When chasing a GT World Challenge America powered by AWS championship title, every point, pole position, podium, and race win matters. But for Michai Stephens, progress isn't measured solely by results.
The driver of the No. 34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO has helped establish himself and teammate Mikael Grenier as championship contenders in the Pro class, sitting at the top of the leaderboard with 78 points. However, Stephens views his second season in GT3 competition as something much deeper than numbers and statistics. It's about understanding every layer of what it takes to compete at the highest level of GT racing.
"Year one was about getting over some of the internal fears of what I could or could not do behind the wheel," Stephens explained. "I’ve been open-minded to the learning curve and I have been able to absorb more of those little nuances. Now I have a better perspective on how the car can perform, how our team can perform, but certainly how I can perform as well."
That perspective has been one of the biggest differences in his 2026 campaign. Both Stephens and JMF Motorsports are in their second season competing at the GT3 Pro level, giving the organization a clearer vision backed by more experience.
"We walked into the season with a bit more clarity on our expectations," Stephens said. "At the conclusion of year one, we certainly walked into year two knowing where some of our strengths and weaknesses lie and how to be a more complete package. I would say that I was probably the one that needed to step it up the most with really comprehending the processes that lead into putting a car of this performance in the right operating window so we can get the most out of it through all stages of the weekend."
That individual and team growth extends beyond outright pace. While qualifying speed has been evident this season, with JMF Motorsports scoring three out of four overall pole positions in the opening half of the season, Stephens has placed an increased emphasis on understanding how a race evolves over the course of a stint.
"The overall pace was a step in the right direction this year," he stated. "But even more importantly than that, managing the duration of the race and how the car balance shifts from the start of the stint to the end of the stint has been what I've been focusing on."
The move to GT World Challenge America's three-hour race format has only reinforced that mindset. Although Stephens appreciated the opportunities provided by last year's pair of 90-minute races, he believes the endurance format better showcases what makes motorsport unique.
"I've built a great deal of respect and admiration for how the three-hour structure has allowed for the teams to play a much more significant role in the weekend," he explained. "It is a personification of motorsport. Even though us as the drivers get the opportunity to stand on the podium, we didn't get there on our own."
That team-first philosophy has also been strengthened with JMF Motorsports expanding to field a second Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO entry this season. The additional car, which competes in the Pro-Am category and has seen its own success, has accelerated development by allowing both crews to explore different setup and strategy directions throughout a race weekend.
"Having another asset on track that can go in a different direction from a car setup perspective or strategy perspective allows both sides of the team to converge on a healthy middle ground," Stephens elaborated. “We also have varying resources in terms of tire utilization and fuel, and so it allows for both sides of the garage to try new things.”
Now with the championship being in its summer break period before returning at Road America from August 28th to 30th, Stephens has embraced the opportunity to recharge. Between race weekends, his schedule remains equally demanding, making the brief pause especially valuable.
"I certainly don't stop getting up early just because we're not on a race weekend," he laughed. "This little time for a reset is allowing the team and I to reflect, but also recharge as well. For such a passionate environment, a chance to refuel your heart and your spirit to come back fighting as strong as ever is quite healthy. We’ve been using this time wisely and I hope that shows when we return."
The return to competition carries added significance for Stephens in particular. Although Road America is located in Wisconsin, the circuit serves as his closest event to his hometown of Chicago, allowing family and friends to join him at the track as he takes on America’s National Park of Speed in search of extending his championship lead.
"I really enjoy always having family around me," Stephens said. "I know specifically which corner they will be located at, and I get a kick out of being able to lay eyes on them as I’m driving past. When you're surrounded by the people who are the reason why you walk this earth and have supported every step that has led up to these moments, I really enjoy having them as close as possible."
"Winning is quite neat, but it's not everything," Stephens continued. "Right now, I see securing a result as a gesture to those that allow me to be in these positions. I very much enjoy seeing everybody else's reaction to the victory, whether it’s my family, Mr. Farrow, or our partners and friends of the team. The joy it brings them really makes me happy and encourages me to keep pushing for more."
Road America itself remains one of Stephens' favorite circuits, both from a competitor’s perspective for its demanding layout, but also as an opportunity to soak in its unmatched atmosphere.
"Fans have the liberty to walk and experience whatever they wish,” he said. “They can pick and choose their level of interaction with the venue, the teams, the drivers and all the operational staff. I believe that's what really makes Road America quite unique. They can engage with it in their own way and get exactly what they want out of their weekend."
Behind the wheel, the circuit presents every challenge a GT driver could ask for. It tests every element of their skill set and technical ability, and puts them under pressure as they grapple with its incredibly fast speeds lap after lap.
Having raced the circuit in both GT4 and GT3 machinery, Stephens appreciates how his experience has evolved with the added performance of a GT3 car.
"The GT4 car allows you to find the rhythm of the track and all the different characteristics that make it Road America," he explained. "It gave you the liberty to explore track characteristics such as the variance in the exit curbs, apex curving, minor undulations, and things of that nature. But the car itself is still operating at a different ride height and a different performance window. In a GT3, you’re experiencing it at such a higher rate of speed. The corners become quite committed, but as you build confidence, the aero starts to settle the car and those sections become even more enjoyable. The Kink is forever going to be a bit nerve-wracking, but it’s still so fun.”
With two more three-hour races remaining before the Indianapolis 8 Hour season finale in October, Stephens' approach to the championship remains grounded.
"The approach is always to remain humbly confident that we are deserving of the end goal," he said. "The long-term objective is the championship, but we have to remain mindful of the short-term objectives we must secure along the way. And for myself personally, it's about improving on all the various elements that I feel I could have done better leading up to this point in the season.”
For a driver who has always centered himself around continual learning, the destination has never been the only motivation.
"It's our relationship with the journey," Stephens reflected. "The journey of becoming Pro class champions, if we're so privileged to do so. It's certainly a ride that's filled with many details, many souls, and we hope to be able to accomplish it together come the end."
To see Chicago native Michael Stephens compete at his home race weekend at Road America from August 28th to 30th, secure your tickets now!