- Team WRT Victorious in Pro Class, BMW Clinches Manufacturers’ Championship
- Blattner Company by Herberth Motorsport Takes Pro-Am Win
- Random Vandals Racing and Turner Motorsport Claim GTWCA Pro and Pro-Am Titles
- AF Corse USA, Ferrari Triumphs in Am
- Provisional Indianapolis 8 Hour Results
The 2025 GT World Challenge America powered by AWS and Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) seasons drew to a dramatic close at the Indianapolis 8 Hour, a race defined by changing weather conditions, late-race decisive moves, and championship-deciding moments.
Shortly after the halfway mark, the race was red-flagged due to lightning and heavy rain in the vicinity, halting the action for an extended period of time. After a lengthy weather delay, competitors returned to the track at 6:40 PM ET, with just under an hour and a half remaining in the final round of the year.
The field resumed under yellow-flag conditions on a still-soaked Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. As the checkered flag waved, Team WRT crossed the finish line first overall, scoring their third consecutive Indianapolis 8 Hour victory. In Pro-Am, Blattner Company by Herberth Motorsport pulled off a daring overtake when it mattered most to come out on top. The Am class saw AF Corse USA emerge as victors in the Ford vs. Ferrari battle.
Pro Class
Once racing resumed, unexpected twists immediately followed. As rain intensity increased again, multiple teams pitted for wet-weather adjustments, but Lucas Auer and the No. 34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO stayed out, briefly cycling to the front of the overall field.
With 40 minutes remaining, the race went back to green briefly, and Kelvin van der Linde led the charge in the No. 46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3, followed by Maro Engel in the No. 888 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR and Raffaele Marciello in the No. 777 Team WRT BMW.
The momentum was interrupted once more when Jules Gounon’s No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO came to a halt with 36 minutes to go, triggering another full-course caution that endured until the end of the race as track conditions continued to be treacherous.
When the checkered flag finally fell, Kelvin van der Linde took victory for Team WRT, securing both the overall race win and the Intercontinental GT Challenge Drivers’ Championship. The No. 888 Team GMR Mercedes of Engel, Tom Kalender, and Luca Stolz finished second, with the No. 777 BMW of Marciello, Augusto Farfus, and Al Faisal Al Zubair completing the overall podium. The result also locked up the IGTC Manufacturers’ Championship for BMW, marking a double triumph for the brand.
Within the GT World Challenge America ranks, Random Vandals Racing celebrated a championship victory of their own, with the No. 99 BMW of Kenton Koch and Connor De Phillippi claiming the Pro Class title after finishing fourth overall. It was a standout weekend for Koch, who also clinched the Pirelli GT4 America championship earlier in the day with Random Vandals Racing as well.
Pro-Am Class
The final phase of the race also brought high intensity in Pro-Am. Patric Niederhauser initially led the way in the No. 10 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 (992) GT3 R, but was overtaken by Dennis Marschall in the No. 21 Blattner Company by Herberth Motorsport Porsche, just moments before another full-course yellow neutralized the field for the remainder of the race. The timing proved decisive, handing Herberth Motorsport drivers Dustin Blattner, Alfred Renauer, and Dennis Marschall the Pro-Am class victory.
Robby Foley held steady in third position aboard the No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW, which was more than enough for him and co-driver Justin Rothberg to seal the Pro-Am Championship for the second consecutive season after stellar and consistent performances all year long.
Am Class
In the Am category, the championship battle went down to the wire in a tense, rain-soaked finale. The No. 163 AF Corse USA Ferrari 296 GT3, piloted by Jay Schreibman, Oswaldo Negri, and Conrad Grunewald narrowly edged out the No. 6 Dollahite Racing Ford Mustang GT3 of Scott Dollahite, Eric Powell, and Stefano Gattuso. The two teams finished 17th and 18th overall, respectively, with the AF Corse USA squad celebrating its second consecutive Am Class title.
That’s A Wrap
To revisit the action from over the course of the 2025 season, SRO’s free livestreams are available on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports).