Only six of the 16 races remain on the Porsche Carrera Cup North America calendar with all championships still up for grabs as the field of 29 drivers visits the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The championship has visited the Speedway each of its five years, and returns in 2025 for IMSA’s Battle on the Bricks weekend to the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course for round six of eight on the season.
Only two points separate Kellymoss driver Riley Dickinson from Topp Racing’s Ryan Yardley in the Exxon Mobil Pro driver standings, and Yardley’s teammate Tyler Maxson has helped boost Topp Racing to an 11-point advantage over Kellymoss in the team standings. JDX Racing’s Zachary Vanier is 40 points behind in the driver’s championship.
JP Martinez of ACI Racing, boosted by six wins in the opening 10 races, leads the Solairus Pro-Am standings by 35 points over Alan Metni. Scott Blind has a commanding 73 point advantage over Todd Parriott in the Solairus Masters class.
The Indianapolis race weekend begins with a 30-minute practice on the morning of Thursday, September 18, followed by a 40-minute practice that afternoon. All three classes will qualify in a 30-minute session at 9:35 a.m. ET on Friday morning. The pair of 40-minute races get the green flag at 3:00 p.m. ET and 10:45 a.m. ET on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20, respectively.
Indianapolis FAST FACTS.
Field.
29 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars are entered for Round Five at Road America
- Pro Class. 17
- Pro-Am. 6
- Masters Class. 6
- Teams. 11 race teams across all three classes
Track record.
1:24.953, 2023, Riley Dickinson, Kellymoss Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
2024 Race winners.
- Pro:
- Race 1 & 2. Loek Hartog, Kellymoss
- Pro-Am:
- Race 1 & 2. Alan Metni, Kellymoss
- Masters:
- Race 1. Scott Blind, Ruckus Racing
- Race 2. Richard Edge, ACI Motorsports
Point leaders.
- Pro.
Riley Dickinson, No. 91 Kellymoss Porsche 911 GT3 Cup - Pro-Am.
JP Martinez, No. 4 ACI Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup - Masters.
Scott Blind, No. 45 Ruckus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup - Entrants.
Topp Racing
Schedule.
All times Eastern
- Thursday, September 18.
10:50 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. – Practice 1
2:10 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Practice 2 - Friday, September 19.
9:35 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. – Qualifying (all classes)
3:00 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. – Race 1 (40 minutes) - Saturday, September 20.
10:45 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. – Race 2 (40 minutes)
An eye on the points.
The battle for the Exxon Mobil Pro class championship is at nearly a dead heat with three rounds (six races) remaining, as Ryan Yardley has closed the gap to Riley Dickinson to just two points entering Indianapolis. Yardley has finished ahead of Dickinson in three straight races, but Dickinson holds the advantage with four wins in 2025. Six drivers – including Yves Baltas (twice), Zachary Vanier, Jimmy Llibre and Tyler Maxson in addition to the championship leaders – have won this season in the 10 races.
Blind looking for four.
Ruckus Racing driver Scott Blind took on a particular challenge in Porsche single-make racing during the 2025 season, and it has been an unequivocal success. In addition to a full season in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Blind raced the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, and Porsche Endurance Challenge championships, all in the 992 class. Last weekend at Road Atlanta, Blind clinched the Masters class of both Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West, and capped it off by taking the overall driver’s championship in Porsche Endurance Challenge. He currently leads the way in Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s Masters class.
Endurance Challenge drivers double up.
A total of nine drivers got into the action last week during the finale of the Porsche Endurance Challenge at Road Atlanta before this week’s Porsche Carrera Cup North America race at Indianapolis. Todd Parriott, Scott Blind and Alan Metni all raced in both the Endurance Challenge and Sprint Challenge races during the weekend; Aaron Jeansonne, Zachary Vanier, Jared Thomas, Yves Baltas, Riley Dickinson and Ryan Yardley all participated in the Endurance finale as co-drivers and coaches.
Local flair.
It’s no secret that Indianapolis is a motorsports hotbed, which is why many professional race car drivers call the city home. Two of the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program participants fit that description. JDX Racing drivers Sabré Cook and Madeline Stewart relocated to Indianapolis to advance their careers and have the luxury of sleeping in their own beds during race weekend.
Class descriptions.
Pro.
The highest level of competition in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America. The class is recognized through its orange color scheme. The car entry number will be delineated in orange on the doors, the windshield and rear glass. Headlight covers will be clear with orange cross-marks.
Pro-Am.
Restricted to drivers who are 35 years old or older as of January 1, 2025. The class is recognized through its green color scheme. The car entry number will be delineated in green on the doors, the windshield and rear glass. Headlight covers will be clear with green cross-marks.
Masters.
This class is open to drivers who are 50 years old or older as of January 1, 2025. The class is recognized through its yellow color scheme. The car entry number will be delineated in yellow on the doors, the windshield and rear glass. Headlight covers will be clear with yellow cross-marks.
Entry list.
The full Porsche Carrera Cup North America entry list can be found by clicking here.
Points and results.
Event results and current points for Porsche Carrera Cup North America can be found by clicking here.
Broadcast.
All races can be seen live on IMSA and Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channels, IMSA TV, Peacock, and the Porsche Motorsport North America social channels on Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads and X.
