The second round of the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season at Circuit of The Americas also marked the next chapter in the SRO GT Academy North America campaign, where nine eligible drivers continued their pursuit of a fully funded Silver Cup seat at the 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
Designed to spotlight raw talent, the SRO GT Academy evaluates Silver-rated drivers under the age of 30 through a unique, data-driven system. By focusing on metrics such as qualifying performance, average race pace, and single-lap performance, the program removes external variables and instead highlights each driver’s underlying ability and long-term potential for growth and development.
Following a standout opening round at Sonoma Raceway, Australia’s Tom Sargent carried his momentum from California into Texas with another commanding showing. Driving the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3-R (992) EVO, Sargent once again delivered across all evaluation categories, reinforcing his position at the top of the standings.
While JMF Motorsports led the way overall in both qualifying sessions, Sargent’s individual performance remained exceptional. His best lap of 2:03.624 placed him atop the Pro-Am field and second overall, missing the outright benchmark by just 0.061 seconds.
That speed carried seamlessly into the race itself. Among GT Academy contenders, Sargent recorded both the fastest average pace and the quickest outright lap of the race with a 2:04.138. Notably, he was one of only two drivers across the entire grid to break into the 2:04 range during the race.
With a maximum of 12 points available per category, Sargent secured a perfect 36-point score for the second consecutive event. That brings his total to 72 points, establishing a firm early-season advantage in the standings.
Behind him, Riley Dickinson holds second place aboard the No. 13 Kellymoss Porsche 911 GT3-R (992) with 46 points. Dickinson delivered a well-rounded weekend, finishing second among GT Academy drivers in both average and fastest race laps, while placing fourth in qualifying performance.
Meanwhile, Ryan Yardley continues to close the gap in third. Competing with Wright Motorsports in the No. 31 Pro-Am Porsche, Yardley not only claimed his maiden series victory at COTA but also added valuable points through strong qualifying pace, leaving him just nine points shy of Dickinson in the standings.
The battle continues at Sebring International Raceway next as the SRO GT Academy drivers take on the bumps for the third round of the season, with GT World Sebring taking place from May 8th to 10th, 2026. Get your tickets now!
