Porsche Motorsport North America has announced the seven-round 2027 Porsche Carrera Cup North America calendar, continuing a tradition of racing at the largest road racing events in North America, highlighted by a debut as a support race at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.
With a renewed agreement, Porsche Carrera Cup North America will continue to be sanctioned by the International Motor Sport Association (IMSA).
Daytona debut, classic road courses and Formula 1 races highlight the schedule.
The 2027 Porsche Carrera Cup North America calendar features seven of the most recognizable road racing events in the United States, ranging from traditional road course events in conjunction with the IMSA WeatherTech Championship, the world stage in support of Formula 1® rounds at Miami & Austin, plus another highlight appearance at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
The renewed IMSA contract and the return of the Porsche 911 Cup car (Type 992.2) on Pirelli P Zero DHG tires brings continued stability to the premier one-make series in the United States as Porsche Carrera Cup North America enters its seventh season.
Porsche Motorsport North America renews agreement with IMSA.
“Our 2027 schedule is a purposeful balance of quality and quantity for our teams, drivers and partners,” Volker Holzmeyer, President & CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America, said.
“The addition of Daytona adds another highly desirable event to our calendar. Our work with IMSA has helped us grow and continue this program and we’re thankful to the IMSA team for continuing this relationship. We’re appreciative of everyone working together to make Porsche Carrera Cup North America the premier one-make championship in North America.”
“IMSA is proud to confirm a multiyear agreement to continue sanctioning the Porsche Carrera Cup North America,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “The Porsche brand is synonymous with endurance sports car racing and Porsche Carrera Cup North America races are a natural fit on our event weekends.
“Over the years, this series has been a key developmental step for drivers and teams on their way into series such as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, in addition to being a destination series for Porsche enthusiasts. We are grateful to our partners at Porsche Motorsport North America for continuing to trust us with one of their prized possessions.”
Legendary tracks and driver pathways define Carrera Cup.
Daytona, Sebring, Road America and Road Atlanta will make up the ANDIAL Cup in 2027, a championship within a championship where drivers compete exclusively on North America’s most iconic and storied road courses.
Porsche Carrera Cups around the world are a proven step for young drivers aspiring to a career in auto racing. As the pinnacle one-make series of the North American Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, Porsche Carrera Cup North America has helped launch the careers of previous champions Seb Priaulx, Parker Thompson, Riley Dickinson, Loek Hartog and Ryan Yardley into open competition around the world.
The 2027 Porsche Carrera Cup North America calendar.
Round 1: 24 Hours At Daytona, 27–29 January
Daytona International Speedway (IMSA)
Daytona International Speedway (IMSA)
Round 2: Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, 17–19 March
Sebring International Raceway (IMSA)
Sebring International Raceway (IMSA)
Round 3: Grand Prix of Long Beach, 16–18 April
Long Beach Street Circuit (IndyCar / IMSA)
Long Beach Street Circuit (IndyCar / IMSA)
Round 4: Miami Grand Prix, Date to be announced
Miami International Autodrome (Formula 1)
Miami International Autodrome (Formula 1)
Round 5: SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix, 28–31 July
Road America (IMSA)
Round 6: Petit Le Mans, 6–8 October
Road Atlanta (IMSA)
Road Atlanta (IMSA)
Round 7: United States Grand Prix, Date to be confirmed
Circuit of The Americas (Formula 1)
Circuit of The Americas (Formula 1)
All Porsche Carrera Cup North America races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by following Porsche Motorsport North America on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter, and by subscribing to the newsletter.
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After misfortune struck during Race 1 on Friday, Tyler Maxson (TOPP Racing) quickly reestablished himself atop the Porsche Carrera Cup North America field with a win on Saturday.
Running at Watkins Glen International, Maxson dominantly led flag-to-flag in his #77 Porsche 911 Cup (Type 992.2) despite a mid-race restart and while others sparred behind him. The Mobil Pro Class championship leader was poised for a win the day before, but was brought to pit lane after a tire puncture.
Fourth win of the year for Maxson.
Today’s win was Maxson’s fourth win from seven races this season, following on from his clean-sweep at Sebring and victory at the Miami Grand Prix.
“What a car, what a team, these guys are working so hard,” said Maxson. “I felt like we didn’t get everything out of the last two races. I think we did that here. We’ll focus on the rest of the season, there’s still a long way to go. But this is a good turn of fortune.
“The puncture yesterday was heartbreaking, but we knew we had a really fast car. Just credit to all these guys for the work they’ve been doing.”
In a mirror image of Friday’s results, Janne Stiak (ACI Motorsports) narrowly bested Callum Hedge (JDX Racing) at the finish line by three-tenths. The two dueled all race long, and while yesterday’s finish was for the win, Saturday morning’s battle decided second and third place.
After scoring a podium yesterday, Aaron Jeansonne finished fourth while Jared Thomas initially crossed the line in fifth before receiving a 10-second penalty for incident responsibility.
Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program member Sabre Cook had her strongest ever weekend yet in Carrera Cup. After finishing sixth yesterday, she backed that up with another top ten in P7 today.
7-up for Mulcahy.
Patrick Mulcahy (ACI Motorsports) continues his runaway season in the Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class, capturing his seventh win in as many races in 2026.
Mulcahy finished just a step outside the top 10 overall, but was well ahead of his next closest competitor, Josh Conley (Kellymoss), in second place.
“I was really hoping to chop it up with (Alan) Metni out there, he’s kind of my rival on track,” said Mulcahy of his Mobil Pro Class counterpart.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it happen, but it was good fun. We kept it clean, the restart was clean unlike yesterday so I’ll take the win today.”
Smith edges Blind at the finish line for weekend sweep.
After joining the grid at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, Matt Smith (ACI Motorsports) is now a double-winner in the Solairus Aviation Masters Class following victories in Race 1 & 2 at Watkins Glen.
Smith started second behind championship leader and ACI Motorsports teammate Marco Cirone, but grabbed the top spot quickly into the 40-minute race.
Despite leading for the remaining laps, Smith barely edged a hard-charging effort from Scott Blind (Ruckus Racing) by .101 seconds at the finish line.
“It was truly amazing, the team did an amazing job,” said Smith. “The coaching was fantastic, the competition was tough though, because Scott almost caught me at the end, but I pulled it through.
“It was getting a little sketchy. I was losing the rear towards those last couple laps and just holding on to make sure I brought it home.”
Blind chose to start at the back of the grid after a time penalty from the day prior, but his valiant effort earned the 2025 Masters Champion valuable points in his title endeavors towards Cirone, who completed the podium in third.
America’s National Park of speed awaits.
Road America – another classic North American road course – is up next for Porsche Carrera Cup North America. The races are scheduled for July 30 to August 1 and will support the first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Endurance Grand Prix at the historic 4.048-mile circuit.
All Porsche Carrera Cup North America races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by following Porsche Motorsport North America on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter, and by subscribing to the newsletter.
Results.
Race 2
Mobil Pro Class
- Tyler Maxson, #77
- Janne Stiak, #40
- Callum Hedge, #9
Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class
- Patrick Mulcahy, #54
- Josh Conley, #29
Solairus Aviation Masters Class
- Matt Smith, #74
- Scott Blind, #45
- Marco Cirone, #88
ACI Motorsports delivered a clean sweep of all three classes in Race 1 at Watkins Glen, as Janne Stiak claimed his first Porsche Carrera Cup North America victory alongside class winners Patrick Mulcahy and Matt Smith.
Race 1 combined tire management with several incidents that affected the running order, producing battles in each class throughout the 40-minute race.
Stiak holds off Hedge in breakthrough performance.
It wasn’t a clear-cut first Carrera Cup North America victory for Janne Stiak, as polesitter and Mobil Pro Class championship leader Tyler Maxson (TOPP Racing) suffered a puncture and was brought to pit lane for a new Pirelli P Zero DHG tire halfway through the 40-minute contest.
However, while Stiak inherited the lead in his #40 Porsche 911 Cup (Type 992.2), the young German fiercely held off Callum Hedge (JDX Racing) in the closing laps – only winning by .458 seconds after a tough battle with the New Zealander..
“I’m a bit lucky that Maxson had an issue on the car, but I’m super happy for me and for the team,” said Stiak, a former Porsche Carrera Cup Germany driver & Carrera Cup Middle East Champion. “It was a very difficult start to the season, but I finally got the first win, and I’m very happy.”
Stiak had high hopes of victory after starting on pole at the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix but was taken out in a multi-car incident. Today, he finally captured not only his first win of the season, but also his first podium in North American competition.
“I think (Hedge) had newer tires and I was on older tires, so it was difficult to keep him behind,” Stiak added. “In the end, I managed it and got the win.”
The result by Hedge was his best performance of the season after a post-race penalty in Miami where he crossed the line first. Aaron Jeansonne (Kellymoss) completed the podium in third ahead of Jared Thomas (JTR Motorsports Engineering).
Mulcahey continues domination for sixth victory.
Patrick Mulcahy (ACI Motorsports) continued his stunning run of success in the Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class, collecting his sixth victory of the season to further extend his championship lead. Mulcahy started from pole position and led each lap en route to his win, with contender Josh Conley (Kellymoss) finishing second.
“I was just trying to survive in the beginning and work my way up the field,” said Mulcahy. “It was an amazing race.”
Turn 1 drama sets stage for Smith’s first win.
The Solairus Aviation Masters Class was shaken from the start on Friday, as polesitter Scott Blind (Ruckus Racing) spun from the curbing and collected his fellow championship contenders in the process. A full-course yellow delayed the race restart until 30 minutes on the clock, with John Goetz (Kellymoss) initially taking the lead.
Matt Smith (ACI Motorsports) ultimately took the lead with 13 minutes remaining as part of a tight-knit, three-way battle. Alain Scalzo (Scalzo Autosport) made a last-lap pass for second place with Goetz holding on for third.
“My dad took me out to the track when I was a kid, and for him to come here and see me win, it’s just awesome,” said Smith, whose victory was his first in Carrera Cup competition.
“The team did a fantastic job with the car, and I’m just happy that we could win for everybody.”
All eyes on Race 2.
The final Porsche Carrera Cup North America race at Watkins Glen International is scheduled for Saturday at 9:05am ET.
All Porsche Carrera Cup North America races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by following Porsche Motorsport North America on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter, and by subscribing to the newsletter.
RESULTS.
Race 1
Mobil Pro Class:
- Janne Stiak, #40
- Callum Hedge, #77
- Aaron Jeansonne, #24
Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class:
- Patrick Mulcahy, #54
- Josh Conley, #29
Solairus Aviation Masters Class:
- Matt Smith, #74
- Alain Scalzo, #26
- John Goetz, #57
Tyler Maxson’s rollercoaster of a season in Porsche Carrera Cup North America continued in a positive way on Friday, as he captured the Race Brew Pole Award at Watkins Glen International.
German driver Janne Stiak (ACI Motorsports) was second quickest in the Porsche 911 Cup (Type 992.2), but Paul Bocuse (Kellymoss) caught attention with his third-place performance. The teenage driver – part of the Porsche Junior Program North America, and also a Porsche Sprint Challenge North America champion – visits The Glen after his first series podium at the Miami Grand Prix in May.
But with Topp Racing, Maxson was quickest amongst Mobil Pro Class drivers in Friday’s qualifying session running a lap of one minute, 45.949 seconds. As the championship leader, this was Maxson’s first pole position since the season-opener at Sebring International Raceway in March.
“It feels pretty good, what a great lap and a car by the team,” said Maxson, who was awarded the most recent win at the Miami Grand Prix following post-race penalties. “We’ve done a lot of work between Miami and here, and I’m happy to see everything pay off for these guys and get a good lap like that.”
In the Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class, Patrick Mulcahy keeps his pole-winning streak alive following Friday morning’s session. The ACI Motorsports driver has scored every pole position since the beginning of the season – now tallied at six – a with a lap of 1:48.664. Josh Conley (Kellymoss) was second by eight-tenths.
“They called on the radio that people were going faster, and I knew I had more grip out there,” said Mulcahy. “It was my first time on stickers at this track this season. Not my best performance, but I figured it out.”
Meanwhile, Scott Blind (Ruckus Racing) continues his resurgence towards the Solairus Aviation Masters Class championship lead with a pole position on Friday. His lap time of 1:48.101 nipped Rob Walker (JTR Motorsports Engineering) by just over two-tenths, yet by more than a second over Chris Bellomo (Kellymoss) in third place.
“I feel like we’re hitting our stride again mid-season,” said Blind, who chases Marco Cirone (ACI Motorsports) in the title running. “We struggled a little early, but now we’re back and Walker’s fast.”
Race 1 for Porsche Carrera Cup North America is scheduled for later in the day at 3pm ET. The final round of the weekend goes green at 9:05am on Saturday.
All Porsche Carrera Cup North America races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by following Porsche Motorsport North America on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter, and by subscribing to the newsletter.
RESULTS.
Qualifying
Mobil Pro Class:
- Tyler Maxson, #77
- Janne Stiak, #40
- Paul Bocuse, #71
Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class:
- Patrick Mulcahy, #54
- Josh Conley, #29
Solairus Aviation Masters Class:
- Scott Blind, #45
- Rob Walker, #53
- Chris Bellomo, #68
Time sheets between Practice 1 and 2 at Watkins Glen International may not tell the full story for Porsche Carrera Cup North America, as the sessions were split between dry and damp conditions.
Overall, Janne Stiak (ACI Motorsports) was the quickest Porsche 911 Cup (Type 992.2) with Pirelli P Zero DHG tires around the track on Thursday in the Mobil Pro class. In his first outing at The Glen, the German driver’s time of 1:48.038 was thinner than a piece of paper over Jared Thomas (JTR Motorsports Engineering), just .001 seconds behind.
The top five were separated by only .041 of a second – equivalent to just over the width of a Porsche 911 Cup car.
Championship leader Tyler Maxson (TOPP Racing) was third fastest in the morning, but first in the wet afternoon session. Maxson is chased by Aaron Jeannsone (Kellymoss) and Callum Hedge (JDX Racing) for the title at The Glen, which marks the halfway point of the season.
“Through my go-karting career and junior career, we always raced during the winter,” said Hedge who hails from New Zealand. “So pretty much every time we went to the racetrack, it would rain… I’m really grateful to have that experience because it was cool today to go out there and I was really looking forward to driving this track in the rain.
“You can be really creative with where you go on the track and there’s a lot of different ways the car and the track can work. I had a blast.”
In the Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class, Patrick Mulcahy (ACI Motorsports) remains dominant by posting the top time of 1:50.028. Mulcahy is the championship leader following five wins in as many races, and Josh Conley (Kellymoss) chases him in second this weekend at the 3.4-mile circuit.
Rob Walker (JTR Motorsports Engineering) is inching closer to the Solairus Aviation Masters Class title lead by running quickest on Friday morning at 1:49.055. The veteran landed on the podium at Watkins Glen last year, and sits third in the championship behind leader Marco Cirone (ACI Motorsports) and Scott Blind (Ruckus Racing).
“Mostly, I was working on the bus stop and trying to get comfortable,” said Walker. “But I found some pace in the Esses, actually. I’m just trying to get reacquainted with the track, even though we tested here a couple of weeks ago. I love this place, so I’m going out there to try and have fun.”
Blind ran the third fastest time of the day behind John Goetz (Kellymoss).
The Watkins Glen weekend for Carrera Cup continues Friday with qualifying at 8:30am ET, followed by Race 1 later in the day at 3pm Race 2 concludes the weekend on Saturday at 9:05am.
All Porsche Carrera Cup North America races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by following Porsche Motorsport North America on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter, and by subscribing to the newsletter.
RESULTS.
Practice 1
Mobil Pro Class:
- Janne Stiak, #40
- Jared Thomas, #96
- Tyler Maxson, #77
Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class:
- Patrick Mulcahy, #54
- Josh Conley, #29
Solairus Aviation Masters Class:
- Rob Walker, #53
- John Goetz, #57
- Scott Blind, #45
Practice 2
Mobil Pro Class:
- Tyler Maxson, #77
- Callum Hedge, #9
- Nikita Lastochkin, #3
Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class:
- Patrick Mulcahy, #54
- Josh Conley, #29
Solairus Aviation Masters Class:
- Alain Scalzo, #26
- Richard Edge, #18
- Scott Blind, #45
Porsche Carrera Cup North America returns to Watkins Glen International for a doubleheader, the sixth time in as many years that the championship has visited upstate New York. The new combination of the Porsche 911 Cup (Type 992.2) and Pirelli P Zero DHG tire comes to Watkins Glen for the first time in 2026.