Latest news
For more than two decades, GMG Racing has been a fixture in North American motorsports—building race cars, running customer programs, and developing drivers at some of the continent’s most iconic circuits.
But for team founder and owner James Sofronas, it all started with a childhood love of speed.
That spark was lit in the unlikeliest of places: riding shotgun on the autobahn outside Vienna, Austria with his Dad in a BMW 2002tii.
“Back in the seventies, you were not wearing seatbelts like you do today,” Sofronas recalls. “I pulled myself up on the dash—maybe doing 110—and I thought this was the coolest feeling. So automatically, I loved speed.”
Years later, after college, he entered a time trial in his daily-driven Volkswagen GTI and won his class. “There were maybe three guys,” he laughs, “but I thought, wow, this is pretty cool.” That win kicked off what would become a 35-year journey in the sport.
Sofronas’ first wheel-to-wheel race car was a Nissan NX2000—also his work car.
With no air conditioning and a full roll cage, it wasn’t the most glamorous way to make sales calls around Boston in the summer heat, but it was the only way to keep racing. He eventually transitioned into medical sales to get a company car, freeing up funds to buy a dedicated race machine.
After moving to Southern California in the late 1990s, Sofronas noticed something surprising: Newport Beach was packed with high-performance cars, but there were hardly any local tuning or race shops.
That gap in the market, combined with his ongoing racing ambitions, led to the launch of GMG Racing in 2001. The first facility was a modest 1,800-square-foot garage in Santa Ana, where Sofronas sold brakes, wheels, and suspension components—mostly from companies that sponsored him with product, not cash.
It was a side hustle at first. He worked nights and weekends while holding down a full-time sales job in the medical industry. Later that year, a breakthrough came in the form of a financial sponsorship from SSF, a California-based wholesale parts distributor.
That allowed Sofronas to step up into a proper GT race car: a BMW M3. Not long after, he took a second mortgage on his house and purchased his first Porsche Cup car—$150,000 at the time, a third of the value of his home, and needless to say, a big risk!
But in 2005, Sofronas out-qualified and beat Porsche factory driver Wolf Henzler and landed on the podium alongside the factory Cadillac team at Lime Rock. The result caught the attention of Porsche Motorsport North America. “Alwin Springer finally took my calls,” he laughs. “That was probably the launching pad for my career with Porsche.”
A year later, GMG moved into a facility across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America in Santa Ana. The proximity gave the team access to engineers, test parts, and deeper collaboration.
But the defining moment came in 2008, when Sofronas’ wife—a Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist—encouraged him to quit his day job and focus on GMG full-time. “She knew I wanted to race full-time and build my business, and she said go for it.”
From there, GMG’s customer racing programs accelerated. Early clients like Dino Crescentini and Sean Allen helped shape a blueprint: combine Sofronas’ experience and data with hands-on support and coaching to create winning packages. That philosophy still guides GMG today.
Now based trackside at The Thermal Club in Southern California, GMG’s footprint has expanded to a 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility just 20 seconds from pit lane. The move to Thermal, finalized in 2024, allows GMG to test five days a week, offer driver development programs, and serve both members and visiting clients in a turnkey racing environment.
The current GMG lineup includes drivers like Patrick Mulcahy and Kyle Washington, who compete across a range of platforms including Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge, and the GT World Challenge America and GT America championships.
Washington’s SRO campaigns have included a first class win in GT World Challenge America at VIR last year alongside Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver Tom Sargent as well as solo wins in GT America.
GMG has guided the career progression for California racer Patrick Mulcahy, who has climbed the Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am podium after starting his Porsche journey at the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles.
While Porsche remains the core of the team’s racing DNA, GMG supports multiple brands, offering everything from engineering to coaching.
Mulcahy, in particular, represents the next generation of talent emerging from GMG’s ecosystem. “Patrick has started to out-qualified me,” Sofronas says of their race weekend in Montreal. “That’s something I am very pleased to see, I’m not gonna pass him unless he makes a mistake or gets held up—as I am here to help push him up the Porsche ladder program and build upon his success.”
While Sofronas has a been a regular class winner in Carrera Cup, his focus remains on his customers. “People know that my racing comes secondary to my clients,” Sofronas says. “I fill in where I think it’s important to represent GMG and the program, but our clients always come first.”
Now in his mid-fifties, Sofronas is still as competitive as ever—both on and off track. But perhaps the most meaningful part of his story is what’s next: his 14-year-old son is starting to take interest in racing.
“It’s no secret that it’s a lot easier to drive a race car than to watch your son race,” he says. “He already has more talent than me. He just needs the experience.”
While GMG celebrates nearly 25 years in business, Sofronas is preparing for the future—building a pipeline of talent that includes his clients, his crew, and potentially his own family.
From a small garage in Santa Ana to a full-service motorsport headquarters at one of America’s premier private tracks, GMG Racing’s journey is a testament to risk, resilience, and relentless pursuit—on track and in business.
For Jimmy Llibre, that breakthrough moment at Road America wasn’t just a Porsche Carrera Cup North America race win — it was the release of years of pressure, sacrifice, and unwavering belief.
In the opening race of Round 5, Race 1, he launched a bold move from third on the grid right at the green flag, grabbing the lead in the opening turns. From there, he controlled the pace like a seasoned veteran and took his first series victory by more than 1.5 seconds.
Crossing the line, the emotions hit him hard. He’d envisioned himself on the podium so many times before, but had been thwarted — most painfully in Miami.
“In the middle of the race, I was already imagining myself on the podium, taking the trophy,” Llibre recalls. “Then I told myself, ‘Jimmy Llibre, please focus. Finish the race.’ We’d been so close before — in Miami, I thought we had it, but we got a ten-second penalty.”
This time, he was thinking about all the hard work it had taken to get here.
“When I crossed the line, I was almost crying, thinking about my family and the people who supported me. It had taken such a long time to get this result.”
That first-lap move wasn’t luck; it was years of preparation. The morning of the race, Llibre studied archive footage from 2020 to 2023, hunting for a template.
“In 2021, I saw Trenton Estep make this great move into Turn 1,” he explains. “I thought, if I get a good start, I can do that too. So I focused on the green flag, ready to go. When the race started, I went for it — just like I’d visualized — and it worked perfectly.”
The move paid off beautifully, setting the tone for the win.
Jimmy Llibre’s journey began far back, long before Carrera Cup became a realistic target. He started karting at eight, inspired by a family that lived and breathed motorsport. His grandfather and grandmother were steeped in local racing in the Dominican Republic, and his uncles and father had both driven.
At first, he wasn’t interested.
“I went to support them, but I didn’t really like it,” he says. “It was just normal for me to be there — until one day in the pre-grid, watching my father and uncles, something inside told me, ‘Jimmy, you have to do this. You have to feel this adrenaline.’”
Money was tight. The family struggled to make ends meet. But Llibre did well in school, and his father used that as a springboard.
“On my birthday, he gave me a kart chassis — without an engine,” Llibre says. “Every afternoon after school, I’d sit in it and imagine I was racing. Six months later, he managed to get me an engine, and we started practicing.”
At 12, Llibre represented the Dominican Republic in karting in Germany — a trip that almost didn’t happen. His family faced a visit from a bailiff that very morning.
“My father had the race money and the car keys,” he says. “He just said, ‘Take what you need, but this is not for you,’ and we got in a taxi to the airport.”
They flew. They won.
That win ignited everything. Llibre returned home and went on to score four national championships in the Dominican Republic, then moved into touring cars — Honda Civics, Toyotas — and finished second in his first season. He even tested Formula 4 in Argentina.
One day, he and his father were watching the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup on TV.
“My father said, ‘Jaimito, one day, we’re going to go there,’” he recalls. “I told him he was crazy. He said, ‘Just believe.’”
Llibre began campaigning on local media — appearing on every TV channel he could — asserting that he aimed to represent the Dominican Republic in Porsche one-make competition.
“A lot of people told us we were crazy,” he says. “They said there’s no motorsport culture here and that finding $300,000 to race was impossible. But instead of discouraging me, it motivated me even more.”
An opening appeared when a company offered him a test in a GT4 car in Spain — something Llibre initially thought was a tease. Two weeks later, he was on a plane. At Lechner Racing, with Porsche Supercup star Larry ten Voorde as his coach, he proved himself.
“I’d only driven that car on my simulator at home,” he laughs. “At the end of the day, I was one of the fastest. They wanted me to race, but I didn’t have the sponsorship.”
Determined, he began visiting potential sponsors every day. The persistence paid off with a drive in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe series during the pandemic. Stepping into that professional environment was eye-opening — from data engineers to race strategy.
“In my first race, I qualified P5 and finished P5,” Llibre says. “Later that same day, it rained — and that was my moment. Without a radio, I didn’t know where I stood. I crossed the line, saw my father jumping in the pits — I had won.”
That victory caught the attention of a wealthy family back home, who offered to cover the costs for his next race.
“I’m still grateful to them because they still support me today,” he says. “In the next race, I qualified on pole and won both races.”
Stepping into a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for the first time was another shock.
“I thought I’d smash everyone,” Jimmy Llibre admits. “But as soon as I accelerated, I thought, ‘What are you doing!’ The power was insane compared to the Hondas and Toyotas I’d driven.”
His debut ended in a crash, but Miami 2022 — Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama’s first support race with Formula 1 — presented another chance. A new track meant everyone started from zero, and Llibre seized the moment.
“I topped practice, grabbed pole, and won,” he says. “Hearing the Dominican Republic’s national anthem on that podium was indescribable. I cried. Hundreds of people chased me back to the paddock for photos and autographs.”
Back home, the president invited him to the National Palace.
“That was really the start of my professional career,” Llibre says.
Adapting to racing overseas wasn’t easy. New language, new culture — and the fact that the Dominican Republic is far better known for producing baseball players than racing drivers — made the challenge even greater.
“It was hard because there was no motorsport culture,” he explains. “People thought racing was just a hobby for rich people. My results helped change that. Now, more kids are karting, and companies see motorsport as a real sport.
“My family literally sacrificed everything for me. People would tell them they were crazy—putting everything they had into the belief that their kid had a dream and some talent, without knowing for sure how it would turn out. From the very beginning, they trusted me completely and gave everything to make this happen.”
He also credits Porsche for giving him the platform to build his career, and also the support of Jacinto Peynado, owner of the Porsche dealership in the Dominican Republic.
