The 2025 season came to a rather dramatic conclusion at the Indianapolis 8 Hour, as torrential rain, lightning delays, and fierce battles on track decided the final fate of the GT World Challenge Global Manufacturers’ Championship. As the darkness of night took over and the checkered flag fell under the lights at the Brickyard, BMW emerged on top, securing the coveted global title after putting in consistent and standout performances across every continent.
Despite treacherous conditions and a mid-race red flag for severe weather, BMW teams persevered to lock down decisive results in both the Pro and Pro-Am categories. With 1,129.5 points, the marque officially clinched the 2025 Manufacturers’ Championship, finishing ahead of German counterparts Mercedes-AMG (1,109.5 points) and Porsche (1,066.5 points).
BMW M
BMW’s Intercontinental GT Challenge representation through Team WRT once again proved to be untouchable at the Speedway. The No. 46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, driven by Kelvin van der Linde, Valentino Rossi, and Charles Weerts, stormed to overall victory, marking WRT’s third consecutive triumph in Indianapolis’ longest race.
Their sister entry, the No. 777 BMW M4 GT3 EVO piloted by Raffaele Marciello, Augusto Farfus, and Al Faisal Al Zubair, completed BMW’s dominance with a podium result in third, solidifying a 1-3 finish for the Belgian squad and helping seal BMW’s global championship bid.
On the GT World Challenge America front, Kenton Koch and Connor De Phillippi capped off a remarkable season with a fourth-place finish overall in the No. 99 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT3, joined by Conor Daly for the finale. The result was enough to crown Koch and De Phillippi as 2025 GTWCA Pro champions, closing out a season in which the team executed to perfection.
In Pro-Am, Turner Motorsport once again delivered in top form. The No. 29 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Justin Rothberg, Robby Foley, and Patrick Gallagher finished third in class in the Indy 8 Hour, securing back-to-back Pro-Am titles for Rothberg and Foley.
Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG put up a valiant effort and kept the pressure on until the very end. The No. 888 Team GMR GT3 entry of Tom Kalender, Luca Stolz, and Maro Engel claimed second overall, consistently remaining in contention for the win throughout the weather-interrupted event.
The JMF Motorsports duo of Michai Stephens and Mikael Grenier were also in the mix for the Pro title, finishing seventh overall and second in the GTWCA Pro championship standings. The pair led the race at one stage with Lucas Auer behind the wheel, but shifting weather conditions and strategy calls shuffled the order in the final stages.
Elsewhere, the No. 75 Express Mercedes-AMG of Chaz Mostert, Kenny Habul, and Will Power brought home a strong sixth-place finish overall, earning Habul the Intercontinental GT Challenge Independent Cup title.
Porsche
Porsche had plenty to celebrate in the Pro-Am ranks, scoring a commanding 1-2 finish in class. The No. 21 Blattner Company by Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Dustin Blattner, Alfred Renauer, and Dennis Marschall, took the class victory, followed closely by the No. 10 Wright Motorsports Porsche of Antares Au, Loek Hartog, and Patric Niederhauser.
Meanwhile, the Pro class No. 18 RS1 entry of Alex Sedgwick, Jan Heylen, and Alessio Picariello claimed a strong fifth-place overall result, concluding the season as the top-finishing Porsche in the field.
Up Next
Although the 2025 GT World Challenge America championship has come to an end, the attention turns to Australia, with one more event remaining on the calendar. Rounds 11 and 12 of the GT World Challenge Australia championship will take place at Hampton Downs, New Zealand, from October 31st to November 2nd.