- Los Angeles racer continues Porsche development path with GT3 transition
- Sprint Challenge standout adds endurance experience ahead of 2026 debut
- New Porsche 911 GT3 R and Wright Motorsports partnership mark next career milestone
Therese Lahlouh’s climb up the Porsche ladder reaches a new peak in 2026 as she steps into GT World Challenge America powered by AWS with Wright Motorsports and the debuting Porsche 911 GT3 R.
The move continues Lahlouh’s rapid rise through Porsche’s North American development system. After getting her start in Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West in 2023 and spending the last two seasons in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, she now makes the transition into top-level GT3 competition.
Lahlouh is also a proud member of the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program. The program was launched in 2023 to support female talent across Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge North America.
She enters the season with recent endurance momentum, including a second-place finish in her first foray in GT3 competition last month in an endurance race at Sebring International Raceway, alongside Thomas Merrill and Reinhold Krahn. “I feel so fortunate and so excited about 2026,” Lahlouh said. “When I first started this motorsport journey, I never imagined I’d have the chance to run a GT3 R at night at Sebring. One of the first events I went to was a Carrera Cup race at Sebring in 2023 with IMSA and WEC, and it felt like this outer-space goal I’d never reach.”
“To now be taking this next step with Wright Motorsports, I’m just incredibly thankful to the people who have developed me and believed in me. ”
Lahlouh expressed that GT World Challenge America appealed to her because of its structure and the meaningful role it gives bronze-rated drivers. “As a bronze driver, I really wanted to be part of the program and part of the results,” she stated. “If I’m going to be in a team sport, I want my contribution to matter. GT World Challenge America gives me that opportunity to shine and have a real impact on the team’s performance.”
The move also aligns with her long-standing passion for endurance racing. GT World Challenge America’s 2026 season introduces a new race format: each round (aside from the season-ending 8-hour special at Indianapolis) will now be a single three-hour race, replacing the previous two 90-minute sprint races. “As much as I love sprint racing, I’m really an endurance racer at heart,” she explained. “I love the consistency and the collaboration it takes to deliver a result. I’m excited to finally be endurance racing exclusively and commit fully to that team effort.”
Reflecting on her progression through Porsche Sprint Challenge, Lahlouh credits the depth and professionalism of the paddock for accelerating her development. “Racing in fields of 40 cars with so many professional coaches and drivers forces you to rise to the level of the people around you,” she said. “The Cup car is an incredible training tool, and Sprint Challenge exposed me to the racecraft and professionalism I needed. Women like Sabré Cook and Ashley Freiberg gave me the roadmap. They lead by example, and I hope to inspire others like they inspire me.”
Her connection to Wright Motorsports dates back earlier than she ever expected. “The first GT3 R I ever saw was a Wright Motorsports car,” she recalled. “Their car chief gave me a tour when I was racing in Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West, and I never imagined I’d be driving one of their cars just two years later. The program Adam Adelson is now leading, building on John Wright’s foundation, is incredibly strong. From Bob Viglione to Adam, I feel so supported in my goals and ambitions. They have everything I need to get where I want to go.”
Lahlouh also sees her move as part of a broader and lasting shift for women in motorsport. “We’re finally seeing consistent forward progression,” she voiced. “Last year, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America featured four female drivers. Programs like the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program give us support, tools, and community. There’s room for more than one woman on the grid — there’s room for many. The more we uplift each other, the more the sport grows.”
The 2026 GT World Challenge America season spans seven headline rounds — starting March 27–29 at Sonoma Raceway in California, followed by stops at Circuit of The Americas in Texas (April 24–26), Sebring International Raceway in Florida (May 8–10), and for the first time since 2011, a return to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Georgia (June 12–14). The calendar also includes rounds at Road America in Wisconsin (August 28–30), Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama (September 25–27), and concludes with the season-ending endurance showcase at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana (October 8–11).
Looking ahead to her debut season in SRO, Lahlouh is entering with humility and ambition. “I always say low expectations, high ambitions,” she remarked. “I haven’t raced in SRO before, but I’m not new to endurance racing. Between Porsche Endurance Challenge, NASA’s Western Endurance Championship, and now Sebring, I’ve built a strong foundation. My goal is simply to maximize my development, learn everything I can, and take full advantage of the expertise around me.”
Lahlouh credited Porsche’s long-term support for accelerating her growth as a driver, saying the guidance, coaching access, and competitive environment the manufacturer provides have been essential to her progression. “Porsche is the only manufacturer that has truly stood up and said, ‘We want to see women succeed, and we want to help you get there.’ Their support and the opportunities they’ve given me have meant everything. I’m proud to represent the brand.”
Lahlouh’s 2026 GT World Challenge America teammate will be announced at a later date.