Wright Motorsports kicked off the 2026 SRO America season in strong form at Sonoma Raceway, earning two podium results in the opening weekend as Dave Musial Jr. and Ryan Yardley claimed second place in the three-hour GT World Challenge America race, accompanied by a top five finish for Therese Lahlouh and Thomas Merrill. In GT America, Dave Musial Sr. brought home third place in the Sunday sprint endeavor.
In GT World Challenge America, Dave Musial Jr. and Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver and reigning Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion Ryan Yardley made an impressive debut in the Pro-Am category aboard the #31 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Musial Jr. took the start and quickly found himself in the midst of tight competition, holding strong in the top three throughout the majority of his stints in a highly contested field before handing the car over to Yardley at the halfway mark.
Yardley continued the team’s forward momentum as they remained in podium contention throughout the second half of the race. A penalty assessed to a competitor further elevated the duo up the order, ultimately securing a second-place finish in the Pro-Am class and fourth overall. The pair advanced a total of seven positions over the course of the three-hour season opener.
“It was a phenomenal way to start the season with Wright Motorsports,” said Dave Musial Jr. “The competition in GT World Challenge America is intense, so to come away with a podium in our debut weekend says a lot about the team and the preparation that went into this program. I felt really comfortable in the car during my stints and focused on keeping us in the fight, which Ryan did an awesome job capitalizing on to bring it home. I’m really proud of what we accomplished and excited to keep building from here at COTA.”
“This was a really awesome first weekend with Wright Motorsports and my debut in GT World Challenge America,” added Ryan Yardley. “To come away with a podium in our first weekend together is something to be proud of. Dave Jr. drove an awesome first couple of stints, which really set the rest of the race up for us. I can’t wait for COTA in a few weeks time!”
Therese Lahlouh and Thomas Merrill also had a strong performance in the Pro-Am class in the No. 242 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Lahlouh, making her series debut, delivered a composed and competitive opening stint, also climbing up into the top five, where she remained for the first half of the three-hour endurance feat before handing over the car to Merrill.
Despite a pit lane penalty that hindered their progress, Merrill pushed forward in the closing stages, engaging in a tight four-car battle. He made a decisive move in the closing stages and executed a late pass to gain another position and re-enter the top five, securing a solid opening result for the pair. Lahlouh and Merrill climbed eight positions overall by the checkered flag.
“Incredible start to my GT3 career here at Sonoma Raceway,” expressed Therese Lahlouh. “We were so close to a podium finish but unfortunately, a penalty kept us from the result we deserved. My co-driver Thomas had an awesome stint and I'm super proud of a top five thanks to the world class leadership and engineering at Wright Motorsports. We couldn't be in better hands and we're looking forward to taking the flight to COTA. Thank you to my sponsors Porsche Motorsport North America, Byers Auto, and Mobil 1.”
“Therese did an awesome job in her first SRO America race,” echoed Thomas Merrill. “I’m very proud of her performance and we’re looking forward to building on all the positives from this weekend. Everyone on the Wright Motorsports team did an exceptional job with the car and we came into the race well prepared and executing strongly. This was a good result in spite of the penalty we got during our pit stop, and I know we can strive for even more in Texas next month.”
In GT America, Dave Musial Sr. showed strong pace throughout the weekend in the #72 Porsche 911 GT3 R. In Race 1, he was on track for a solid result before an unscheduled pit stop to clear debris dropped him back to seventh. Despite the setback, Musial Sr. recorded the third-fastest lap of the race, earning a second-row starting position for Race 2.
He took the green flag from third on the grid in Race 2 and immediately applied pressure for second place before an early full course caution neutralized the field. Following the restart, he maintained consistent pace and remained within striking distance of the leaders. In the closing laps, Musial Sr. delivered a great defensive drive, fending off a late challenge from behind to secure a well-earned podium finish.
“Overall, it was a really positive weekend for us,” stated Dave Musial Sr. “We had strong pace from the start, and even with the setback in Race 1, we were able to bounce back and put ourselves in a good position for Sunday. The team gave me a great car, and it came down to staying consistent and managing the pressure in those final laps. It feels great to come away with a podium to start the season, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”
Wright Motorsports will look to build on its early-season success when SRO America returns to action at Circuit of The Americas from April 24th to 26th, 2026.