In 2026, the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) and the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS will once again hold their season-ending rounds as part of the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour (8– 10 October). The seventh edition of the endurance race at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway will see the championship titles decided in both series. A record field of 29 GT3 cars from nine manufacturers will enter the event. These include six Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars, which will be fielded by five Customer Racing Teams.
Ahead of the final weekend, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport leads the drivers’ standings in both the GT World Challenge America and the IGTC – and also tops the team and manufacturers’ standings in the GT World Challenge America. There is therefore a particular focus on the two Performance Teams in the Pro class. The most high-profile new addition to the line-up is the newly crowned five-time IndyCar champion Álex Palou (ESP), who will be competing for Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing alongside AMG Junior Driver Lin Hodenius (NED) and IGTC title contender Luca Stolz (GER). Stolz’s main rival for the drivers’ championship is his team-mate Maxime Martin (BEL), who shares the car – fielded by Mercedes-AMG Team JMF Motorsports – with the GT World Challenge America championship leaders, Mikaël Grenier (CAN) and Michai Stephens (USA). Ahead of the decisive race, Maro Engel (GER/68 points), Luca Stolz (61) and Maxime Martin (60) occupy the top three places in the IGTC drivers’ standings. As Engel is competing in the DTM finale at Hockenheim, Stolz and Martin will battle it out for the drivers’ title.
Three further Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars from GetSpeed Team PCX Racing, JMF Motorsports and TR3 Racing will compete in the Pro-Am class, whilst MAD Joker Racing will field one car in the Am class. The race starts on Saturday, 10 October, at 6:30 pm CEST. The supporting programme will also feature the final rounds of the GT America powered by AWS and Pirelli GT4 America.
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Line-up, Indianapolis 8 Hour*
9 TR3 Racing: Indy Dontje (NED), Daniel Morad (CAN), Brayton Williams USA) - Pro-Am
11 MAD Joker Racing: Marc Austin (USA), Peter Dempsey (IRL), Ben Keating (USA) - Am
27 JMF Motorsports: Wyatt Brichacek USA), Jason Daskalos (USA), Philip Ellis (SUI) - Pro-Am
34 Mercedes-AMG Team JMF Motorsports: Mikaël Grenier (CAN), Maxime Martin (BEL), Michai Stephens (USA) - Pro
80 Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing: Lin Hodenius (NED), Álex Palou (ESP), Luca Stolz (GER) - Pro
999 GetSpeed Team PCX Racing: Jordan Boisson (FRA), Patrick Charlaix (CAN), Marvin Klein (FRA) - Pro-Am
*subject to last minute changes
“We’re heading into the season finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge and the GT World Challenge America in a solid position. In Indianapolis, we want to put in another strong performance and reward ourselves with titles in both series. We have a fantastic line-up, to which we’ve once again been able to add five-time IndyCar champion Álex Palou this year – he’ll strengthen our team with his pace and his wealth of experience on this circuit.”
- Stefan Wendl, Head of Customer Racing, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a special place for me, and I am excited to be returning for another shot at the Indianapolis 8 Hour with Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing. I have some unfinished business from my 2024 GT3-outing, so I am really happy to reunite with the team to have another opportunity to aim for the race win. I always love the atmosphere and the fans there, and I look forward to having an exciting race to finish the 2026 season with hopefully another memorable trophy!”
- Álex Palou, Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing #80