- Grenier, Stephens Top Pro Class
- Daskalos, Hanafin Quickest in Pro-Am
- Provisional Qualifying 1 Results
- Provisional Qualifying 2 Results
- Provisional Combined Qualifying Results
The first qualifying sessions of the 2026 GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season delivered an early glimpse at what promises to be a competitive year, as teams battled for top starting positions under the Sonoma Raceway sun. New for 2026, the series’ revised format combines times from Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2 to set the grid for the weekend’s single three-hour endurance race. At the end of the two-session battle, JMF Motorsports emerged on top, claiming both the overall pole and the Pro-Am class pole to open the season in strong form.
Pro Class
The Pro category featured a tightly contested pair of sessions, with the front of the field shuffling until the closing moments in both outings.
In Qualifying 1, Michai Stephens delivered a late flyer aboard the No. 34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO to secure the fastest lap in class. Stephens edged Alex Sedgwick in the No. 6 Dollahite Racing Ford Mustang GT3 by 0.2 seconds, while Michael McCann Jr. vaulted into third late in the session in the No. 8 McCann Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Qualifying 2 saw Mercedes factory driver Mikaël Grenier take control early, putting the No. 34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO at the top of the charts. Cameron Lawrence followed closely in the No. 6 Dollahite Racing Ford Mustang GT3, while Frederik Schandorff secured third in the No. 12 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo with a late flying lap.
Combined, the efforts of Stephens and Grenier handed JMF Motorsports the overall pole position to open the season.
“It’s a good way to start the morning,” said Grenier. “The car’s been running well, and we’re building on last year. I think we can have a good season, but we need to go lap by lap and try to score as many points as possible early in the year, which we didn’t always do last season.”
Stephens added: “It’s truly a testament to the organization first, and to this beautiful machine we have underneath us, as well as my teammate. The platform is tremendous and does everything well when you treat it right, and we’re just enjoying the relationship. Mikaël and I have a genuine amount of respect for one another, and we’ll always put the other first if we can.”
Pro-Am Class
The Pro-Am field was just as dramatic, with several late-session improvements shaking up the order in both qualifying runs.
In Qualifying 1, Nicolai Elghanayan appeared poised to claim top honors in the No. 64 Chicago Performance and Tuning Co. Lamborghini Huracan GT3 until the very final lap. As the checkered flag flew, Todd Coleman snatched the fastest Pro-Am time in the No. 69 Archangel Motorsports McLaren 720S GT3 Evo. JP Martinez completed the top three in class in the No. 28 RS1 Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Qualifying 2 opened with Aaron Telitz carrying the momentum for Archangel Motorsports, going quickest early in Pro-Am and posting the third-fastest lap overall in the No. 69 McLaren. But with just over three minutes remaining, Lorcan Hanafin put the No. 27 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO on top of the Pro-Am charts and second overall, just behind teammate Grenier in the Pro class.
The session still had one final twist. With one minute left on the clock, Tom Sargent fired in the overall fastest lap of both sessions, a 1:32.673 in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, eclipsing Grenier by 0.136 seconds. Even so, JMF Motorsports did enough across both sessions to secure the Pro-Am pole position and complete a perfect qualifying effort.
“What a difference,” said Jason Daskalos. “The team is incredible. Danny, Richard, thank you, and thank you to John Farrow for bringing me on and finding Lorcan. He’s awesome, he’s great to work with, and I’m just thrilled to start the season on pole.”
Am Class
In the Am class, the No. 163 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo stood as the sole entry, but Jay Schreibman and Oswaldo Negri still made the most of their track time with an eye toward overall pace.
Schreibman led the class effort with the 18th-fastest lap overall, while Negri also posted the 18th-best time in his respective session as the duo continued building rhythm ahead of the races.
Let’s Get Racing
The GT World Challenge America powered by AWS will return to the track for the feature headlining three-hour race Sunday afternoon, March 29th at 1:45 PM PT.
If you can’t make it to Sonoma Raceway, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on SRO RaceControl, YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTSonoma.