by less than a second in Race 2.
As a result, Boden leads Scalzo by 15 points in the championship standings.
Mixing it up with the leading pair in both contests was Todd Treffert, who walked away from COTA with two third-place trophies.
Keith Grant (Grant Motorsports) and Simon Read (ProSport Competition) were the only repeat winners in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America at COTA, sweeping their respective 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Pro-Am and Masters classes.
Grant became a first-time series winner in Race 1 after starting from the class pole position. Before COTA, Grant’s best finish was a double runner-up at Sebring International Raceway behind Anna Cecchi. On Saturday, the roles were reversed as he finished ahead of Cecchi by two seconds, followed by Spencer Propper in third.
In Race 2, Grant followed Cecchi until the pair approached the white flag. Grant challenged down the inside in Turn 19, and Ceechi subsequently suffered a spin trying to put the power down. Keith straightened up his car for the win, while brother David Grant snuck by in third behind Todd Ruttura in second. Cecchi wound up fourth.
After his double victory, Keith Grant now leads Cecchi by four points in the championship.
In the Cayman Masters category, Simon Read not only ran at the top of his class at COTA, but also overall throughout much of the weekend. Read – who made his season debut last round at Sonoma Raceway – led both Cayman classes for all but one lap in Race 1, and also for the concluding two laps of Race 2 after passing the Pro-Am class turmoil ahead of him.
Saturday’s Masters podium had the top-three drivers finish within 1.5 seconds of each other – Read, Tom Rogers and Greg Cecchi, respectively. On Sunday, Read was out of sight ahead of William Peluchiwski in second and Greg Cecchi in third, although the latter duo were split by just five-tenths after a feisty, race-long battle.
Through four rounds, Rogers maintains a seven-point lead over Cecchi in the standings.
Justin Lewis #75
Mixed conditions and high stakes defined the weekend at Sonoma Raceway, where Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama competitors faced the season’s most demanding weekends. From drying lines to late‑race rain, the unpredictable weather tested driver patience, tire management, and race craft across both races.
Porsche Motorsport North America continues to broaden the scope of its Porsche Mobil 1™ Female Driver Program in 2026, expanding beyond traditional Porsche one-make racing championships.
The evolution comes as Porsche and the Mobil 1™ approach a major milestone, with 2026 marking 30 years of global motorsport collaboration between the two brands.
Originally centered around Porsche’s one-make ladder, the program has evolved into a wider development platform this season, with drivers now competing in series including Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, GT World Challenge America by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America, and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
The 2026 roster reflects that expansion, featuring a diverse group of drivers across the sports car racing landscape:
By extending its reach into open competition sports car racing, the initiative now more closely aligns with Porsche Motorsport’s broader driver development pyramid, offering participants experience beyond sprint-format one-make competition.
Sabré Cook, the inaugural member of the program, emphasized the impact of that continued support.
“There are very few programs in motorsport that combine opportunity with real development in the way this one does,” Cook said.
“When I joined Carrera Cup in 2023, the support from Porsche Motorsport North America and the Mobil 1 brand was absolutely instrumental in making that step possible and in helping me be prepared for it.
“It’s not just about getting on the grid; it’s about having the structure, resources, and guidance to actually grow once you’re there.
“To now see the program expand in 2026 across multiple championships shows a real commitment to building something sustainable for women in the sport.”
Therese Lahlouh highlighted the structured pathway the program provides.
“I think there are very few manufacturers who are truly putting action behind intention,” Lahlouh said. “Porsche and the Mobil 1 brand have created a structured system that not only identifies talent but also nurtures it.
“For someone like me, with limited experience in motorsport, exposure to a program like this and the development opportunities it provides have really accelerated my career in exactly the way I needed and helped me maximize my potential. It’s not just true for me, but for all the women in the program.
“I went from grassroots racing to Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama just three years ago, and now I’m the only woman in the world competing full-time in a Porsche 911 GT3 R. That’s a testament to how well programs like this work and the importance of identifying the right people who can truly use the opportunity to launch themselves toward their dreams.”
Madeline Stewart, now competing in IMSA’s Pilot Challenge in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, pointed to the program’s role in her progression.
“Having the support from Porsche Motorsport North America, along with the Mobil 1 brand and being a part of the Mobil 1 Female Driver Program, has really been crucial to my performance and my opportunities here in North America,” Stewart said.
“Without their support, I wouldn’t have been on the grid in Carrera Cup, so I’m really grateful to be a part of the program.
“I’ve also had the opportunity through that program to learn so much about being a good racing driver – being well-rounded inside the race car and outside of it. That’s been crucial to my development and really put me in this position.”
The program continues to emphasize not only on-track performance, but also professional development away from the cockpit, including media training, fitness, and technical education.
The long-standing relationship between Porsche and Mobil 1™ adds further weight to the program’s continued growth. Since the mid-1990s, the partnership has played a key role in Porsche’s global motorsport success, and the 2026 season will mark 30 years of collaboration across endurance racing, one-make championships, and customer racing programs worldwide.
“Programs like the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program prove that meaningful progress happens when opportunity is paired with long-term development,” says Kelli H. Wright, Director of Lubricants Global Markets for Mobil 1.
“As an advocate for advancing women in this industry, I’m proud to see the real impact of the program and to help expand this initiative across multiple racing platforms, building sustainable pathways for women in motorsport.”
According to Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO Volker Holzmeyer, Porsche one‑make racing remains the foundation of the brand’s driver development pathway.
“Porsche one‑make racing is where drivers learn what it means to compete the Porsche way,” Holzmeyer said. “It provides an exceptional platform for developing racecraft, professionalism, and technical understanding, and it continues to be a cornerstone of our Motorsport ecosystem.”
Holzmeyer emphasized that as drivers build on that foundation and progress into broader GT racing environments, Porsche’s commitment remains unchanged.
“As drivers graduate from Porsche one‑make competition and expand into multi‑brand GT racing, our support continues,” he said. “We’re proud to follow their journeys as they take the next steps in their careers, carrying the values and experience gained in our one‑make championships into some of the most competitive series in North America – still racing Porsche.”
“Our role is to provide continuity and confidence as these drivers grow, whether they are competing in Carrera Cup, GT World Challenge powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America, or the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Porsche one‑make racing prepares them for that challenge, and we’re proud to stand behind them as they progress.”
“The Mobil 1™ brand is a critical component in that journey, helping support our drivers as they advance within the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid.”
With representation across multiple series and race formats – and with a historic milestone arriving in the Porsche and the Mobil 1™ relationship – the 2026 program marks a clear shift toward a more integrated and comprehensive approach, positioning its drivers for long-term success at the highest levels of sports car racing.
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama is back on track in two weeks at Sonoma Raceway. The rounds on April 10 – 12 also doubles as the second Porsche Endurance Challenge North America event of the year, as well as round two of Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West.
JDX Racing led at the start, and most importantly at the end, of the first Porsche Endurance Challenge North America by Yokohama race of 2026, but the team had to work mid‑race to secure its win at Sebring International Raceway.
The star‑studded 992 Pro‑Am category featured current and former Porsche Carrera Cup North America racers including Aaron Jeansonne, Yyves Baltas, Jared Thomas, and 2025 Carrera Cup Champion and current Porsche Selected Driver Ryan Yardley.
Polesitter Roberto Tutino partnered with veteran driver Daniel Morad for the 100‑minute enduro, starting their #260 JDX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the 992 Pro‑Am class from pole position.
Tutino was shuffled outside the top-three early and when Morad hopped behind the wheel, the Canadian slashed a 10-second gap to capture the lead in the closing laps of the race in spectacular fashion.
Morad’s move came on former Champ Car and Porsche Carrera Cup North America driver Dan Clarke, who held on for second place alongside co-driver Blake McGovern. Chris Hutter and former Porsche Sprint Challenge North America graduate Jared Thomas completed the Pro-Am podium in third.
In the 992 Am category, Matt Dusek and Charlie Hayes had a rollercoaster day but emerged on top with CHR, just months after the team finished second in the 2025 Endurance Challenge championship standings.
Dusek held a strong lead early in Sunday’s contest, but clashed with a Pro-Am car before the driver change. Hayes inherited the slightly damaged #251 911 GT3 Cup, but went on for the win.
Charles Espenlaub made a pass on Tyler Hoffman in the final quarter hour of the race to finish second with Henry Marshall. Hoffman and Michael Cobb finished third.
After an up-and-down weekend in Sprint Challenge North America, William Peluchiwski ended his Sebring trip on top in the Cayman Pro-Am class.
After starting third, Peluchiwski kept his #62 Kellymoss Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport clean for co-driver and coach Andrew Davis. Following the mandatory pit stop, Davis cycled into the class lead and never relinquished the position.
Dan Drohan tallied another podium finish at Sebring after winning the opening Sprint Challenge race on Friday on his debut and finishing second in the Cayman Pro-Am on Sunday with Taylor Van Overbeek.
The father–daughter duo of Greg and Anna Cecchi followed in third after also finding success earlier in the Sprint Challenge weekend. Both competed in the Cayman races, with the younger Cecchi sweeping her Pro-Am class and Greg finishing on the Masters podium on Friday, capping of a trophy-filled weekend for Charlie Hayes Racing.
There was another comeback story to be found deeper in the field to conclude Sunday’s enduro. Heinlein Racing Development proved to be the team to beat with drivers Todd Ruttura and Reginald Tartaglione, but a penalty during the pit stop dropped closing driver Tartaglione behind fellow Cayman competitor Justin Lewis.
However, in his #59 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, Tartaglione chased down Lewis to regain the lead and eventual win in the final 10 minutes of the race.
Roberto Tutino / Daniel Morad #260
Blake McGovern / Dan Clarke #240
Chris Hutter / Jared Thomas #281
Matt Dusek / Charlie Hayes #251
Henry Marshall / Charles Espenlaub #278
Michael Cobb / Tyler Hoffman #253
William Peluchiwski / Andrew Davis #62
Dan Drohan / Taylor Van Overbeek #98
Anna Cecchi / Greg Cecchi #72
Todd Ruttura / Reginald Tartaglione #59
Justin Lewis #75
Belgian young star Karel Staut and female racer Anna Cecchi emerged as the standout winners of the 2026 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama season opener at Sebring International Raceway.
