The Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS returns to the Racing Capital of the World – Indianapolis Motor Speedway - from October 16th to 18th, bringing together a stellar roster of international talents for the grand finale of the global SRO calendar. The field features factory stars, seasoned veterans, open-wheel sensations, and ambitious newcomers, each aiming to etch their names into the Brickyard’s storied history.
With both GT World Challenge America powered by AWS and the Intercontinental GT Challenge championships converging at the Speedway, the event promises an exceptional blend of domestic and international competition. Drivers from all over the world will share the grid for eight intense hours of pure competition, showcasing the depth of skill and diversity that defines GT3 racing at its best.
BMW, Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche will all be eligible to earn points toward the Intercontinental GT Challenge championship, setting up a 20-car showdown for manufacturer supremacy. After prestigious rounds at the Bathurst 12 Hour, Nürburgring 24 Hours, CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, and Suzuka 1000km, the season-long global contest will reach its climax at the Brickyard, where the final 8 hours of GT racing will decide it all.
The race day festivities will be further highlighted by Track Limits Live presented in partnership with Crown Coins Casino. Set inside the Pagoda Plaza, the paddock will be transformed into a vibrant fan-first destination filled with live entertainment and interactive experiences, with a high-energy live DJ performance from CHYL, whose dynamic electronic mixes mirror the adrenaline and intensity of the Indy 8 Hour.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin’s presence will be anchored by a familiar trio of names. Gray Newell returns alongside full-season teammate Darren Turner, the British factory legend whose decades of GT experience make him one of the most respected figures in the paddock. They will be accompanied by Zach Robichon, a proven winner with deep roots in endurance racing. The Canadian has already taken home class wins this year in Australia and Belgium, and now looks to add a victory on American soil.
- No. 24 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO (Pro-Am) – Gray Newell, Zach Robichon, Darren Turner
BMW
The BMW camp brings an all-star cast, headlined by global icons and proven winners. Valentino Rossi fronts Team WRT’s Pro entry alongside Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts, a trio that needs little introduction in world GT circles. Meanwhile, Kenton Koch, Connor De Phillippi, and Conor Daly form an all-American powerhouse at Random Vandals Racing, mixing both sportscar and open-wheel experience with local Indianapolis expertise.
Elsewhere, veteran Bill Auberlen teams up with Varun Choksey and Philipp Eng, while Justin Rothberg and Robby Foley and joined by Patrick Gallagher in their title-contending Turner Motorsport BMW. The BMW roster is rounded out by Augusto Farfus, Raffaele Marciello, and Al Faisal Al Zubair, an elite international lineup capable of challenging for overall victory.
- No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 EVO (Pro-Am) – Justin Rothberg, Patrick Gallagher, Robby Foley
- No. 46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO (Pro) – Valentino Rossi, Kelvin van der Linde, Charles Weerts
- No. 51 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO (Pro) – Varun Choksey, Bill Auberlen, Philipp Eng
- No. 99 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO (Pro) – Kenton Koch, Connor De Phillippi, Conor Daly
- No. 777 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO (Pro) – Al Faisal Al Zubair, Augusto Farfus, Raffaele Marciello
Chevrolet
A pair of full-season American teams will fly the flag for Chevrolet, with Blake McDonald, Alec Udell, and Matt Bell combining youthful ambition and technical prowess in DXDT Racing’s Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Ross Chouest and Aaron Povoledo continue their long partnership, joined by factory driver Nicky Catsburg, whose pedigree includes a major win at Spa, the biggest GT-only race in the world.
- No. 11 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R (Pro-Am) – Blake McDonald, Alec Udell, Matt Bell
- No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R (Pro-Am) – Ross Chouest, Aaron Povoledo, Nicky Catsburg
Ferrari
Ferrari’s 296 GT3 entries bring both international flair and American grit. Brazilian competitors Marcelo Hahn, Christian Hahn, and Allam Khodair reunite for AF Corse USA in a Pro-Am effort rich with chemistry and experience. In the Am category, Jay Schreibman, Oswaldo Negri, and Conrad Grunewald carry the torch for Ferrari, each bringing deep IMS and GT racing backgrounds to the mix as they challenge for the class championship.
