Porsche GT customer teams hunt for overall win, championship lead at VIR

• AO Racing, ‘Rexy’ just 21 points from GTD Pro lead
• Wright Motorsports searching for a return to the podium

The ninth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, held at Virginia International Raceway, is unique on the calendar with no protoype classes on site. Porsche is represented by a pair of contenders, one in each class – AO Racing’s ‘Rexy’ in the GTD Pro class, and Wright Motorsports in the GTD class.

Alton, Va. TFor the only time in the 2026 season, the GT classes take center stage without the prototype cars of either the GTP or LMP2 class in the race. Instead, the two-hour, 40-minute sprint race at Virginia International Raceway will see the GT cars battle for the overall victory.

Though the team has finished on the podium in four of seven races, they are still searching for their first victory of the season with the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R. While King makes his first appearance at VIR, Tandy is a three-time winner at the track, all in Porsche machinery.

Wright Motorsports drivers Adam Adelson and Callum Ilott will carry the banner for Porsche in the GTD class. The No. 120 911 GT3 R has been successful in the endurance races, earning podiums at Sebring and Watkins Glen, and is looking to add to the hardware at this weekend’s sprint race. Adelson is a podium finisher at the track in multiple championships, including last year’s VP Racing SportsCar Challenge races, but has yet to score a podium at VIR in the WeatherTech Championship. Ilott makes his first appearance at the track this weekend.

The race
Virginia International Raceway, known colloquially as VIR, is located near Alton, Virginia, near the North Carolina border. A favorite of many for its long, twisty layout, the 17-turn, 3.27-mile circuit has two distinct chapters in its history. Originally opened in 1957, the track closed in 1974 and turned into a cow pasture until revitalized in 2000. The reopening followed the original track’s layout, linking the two generations into a common circuit.

With 11 wins, Porsche has a strong record of success at VIR most recently in 2022 in the GTD Pro class.

GT4 cars in action in two different championships
With both the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and VP Racing SportsCar Challenge in action at VIR, Porsche customer teams and drivers will also race the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

In Saturday’s two-hour Pilot Challenge race, Porsche will have a pair of contenders. While the team’s Porsche 963 remains at home, the Unitronic JDC-Miller machine is in action at VIR with Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor behind the wheel. Dan Amman and Owen Trinkler will pilot the VRC Motorsports Group Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport as Bronze-rated drivers, where they sit just 10 points from the Bronze Cup championship lead.
Amman will drive his Porsche alone in the VP Challenge sprint championship doubleheader at VIR.

All Porsche teams at VIR

GTD Pro (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
AO Racing #77: Harry King (GBR) / Nick Tandy (GBR)

GTD (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
Wright Motorsports #120: Adam Adelson (USA) / Callum Ilott (GBR)

Driver quotes ahead of the race weekend
Nick Tandy (Porsche 911 GT3 R #77): ‘I’m looking forward to going back to Virginia International Raceway. It’s been five years since I’ve been there. I’ve always said it’s one of my favorite stops on the schedule, Being GT-only, it may be the highlight race for the GT class of the season. The track is just one of the best. It reminds me of the places that I grew up racing in the U.K., fast-flowing in the trees and the hills. I’m just really looking forward to the challenge ahead.’

Callum Ilott (Porsche 911 GT3 R #120): ‘I got my first experience driving at VIR last week during a test. My teammate Adam had been raving about it for many years and I understand why now. It is a very impressive track to drive in the Porsche 911 GT3 R with a lot of challenging and high-commitment corners. I think it’s going to be a very exciting weekend. Our test there was very positive, and I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of pace we have. I believe this is going to be a fun race and I want to see what we can get out of it.’
Photo credit: Porsche
Posted on Autotech-plus.com

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