15-year-old Staut captured both 992 victories across the weekend, while Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program racer Cecchi completed a Cayman sweep with back-to-back victories.
This year marks the series’ sixth season of competition after its inaugural run in 2021, and drivers from across the country – and even abroad – gathered in central Florida to kick off the calendar.
Two stories could be told about the two 992 races at Sebring, which featured a relaxed Race 1 on Friday and a hectic Race 2 on Saturday.
Despite the varying conditions and with nearly 40 entries, the Pro-Am and Masters classes saw the same victors – Karel Staut with Kellymoss and Matt Smith with ACI Motorsports, respectively – on both days.
Friday’s race ran green flag for the full duration and both winners led every lap en route to the first checkered flag of the season.
However, rain began to pour over the 3.74-mile circuit at the start of Race 2, leading to a nearly 15-minute red flag stoppage to give the teams an opportunity to change to wet weather Yokohamas.
Racing resumed with seven minutes to go, but several cars fell victim to the slippery surface and brought out a race-ending yellow flag.
In both races, Staut’s closest competition was Porsche Junior Program’s Riley Giacomazzi & Matthew Siegal, seeing the trio have a spirited start to Race 2 before Staut ultimately pulled away.
It was the Belgian’s first outing in Porsche One‑Make competition, stepping up from single‑seater racing in F4 with his only prior Porsche 911 GT3 Cup experience coming from European testing at the end of 2025.
Giacomazzi, another young driver but no stranger to the Porsche family, finished second in Race 1, while Matthew Siegal finished third on Friday and second on Saturday. Tony Malito also took a turn on the podium, finishing third in Race 2.
The 992 Masters class saw a similar podium sequence. Alain Scalzo finished second on Friday, while Todd Trefferet finished third in Race 1 and second in Race 2.
Longtime Porsche single-make racer, Mark Boden, completed Saturday’s podium in third.
Starting her second full season of professional racing and ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday, Anna Cecchi cruised for back-to-back Cayman Pro-Am class victories at Sebring in her Charlie Hayes Racing #27 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport machine.
Only once in 2025 did the up-and-comer win in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America USA West, but Cecchi’s seamless performances on Friday and Saturday could be a sign of what’s ahead for the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver in 2026.
She started on pole position and led flag-to-flag in both races, and anytime runner-up finisher Keith Grant closed in, she expanded the deficit back again.
Grant’s closest opportunity came on the final lap of Race 1, but he finished a narrow .205 seconds behind Cecchi and again in Race 2 by 1.623 seconds.
His brother and Grant Motorsports teammate, David Grant, finished third in Saturday’s race, while Spencer Propper rounded out the podium in Race 1 the day prior.
The Cayman Masters class saw a variety of faces on the podium at Sebring, and Dan Drohan was first to strike on his series debut with a Race 1 win on Friday.
Drohan – teammates with Cecchi at CHR – found himself in the lead on lap 1 after the polesitter William Peluchiwski was caught in a scuffle with another competitor.
Series newcomer Drohan would hold on to the lead for the remainder of the race, finishing ahead of Anna Cecchi’s father, Greg, in second and Ramy Farid in third.
The elder Cecchi and Farid provided some of the most entertaining battles of the day, concluding with Cecchi nipping Farid at the checkered flag by just .018 seconds.
In Race 2, 2025 Sprint Challenge USA West champion Tom Rogers prevailed for the win after a difficult first race on Friday, and Peluchiwski also enjoyed a rebound performance by finishing second.
The only Cayman Masters driver to finish on the podium in both races was Farid, who finished third again on Saturday.
After a year away, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama returns to Barber Motorsports Park in three weeks, joining IndyCar at the immaculate Alabama circuit for Round 2 of the 2026 season.
| Round | event | date |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Sebring International Raceway | March 6 – 8 |
| Round 2 | Barber Motorsports Park | March 27 – 29 |
| Round 3 | Sonoma Raceway | April 10 – 12 |
| Round 4 | Circuit of the Americas | May 7 – 9 |
| Round 5 | Virginia International Raceway | June 19 – 21 |
| Round 6 | Road America | August 14 – 16 |
| Round 7 | Road Atlanta | September 11 – 13 |
| Round | event | date |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Apex Motor Club | February 6 – 8 |
| Round 2 | Sonoma Raceway | April 10 – 12 |
| Round 3 | Circuit of the Americas | May 7 – 9 |
| Round 4 | Sonoma Raceway | May 29 – 31 |
| Round 5 | Road America | August 14 – 16 |
| Round 6 | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | September 4 - 6 |
| Round | event | date |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Sebring International Raceway | March 6 – 8 |
| Round 2 | Sonoma Raceway | April 10 – 12 |
| Round 3 | Road America | August 14 – 16 |
| Round 4 | Road Atlanta | September 11 – 13 |