“Since my first race in Europe, he’s been supporting me,” Llibre says. “Now the country treats motorsport like any other sport — and that was one of my goals from the start.”
Returning home after the Carrera Cup Road America win, the reception was emotional.
“People were watching in supermarkets, in airports — everywhere,” he says. “When I came home, the media and fans were waiting at the airport. The country is proud. They love Carrera Cup because it’s competitive.”
Even in a team environment, pressure and rivalry are constants — your teammates are also your competitors. But at ACI Motorsports, Jimmy Llibre has found something different.
“It’s like a family,” he says. “Curt Swearingin believed in me from the beginning. Our engineer, Adam Tanner, has taught me everything about the car and setup.”
He also credits teammate Yves Baltas for helping push the team forward.
“Yves has been a great teammate,” Llibre says. “We push each other hard, and that makes us both better. He’s also become a good friend away from the track, and that’s rare in this sport. Having someone like that in your corner is huge.”
Jimmmy Llibre’s victory at Road America has also boosted his championship campaign. With 116 points already on the board after just five rounds — compared to a total of 126 across all of last season — the Dominican Republic racer is on pace for his strongest Carrera Cup season yet. His next opportunity to add to that tally comes next month, when the championship heads to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Round 6.
Two decades ago, Topp Racing was little more than a small Dallas-area operation born from a love of motorsport and a handful of loyal customers.
Today, the team is running at the sharp end of one of the most competitive one-make series in the world — Porsche Carrera Cup North America — with multiple race-winning drivers and a legitimate shot at the championship.
For team owner and founder, Todd Oppermann, the journey has been one of persistence, relationships, and an unwavering drive to keep moving forward.
“I grew up around racing. My uncle had been racing since before I was born. My dad raced too, but he stopped when I was born,” Oppermann said.
“I was just a little track rat at Road America — born in Milwaukee, it was kind of in my DNA. I got away from it for a while after moving to Texas, but I found my way back in as a corner worker. I just wanted to be part of racing any way I could.”
Volunteering at club-level events led to working on cars, traveling to events across the country, and building connections that would eventually set the foundation for Topp Racing.
Before starting the team, Oppermann managed a restoration and performance shop specializing in Mustangs and Camaros. But in 2005, he took a leap with a business partner into the burgeoning Spec Miata scene — even building the first cage for the very first car in the class. That partnership was short-lived, but it led to a pivotal moment.
“Some of my Miata customers also had Porsche Cup cars, but I never got to work on those until I went out on my own,” he said.
“As soon as they found out I was leaving, I suddenly became the Porsche Cup car guy. That was 2005, and that’s how Topp Racing started. It wasn’t necessarily by design — my customers pushed me in that direction.”
For several years, Topp Racing focused on Porsche Club of America events, growing its customer base through word of mouth. One early client, David Baker, would play a key role in the team’s future.
“I’ve watched David’s business grow over the years, and he’s always been a big supporter. Eventually, after some injuries, he decided to stop racing himself but still wanted to be involved.
“He offered to put some money in to own a car, and we’d find fast young drivers to put in the seat. That’s when we started doing a little bit of a driver search, relying on trusted recommendations.”
The goal was ambitious: to find and develop the next American Porsche factory driver.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had one. We focus on young drivers with the talent but not quite the budget to make it happen. David’s competitive spirit and generosity make it possible.”
By 2011, Topp Racing made its first foray into national competition in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge, the forerunner to Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
When Carrera Cup launched in 2021, Topp Racing was there — but in those early years, they were far from title contenders.
“We were underdogs, just happy to be there. You had teams like Kelly Moss and JDX — the established powerhouses. We weren’t in that conversation yet.”
The turning point came with a growing driver development program. A recommendation from open-wheel squad Crosslink Racing brought Ryan Yardley to the team. He quickly became a front-runner, and by 2024, Topp Racing had its first genuine championship threat.
This year, the team’s progress has been undeniable. Yardley is firmly in the title hunt aboard the TCS Fuel entry, and newcomer Tyler Maxson stunned the paddock by winning from pole aboard the Apex Capital-backed entry in just his first half-season in the series.
“We’ve never seen anyone come in without prior Cup car experience and get up to speed this fast. Usually, it takes a couple of years. Tyler’s done it in half a season. He and Ryan work together well — no drama, no fighting. It’s my biggest dream and my worst nightmare because we could end up tripping over each other in the championship. But so far, it’s been great.”
Success in Carrera Cup requires total commitment from the crew, and Oppermann credits his team’s growth and loyalty as a cornerstone of Topp Racing’s rise.
“I’ve had most of my guys for several years. I keep giving them more responsibility, and they keep stepping up. I can’t do it without them — this is a people sport. I’m proud of all of them. We know what our goal is, but we don’t talk about it. It’s just 100% effort all the time.”
The team’s culture is rooted in relationships, not marketing splash.
“We’re not media giants like some other teams. We’ve always grown through word of mouth. It may not be the best business model, but it gets us the best quality of customers — people who want to be here and put in the effort. We’ll match that effort.”
Family is part of the fabric, too. Oppermann’s son Alex, a recent University of Alabama mechanical engineering graduate, now helps out at the shop while pursuing a career in aerospace. “He’s just as addicted to racing as I am.”
Topp Racing’s ladder doesn’t stop with Carrera Cup. The team also fields cars in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, often as a springboard for talent. This year, that includes young driver Cole Kleck, who is running his first full season of competitive racing.
“Cole’s family is giving him a real shot, and he’s delivering. He’s got natural talent. The goal is for Ryan to move on to a pro-level seat where he can make a living doing this, and Cole could step up into that role. That’s the progression plan — we want to create that path.”
For Oppermann, the series’ format is part of the allure.
“Carrera Cup is a top-level, worldwide spec series. You can compare yourself to anyone running it around the globe because the cars are identical. Porsche does a great job of keeping them that way. It means you have to put in 100% effort — there’s no advantage through equipment. Wins mean more because of that.”
With just a few rounds remaining in the 2025 season, Topp Racing is chasing a piece of history. Only one team has ever won the Carrera Cup North America teams’ championship, and the once-underdog Texas squad is in position to change that.
“We knew we could do it — we just needed the chance. Thanks to David Baker, my crew, and the drivers we’ve got, we’ve put ourselves in this spot. Now it’s about finishing the job.”
From corner-working at Texas club races to leading one of the most competitive Porsche one-make series in the world, the journey has been long. But for Topp Racing, it’s also been proof that persistence, talent development, and the right people can turn a passion project into a championship contender.
The new 911 Cup – stronger performance for the successful one-make model
- Type 992.2 911 based Cup car to take over starting in 2026 season
- A new name, improved aerodynamics, quicker lap times
- Improvements make new car simpler for teams to handle and support
- New 911 Cup continues to roll off the production line at the Zuffenhausen plant
- Porsche creates more race cars than any other brand – a commitment that sees lessons learned on the track applied to the road
- 911 Cup unveiled alongside new 911 GT3 R
- 911 Cup & 911 GT3 R are sold in U.S. exclusively by Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA)
Porsche unveils the new 911 Cup – the latest evolution of its one-make cup racing car. The new car will replace the 911 GT3 Cup racecar in Carrera Cup North America, Germany, Asia, and Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. The rollout to other series will continue after the 2026 season. Based on the 992.2 generation of the 911, the latest edition of the acclaimed race car features several detailed refinements. Development efforts focused on enhancing performance, maintaining reasonable operating costs, and simplifying handling for both drivers and teams.
The new race car based on the 911 for Porsche’s one-make series is now officially called the 911 Cup. With this, the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer is streamlining and standardizing the naming of its customer racing vehicles.
From now on, only cars intended for open-brand racing series or specific segments will carry the ‘GT’ suffix combined with a number in their designation, as is the case with the new evolution of the 911 GT3 R, which also makes its debut today.
The one-make series 911 Cup is largely derived from the road-approved 911 GT models and is produced alongside the series-production cars at Porsche’s main plant in Zuffenhausen. Porsche Motorsport built 1,130 units of the current 911 GT3 Cup since production began at the end of 2020. That figure contributes to a grand total of 5,381 one-make 911 race cars since 1990.
“Like its successful predecessors, the new 911 Cup pushes boundaries. It combines standard production components from our GT sports cars with pure racing technology to create a coherent and performance-based overall concept,” Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport said.
“Driving the 911 Cup has always been regarded as a challenge. And we want to keep it that way because it also serves as the training platform for our Porsche Juniors. The success of this concept is evident in its countless race and championship victories.”
“The 911 Cup is one of the best‑selling race cars globally, forming the backbone of Porsche’s motorsport pyramid alongside the 718 GT4 RS Clubsport. Both are staples in one-make series and excel in endurance and open GT racing—thanks to their outstanding versatility,” said Volker Holzmeyer, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Motorsport North America.
Porsche one-make racing in the U.S. continues to grow, and the fact that the PMNA will be one of the few to introduce the successor in its first year reflects that momentum.”
Bodywork: adapted design, improved aerodynamics
The 911 Cup already sets itself apart visually from its predecessor, most notably with a front end that now reflects the design of the 992.2-generation 911 GT3. The front spoiler lip is now made up of three separate parts, allowing only the damaged sections to be replaced after contact, which also helps lower packaging and shipping costs for spare parts.
The removal of the daytime running lights serves a similar purpose: in the event of a collision, they can no longer damage the radiators behind them, nor do they require replacement afterwards.
The fenders feature integrated louver vents, which aid airflow through the wheel arches and enhance aerodynamic downforce on the front axle. The underbody is optimized with the same goal in mind. Vanes behind the front wheel arches contribute to improved airflow along the front end.
Together, these elements create a more responsive front axle that allows the driver to position the race car with greater precision ahead of each corner, particularly at high speeds.
The rear end underwent a complete redesign with more aggressive styling. Revisions include updated connections between the swan-neck uprights and the wing that are meant to make position adjustments easier.
The engine compartment cover has also been thoroughly reworked. Like almost all body components – including the doors – it is made from recycled carbon fiber fleece combined with bio-based epoxy resin. For example, off-cuts from other manufacturing processes are repurposed to produce the fleece, a measure that contributes, among other benefits, to stabilizing spare part pricing.
A racing engine even closer to the roadgoing 911 GT3 powerplant
The water-cooled, high-revving six-cylinder engine continues to be naturally aspirated. The visceral-sounding 4.0-liter boxer engine is still based on the unit used in the Porsche 911 GT3.
In its latest racing version, now delivering 512 hp (382 kW), it incorporates additional components from the series production engine, including flow-optimized individual throttle valves and camshafts with extended valve opening times. This design eliminates the need for a centrally positioned throttle valve, which in turn allows for the installation of an air restrictor – a requirement for competing in other motor racing championships.
The engine service life remains unchanged: it only requires an overhaul after 100 hours of track time. As has been true in the past, three different exhaust systems are available to comply with varying global noise requirements. The least restrictive of these has historically been used in North American competitions and continues to be the setup of choice.
A four-disc sintered metal racing clutch now handles power transmission to the sequential six-speed dog gearbox. This upgrade allows the engine speed, previously limited to 6,500 rpm during a standing start, to be increased, further enhancing the acoustic theatrics at the beginning of a race.
An automatic engine restart function has also been introduced. This activates as soon as the driver depresses the clutch pedal after an accidental stall. Additionally, a new stroboscope function on the brake lights now alerts following drivers of a stalled vehicle, particularly during the start phase. This replaces the previous use of the hazard warning lights for this safety application.
Brakes: improved performance, extended lifespan
The braking system has undergone a comprehensive upgrade. The front axle now features 380-millimetre discs, with their cross-section increased from 32 to 35 millimeters. This change improves head dissipation by allowing larger cooling channels for self-ventilation. The background to this development: By relocating the central water cooler to the rear of the front trunk, cooling air can now be directed to the brakes through the central front section.
Additionally, the outer diameter of the brake disc hat has been reduced, increasing the friction surface between the disc and brake pad. The wider brake pads offer improved braking and durability during long distance races.
Starting with this generation, Bosch M5 racing ABS is fitted as standard equipment to all 911 Cup cars. It features enhanced data processing capabilities to interpret input from a new acceleration sensor, which offers additional signal detection.
The advanced software can also alert the driver in the event of a leak in either of the two brake circuits. Additionally, the brake fluid reservoir has been enlarged, making it suitable for long-distance racing.
Adjusted steering stops enable the electronically assisted power steering to achieve a tighter turning radius, making maneuvering through narrow street circuits easier. Steering lock is also increased to allow drivers to counteract oversteer in the 911 Cup more effectively than in preceding models.
Cockpit: simplified operation during racing and in the pits
The multi-function steering wheel is also new. It is redesigned to offer practical advantages and better overall quality. For example, central rotary controls are used to adjust ABS intervention and traction control. The newly designed color-illuminated control buttons make their respective labels easier to read.
The central control panel next to the seat remains easily accessible and operable for the driver, even during a race. It now features eight physical switches instead of 10. The button at the bottom-right opens an additional menu page on the display, enabling a wide range of settings to be adjusted by crew members from inside the car including pit lane speed, exhaust mapping, and steering angle reset.
This removes the need to connect a laptop and simplifies vehicle operation for teams. Additional foam padding on the inside of the door crossbar offers extra protection for the driver’s arms, legs, and feet.
“The latest 911 Cup car is stronger, faster, and more practical, with refined cockpit ergonomics and updated electronics. It maintains — or even extends — service intervals despite enhanced performance, and incorporates recycled materials where suitable, Holzmeyer said.
“Responding to customer demand, we’ve added a market-specific air conditioning system with three modes: ‘Off’, ‘On’, and ‘Eco’ mode — where the A/C is only active when the car is not under full throttle. All U.S. 911 Cup cars will come standard with this system. We can’t wait to see the new 911 Cup out on track in Porsche Carrera Cup North America for the 2026 season.”
Electronics: practical additional functions
The upgraded electronics in the new 911 Cup also contribute to improved drivability. The TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) now displays tire air temperatures on the central dashboard display. A significantly more powerful GPS antenna replaces the previous infrared system, taking over lap time and position tracking.
Proven features from its big brother, the 911 GT3 R, have also been integrated, including lap time measurement for pit lane passages and the “pre-kill” function, which automatically switches off the engine once the car comes to a standstill during pit stops. Additionally, a new electronic monitoring system for the fire extinguisher release unit now checks the charge level of the self-contained nine-volt battery.
Real-world testing was conducted at Italy’s Grand Prix circuit in Monza, Italy, the Lausitzring in Brandenburg, Germany, and Porsche’s in-house track at the Weissach Development Center. Three former Porsche Juniors participated in the development process: Laurin Heinrich and Klaus Bachler, who are currently competing in IMSA GTD Pro, and Bastian Buus, all joined by seasoned racing driver Marco Seefried.
The Porsche 911 Cup & Porsche 911 GT3 R are exclusively sold in U.S. by PMNA, the sole importer of Porsche Motorsport products in the region. Individuals interested in inquiring about a purchase can find more information by sending an email to: info@porschemotorsport.com.
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Tyler Maxson had been knocking on the door of a Porsche Carrera Cup North America victory in recent rounds, and the 20-year-old rookie finally accomplished the feat on Sunday at Road America.
Maxson is the sixth different winner in Carrera Cup through 10 rounds, and also the second consecutive first-time winner in the series following Jimmy Llibre’s success the day prior.
Driving a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car (992 generation) for Topp Racing, Maxson started from pole
in both rounds at the 4.048-mile circuit but finally converted the position into a victory in Race 2. The series rookie previously finished runner-up at Watkins Glen International during the most recent race, and inches himself higher in the ExxonMobil Pro class championship.
“Yesterday was big motivation,” said Maxson, also a member of the Porsche Motorsport North America EBOOST Junior Program. “I think we missed it a little bit yesterday, but the Topp Racing guys did what they do best, and they went to work on it overnight. We got a really, really fast package today, and we were just lucky I was able to execute on it and bring home the win for these guys.
“After we settled in a little bit, I just tried to look forward and stop looking in the mirrors. Just tried to drive away as much as we could. When you have a really good car like that and you’re able to, it makes it a little bit easier. Hats off to the guys for the work they did last night and get this car ready to go for today.”
Maxson led a one-two sweep for Topp Racing on Sunday, finishing ahead of teammate Ryan Yardley in second place. Road America was crucial for Yardley as he narrowed the championship gap to leader Riley Dickinson, who completed the day’s podium. Only two points separate the drivers with three events remaining in 2025.
JP Martinez with ACI Motorsports replicated his winning performance from Saturday to Sunday, with the only difference being that he started from the top spot in Race 2. Martinez led flag-to-flag on Sunday to further advance his Solairus Aviation Pro-Am class championship efforts.
“I couldn’t ask for a better weekend,” Martinez said from victory lane. “Two first-place finishes, I really needed those points for the rest of the championship, so I’m super happy. I want to give a big thank you to ACI – we won first place overall yesterday, first in Pro-Am yesterday, and today. That shows the incredible job that the team is doing. I’m really happy and we’re going to keep pushing the rest of the season.”
Alan Metni finished in second place for the second consecutive day, while Javier Ripoll finished third.
Scott Blind recaptured his place atop the Solairus Aviation Masters podium by winning on Sunday. With six victories entering Road America, Blind – the championship frontrunner – missed first place in the last two races until Sunday’s victory.
“We had a tough start to the week, qualifying was tough and the first race was really tough,” said the Ruckus Racing driver. “We just worked on the car; the guys just put a car together for me today that gave me the ability to fight the whole race. That was the difference.”
Richard Edge found himself involved in a lap one incident, but fought back to finish second, while polesitter and Race 1 winner Peter Atwater finished third.
The next round of Porsche Carrera Cup North America competition is scheduled next month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Brickyard hosts the single-make series from September 18 – 20 as part of the IMSA Battle on the Bricks weekend.
All Carrera Cup races, including replays from Road America, will be shown live on IMSA and Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channels, IMSA TV, Peacock, and the Porsche Motorsport North America social channels on Facebook, Linkedin, Threads and X.
Jimmy Llibre led a doubly special day for ACI Motorsports, winning in the ExxonMobil Pro class for the first time of his Porsche Carrera Cup North America career.
A victory in Carrera Cup had been elusive for Llibre, a longtime Porsche single-make driver, until Saturday afternoon at Road America. Llibre lunged for the lead in the opening turns of lap one, moving from third to first, and finishing by more than 1.5 seconds ahead of the field.
“(I feel) a lot of emotions, but I’m really proud to represent my country, my teammates and ACI Motorsports,” said Llibre, who hails from the Dominican Republic. “A big thanks to all my sponsors who make this possible. Thank you so much ACI, and let’s go for more.”
The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars (992 generation) all jockeyed for position at the start of the 40-minute race, and second-place finisher Zachary Vanier took advantage of the action. Vanier started fifth prior to his sixth podium of the season, while Ryan Yardley followed in third.
Yardley’s finish means he closes the gap to Pro class championship leader Riley Dickinson to just five points prior to Sunday’s race at the 4.048-mile circuit.
ACI Motorsports was also victorious in the Solairus Aviation Pro-Am class,
winning with championship leader JP Martinez. Martinez started second behind polesitter Alan Metni, but assumed the top spot within the first five minutes of the race.
“I didn’t get to test here, so I felt I was on my back foot a little bit this weekend,” said Martinez. “But the team gave me an amazing car, so kudos to them. It’s a special day because we won overall first place and Pro-Am first place, so hats off to the team for doing such a good job. Extremely happy.”
Metni maintained second place by the race’s end, while Brady Behrman finished third.
Peter Atwater wound up as the only polesitter to win in class on Saturday, starting first and finishing first in the Solairus Aviation Masters class. It was also Atwater’s first-ever win in the series.
Rob Walker tried to keep his JTR Motorsports Engineering teammate within striking distance but was resigned to second place by just over two seconds. Championship leader Scott Blind completed the class podium.
“I was just trying to hit my marks,” said Atwater. “The team put together a great car, we’ve been working on it for four days. It felt good, it’s good to have a teammate behind me and Scott always makes us push a little harder. He’s a tough guy to beat.”
The final Porsche Carrera Cup North America race at Road America goes green on Sunday, August 3, at 11:35 a.m. ET.
All Carrera Cup races, including replays from Road America, will be shown live on IMSA and Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channels, IMSA TV, Peacock, and the Porsche Motorsport North America social channels on Facebook, Linkedin, Threads and X.
In one of the tightest sessions yet of the season, Topp Racing’s series rookie Tyler Maxson narrowly edged the competition for his first Race Brew Pole Award at Road America.
Maxson, a rookie in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, captured his first pole position of the year in the Pro class with Topp Racing, but only by the slimmest of margins.
With a time of two minutes, 7.829 seconds, Maxson’s fastest lap was just .025 seconds quicker than championship leader Riley Dickinson in second place and .095 seconds ahead of Jimmy Llibre in third. In all, the top 12 drivers were within one second of Maxson’s time.
“It feels great, the Topp Racing machine was on fire today,” said Maxson, whose best finish has been second place twice this year – most recently at Watkins Glen International in June. “I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made this weekend and everything we’ve done through the test. I’m happy I was able to show the true pace of the car and get everything out of it for the guys.”
Maxson is also one of several drivers in the field taking part in the Porsche EBOOST Junior Program North America.
“Absolutely (the program has helped),” said Maxson. “All the development we have and all the mentorship, it’s really great to have that support from Porsche and it’s been a big help throughout the year.”
Prior to his pole-winning performance, Maxson also topped Carrera Cup practice earlier in the day, which featured Llibre in second and Dickinson in third.
Leading the Kellymoss stable at Road America was Alan Metni in the Pro-Am class. The Porsche veteran not only finished first in practice on Thursday, but also ran quickest in Friday’s Practice 2 and in qualifying. It will be Metni’s fourth time starting from pole position in 2025.
Metni will start ahead of Pro-Am title leader JP Martinez, followed by Brady Behrman.
“I enjoyed it and it was a lot of fun,” said Metni. “I think JP is pole for the second race, so we should have a nice battle, it should be a lot of fun.”
In the Masters class, Peter Atwater returns for his third event of the season, and also with a bang, driving quickest in qualifying for JTR Motorsports Engineering. The entire Masters grid was separated by 1.5 seconds, with Atwater’s teammate Rob Walker finishing second and Richard Edge in third.
“It feels great,” said Atwater, a first-time polesitter in Carrera Cup. “I worked hard in practice and testing last week to really try and get the time down, and I laid down a good lap.”
On how he extracted the last bit of speed, Atwater replied, “Brake zones, keep on pushing the brake zones.”
Race 1 for Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Road America is scheduled for tomorrow, August 2, at 11:55 a.m. ET (10:55 a.m. local time). Race 2 goes green on Sunday, August 3, at 11:35 a.m. ET.
All Carrera Cup races, including replays from Road America, will be shown live on IMSA and Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channels, IMSA TV, Peacock, and the Porsche Motorsport North America social channels on Facebook, Linkedin, Threads and X.
Wisconsin “home team” Kellymoss made a strong statement in Thursday’s opening practice session at Road America with Riley Dickinson and Alan Metni topping their respective classes on home turf.
The Madison-based team placed three cars inside the top seven overall as Porsche Carrera Cup North America returned to the legendary 4.048-mile circuit to kick off the second half of the season.
Reigning champion Dickinson led the 29-car field with a best lap of 2:09.502 in the No. 91 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, setting the pace early in the hour-long session. Teammate Aaron Jeansonne made it a 1-2 for Kellymoss, just 0.160 seconds behind on the timesheets.
“Feels good so far — no complaints,” Jeansonne said.
“The car is solid out of the gate. I think the track is going to evolve a lot, so things will change. Everyone’s going to improve, and we just need to make sure we follow where the track goes and stay on top of it.
“Conditions seem a little slower than the test last week. The track just isn’t quite there yet, so we’ll see how it develops. It’s always a bit of a guess, but I’ve got the best team behind me, and they’ll help me adapt.”
Alan Metni added to the team’s dominance by going fastest in the Pro-Am class — and impressively seventh overall — with a time of 2:10.586. The Texas-based driver’s pace put him ahead of multiple Pro-class competitors.
The Pro class featured close competition behind the Kellymoss duo, with Topp Racing’s Tyler Maxson, JDX Racing’s Zachary Vanier, and ACI Motorsports’ Jimmy Llibre rounding out the top five.
In Pro-Am, Metni’s time put him more than a second clear of second-place JP Martinez, while Brady Behrman and Javier Ripoll Jr. followed in third and fourth.
Masters class honors in Practice 1 went to JTR Motorsports Engineering’s Rob Walker, who posted a 2:11.547 — a time that placed him ahead of multiple Pro and Pro-Am drivers as well. He led Ruckus Racing driver and class championship leader Scott Blind, and Kellymoss’ Todd Parriott in the session’s intra-class battle.
“The track’s really slippery — it’s changed a lot since we were here for testing a couple weeks ago,” Walker said.
“I’ve been struggling with front grip, but started to figure some things out later in the session. I think my fastest lap was actually my last one.
“Sector one seems to be quick for everyone, but sectors two and three are where the conditions really change. Sector two especially — it usually rubbers in well, including the Carousel — but with all the recent rain, there’s just nothing out there right now.”
Race 1 for Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Road America is scheduled for Saturday, August 2, at 11:55 a.m. ET (10:55 a.m. local time) following a second practice and qualifying on Friday. Race 2 goes green on Sunday, August 3, at 11:35 a.m. ET.
All Carrera Cup races, including replays from Road America, will be shown live on IMSA and Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channels, IMSA TV, Peacock, and the Porsche Motorsport North America social channels on Facebook, Linkedin, Threads and X.
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