The upcoming event at Barber Motorsports Park not only serves as a thrilling return to Alabama for the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS championship, but it marks the last double header of the year before teams shift their focus to the grand season finale; the Indianapolis 8 Hour.
The finish line is fast approaching, and the battles for the class titles are intensifying. The next weekend in Alabama presents opportunities for a couple of drivers in particular to be crowned early champions, but generally speaking, the pressure and anticipation is reaching a fever pitch for the majority of competitors on the grid.
Pro Class
Wright Motorsports are the current frontrunners in the Pro class, as Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer have driven to victory twice in the No. 120 Porsche 992 GT3 R, followed by a further seven podium finishes. They were standout performers early on, and their clasp over the top spot seemed unshakeable – but then DXDT Racing came along.
Ever since their debut in the 2024 championship at Circuit of The Americas, Alec Udell and Tommy Milner have been a force to be reckoned with. From Austin to Wisconsin, the pairing have been unstoppable, winning each round in their No. 63 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
Despite a late entry into the competition, DXDT Racing are closing in on an opportunity to challenge for the title, separated from Wright Motorsports by 35 points. If their strong performances continue, the title could be decided over the course of a grueling eight-hour battle at the Brickyard.
However, Varun Choksey and Bill Auberlen are only ten more points behind in third, and they won’t be backing down without a fight. Equipped with the No. 28 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3, the pairing will be eager to fight to move up another spot in the standings.
Pro-Am Class
The ever-consistent duo of Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen are coming into the next rounds in Birmingham with one goal only; clinching the Pro-Am class championship in their No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3. They have gradually been increasing their points lead after delivering one podium result after the next, and are now presented with an opportunity to wrap up their title hunt a little early.
Justin Rothberg and Robby Foley have been on the rise in the No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3, claiming two wins and three podiums of their own. It’s been an impressive campaign for Rothberg in particular, who finds himself in title contention during his debut season in GT3 machinery. The rookie competitor has been nothing short of highly competitive, a testament to the input and impact from seasoned pro Auberlen.
Meanwhile, the battle for third place on the leaderboard is closer than ever. Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent currently occupy that spot in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R, and scored their first win together just a few short races ago, but a recent victory from Bryan Sellers in the No. 08 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R has brought DXDT Racing into contention, with only three points standing between them.
To make things even more interesting, Jeff Burton and Phillip Ellis have added themselves into the mix as well with the No. 91 Regulator Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. The teammates typically opt for an alternative strategy that has earned them four podium finishes, including one overall win, and are coming into Alabama with 94 points.
No, your eyes do not deceive you – these three teams are indeed only a mere four points from each other, and the excitement is only going to build from there.
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- September 6th-8th: Barber Motorsports Park
- October 3rd-6th: Indianapolis Motor Speedway