- No. 16 AF Corse USA Ferrari 296 GT3 (Pro-Am) – Marcelo Hahn, Christian Hahn, Allam Khodair
- No. 163 AF Corse USA Ferrari 296 GT3 (Am) – Jay Schreibman, Oswaldo Negri, Conrad Grunewald
Ford
The Ford Mustang GT3 makes its Indy 8 Hour debut with Scott Dollahite, Eric Powell, and Stefano Gattuso sharing driving duties. The trio blends domestic experience and European GT know-how, and they’ll aim to convert their Am-class championship lead into silverware at season’s end.
- No. 6 Dollahite Racing Ford Mustang GT3 (Am) – Scott Dollahite, Eric Powell, Stefano Gattuso
McLaren
In the McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, Todd Coleman, Thomas Merrill, and Aaron Telitz bring a potent mix of aggression and finesse. All three have delivered standout drives throughout their careers, winning on some of the biggest global stages, and now set their sights on glory in the Pro-Am category.
- No. 88 Archangel Motorsports McLaren 720S GT3 EVO (Pro-Am) – Todd Coleman, Thomas Merrill, Aaron Telitz
Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG’s lineup reads like a who’s who of GT racing. CrowdStrike by Riley’s George Kurtz, Toby Sowery, and Colin Braun are consistent front-runners, while Michai Stephens, Mikael Grenier, and Lucas Auer form an all-pro trio with serious pace for JMF Motorsports.
Australian stars Chaz Mostert and two-time INDYCAR champion and Indy 500 winner star Will Power link up with Kenny Habul in the No. 75 car, adding extra international intrigue. Elsewhere, factory names like Maxime Martin, Maro Engel, and Lucas Stolz headline the Mercedes-AMG Team GMR and Lone Star Racing squads, making the marque’s challenge one of the deepest in the field.
- No. 04 Crowdstrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro-Am) – George Kurtz, Toby Sowery, Colin Braun
- No. 34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro) – Michai Stephens, Mikael Grenier, Lucas Auer
- No. 75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro-Am) – Kenny Habul, Chaz Mostert, Will Power
- No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro) – Lin Hodenius, Maxime Martin, Jules Gounon
- No. 91 Regulator Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro-Am) – Jeff Burton, Daan Arrow, Philip Ellis
- No. 888 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro) – Tom Kalender, Maro Engel, Luca Stolz
Porsche
Few brands bring as deep a driver lineup as Porsche, with established racers spread across seven entries. Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, and Laurin Heinrich, the winning combo from 2024, lead the Wright Motorsports charge, while Alex Sedgwick, Jan Heylen, and Alessio Picariello bolster RS1’s front-running credentials.
Elsewhere, familiar Porsche specialists like Ralf Bohn, Robert Renauer, and Patric Niederhauser join the roster, while Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent team up with Porsche pro Klaus Bachler, while Ricardo Feller and Adrian D’Silva headline the Earl Bamber Motorsport entry. Expect the 992 GT3 R to once again be a fixture at the front of the field.
- No. 7 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 992 GT3 R (Pro-Am) – Ralf Bohn, Rolf Ineichen, Robert Renauer
- No. 10 Wright Motorsports Porsche 992 GT3 R (Pro-Am) – Antares Au, Loek Hartog, Patric Niederhauser
- No. 18 RS1 Porsche 992 GT3 R (Pro) – Alex Sedgwick, Jan Heylen, Alessio Picariello
- No. 21 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 992 GT3 R (Pro-Am) – Dustin Blattner, Alfred Renauer, Dennis Marschall
- No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R (Pro-Am) – Kyle Washington, Tom Sargent, Klaus Bachler
- No. 61 Earl Bamber Motorsport Porsche 992 GT3 R (TBD) – Adrian D'Silva, Ricardo Feller.
- No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 992 GT3 R (Pro) – Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, Laurin Heinrich
All Eyes on IMS
Fans attending the Indianapolis Motor Speedway can expect open paddock access, autograph sessions across all series, fan zones with local vendors, and unparalleled access to some of the most impressive GT and touring car machinery in the world.
For those who can’t make it trackside, watch all the action live on RACER TV, the GTWorld YouTube channel, and SRO Motorsports Twitch.
Additionally, viewers can watch with the brand-new multi-viewer streaming experience in partnership with Vbrick and GPX Stream. This innovative platform gives fans unprecedented control over their race day experience, allowing them to seamlessly switch between multiple live onboard streams in real time for GT World Challenge America powered by AWS while simultaneously accessing the live leaderboard, race broadcast, and Twitch chat.
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