Wright Motorsports is proud to announce its complete driver lineup for the Indianapolis 8 Hour, welcoming Porsche factory drivers Laurin Heinrich and Kévin Estre to the team for the season finale of the 2026 GT World Challenge America championship, October 8-10 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Heinrich will make his third Indianapolis 8 Hour appearance with Wright Motorsports, having previously contested the event with the team twice, including a Pro class victory in 2024, a result that played a key role in helping the team secure the championship title that season.
Heinrich will join full-season drivers Dave Musial Jr. and Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver Ryan Yardley behind the wheel of the No. 31 Porsche 911 GT3 R. The pairing of Musial and Yardley recently took over the points lead in the Pro-Am championship standings, and Heinrich’s addition brings proven Indy 8 Hour experience and championship-winning pedigree to the effort as they look to close out the season on top.
A highly accomplished driver across GT and prototype machinery, Heinrich brings an extensive resume of victories and championships from some of the world’s most prestigious endurance racing events. The German driver has earned wins and podium finishes in Intercontinental GT Challenge, GT World Challenge Europe and GT World Challenge Asia competition, alongside his success stateside. His endurance racing credentials include victories in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring, and most recently the Suzuka 1000km.
“I’m very happy to be back with Wright Motorsports for the GT World Challenge America and Intercontinental GT Challenge season finale at the Indy 8 Hour,” stated Laurin Heinrich. “It’s my third time with the team at this race and I’m very excited to be back with a new driver lineup. I haven’t competed with Dave and Ryan before, but we had a great test earlier in the season to prepare and get to know each other’s feedback. We work together very well.”
“For me personally, I always love coming back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” he continued. “I did my very first GT race in the United States here and scored the overall pole position. I have great memories here and Wright Motorsports is always the team to be with. They provide great cars and know how to execute. We have all the tools we need to be successful and I can’t wait for the race to come.”
Joining Heinrich on the Wright Motorsports roster will be Frenchman Kévin Estre, who will share the No. 242 Porsche 911 GT3 R with full-season drivers Therese Lahlouh and Thomas Merrill.
Lahlouh and Merrill have earned a podium finish along with two Hard Charger Awards throughout the season. With Estre entering the fold, it gives the No. 242 entry one of the most accomplished endurance racers in the Porsche stable as the trio looks to finish the season with a strong result at Indianapolis.
While the 2026 Indianapolis 8 Hour will mark Estre’s first start in the event, he is no stranger to the Wright Motorsports organization, previously competing with the team in 2023 at Daytona, adding another chapter to a relationship that now brings one of Porsche’s most accomplished factory drivers back into the Wright Motorsports fold.
Estre has established himself as one of the most experienced and respected competitors in international sports car racing. His extensive resume includes two FIA World Endurance Championship titles, victories in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Spa, as well as podium finishes in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.
“I’m really looking forward to the Indy 8 Hour,” said Kévin Estre. “It’s been a while since I’ve driven the GT3 R in a GT World Challenge race, but I’m excited. It’s also great to be back with Wright Motorsports for the first time since 2023. It’s going to be an interesting weekend and we’ll have to learn how to work together quickly, but I’m confident that Therese, Thomas, and I can get a good result there and have fun.”
The Indianapolis 8 Hour weekend is scheduled for October 8-10, 2026, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The eight-hour race is set to begin Saturday, October 10, at 12:30 p.m. ET and conclude at 8:30 p.m. ET. Fans can follow along with free livestream coverage on the GTWorld YouTube channel and via SRO Motorsports’ Twitch channel, with one-hour highlight programs airing on FOX Sports FS1.
Contact
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About Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is a professional race car preparation facility and championship-winning Porsche customer racing team, based in Batavia, Ohio. The team is proud of its work with some of the world's most famous brands and successful race car drivers and racing teams, creating an impressive one-stop shop in the motorsports industry.
In addition to holding wins at iconic races such as the 24 Hours of Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, and Indianapolis 8 Hour, the team holds championship titles in all of North America's major sports car racing series: the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Michelin Pilot Challenge, VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, GT World Challenge America, GT America, and the Porsche Carrera Cup North America.