This year’s event, as often happens at Watkins Glen, is a wide-open affair. Of the six different winners in three classes in 2025, only Alan Metni returns – and last year’s Solairus Aviation Pro-Am winner has moved up to the Mobil Pro class in 2026.
Instead, the field will chase Mobil Pro class point leader Tyler Maxson, the winner in three of five races in 2026. The TOPP Racing star was second in race two during the 2025 visit to Watkins Glen.
He won’t get a free pass. Aaron Jeansonne (Kellymoss) and Callum Hedge (JDX Racing) are hoping to close the point gap during the doubleheader weekend. In the Solairus Aviation Pro-Am class, Patrick Mulcahy (ACI Motorsports) will try to extend his five-race winning streak to open the season, while teammate Marco Cirone opened the season with three wins and continues to hold the Solairus Aviation Masters Class championship lead.
Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen fast facts.
Field.
22 Porsche 911 Cup race cars are entered for Round 4 at the Watkins Glen International.
- Mobil Pro Class. 11
- Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class. 2
- Solairus Aviation Masters Class. 9
- Teams. Eight race teams across all three classes
Track record.
1:48.619, 2023, Kay van Berlo, Kellymoss, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992.1)
2025 Race winners.
- Mobil Pro Class.
- Race 1, Riley Dickinson, Kellymoss
- Race 2, Zachary Vanier, JDX Racing
- Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class.
- Race 1, Alan Metni, Kellymoss
- Race 2, JP Martinez, ACI Motorsports
- Solairus Aviation Masters Class.
- Race 1, Scott Blind, Ruckus Racing
- Race 2, Todd Parriott, Kellymoss
2026 Championship Leaders.
- Mobil Pro Class.
- Tyler Maxson, TOPP Racing
- Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class.
- Patrick Mulcahy, ACI Motorsports
- Solairus Aviation Masters Class.
- Marco Circone, ACI Motorsports
- Rookie.
- Cole Kleck, TOPP Racing
- Team.
- TOPP Racing
Schedule.
All times Eastern
- Thursday, 25 June.9:00 – 9:45am | Practice 1
1:00 – 1:45pm | Practice 2 - Friday, 26 June.8:30 – 9:00am | Qualifying
3:00 – 3:40pm | Race 1 (40 minutes) - Saturday, 27 June.9:05 – 9:45am | Race 2 (40 minutes)
Natural terrain.
Watkins Glen marks a return to a classic, permanent road course for the first time since Round 1 at Sebring International Raceway in March. Following the Sebring opener, the field moved to the temporary circuit at Long Beach and the hybrid track at Miami International Autodrome. Miami’s second race was eliminated because of the threat of severe weather during the the Formula One race. Discussions on a potential make-up race are on-going.
Catching fire.
Paul Bocuse (Kellymoss) earned his first career Porsche Carrera Cup North America podium at Miami, finishing second. The 18-year-old recent high school graduate has also been driving the Kellymoss Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in Pirelli GT4 America with fellow Porsche Sprint Challenge North America alumnus Erika Hoffmann.
Consistent scorers.
While Maxson holds an early 30-point lead in the Mobil Pro Championship, the action has been tight. Only four drivers have scored points in all five races – Maxson, Callum Hedge (third in points), Bocuse (fifth) and Alan Metni (ninth). Metni’s run is more impressive because the Kellymoss driver is mathematically eligible for the Solairus Aviation Masters class, but has elected to race in the Mobil Pro class for the 2026 season.
Six-hour rooting interests.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s weekend at Watkins Glen may end with Saturday’s race, but the story continues into Sunday. The WeatherTech Championship field is loaded with drivers that have competed in Porsche single-make racing around the world, including Porsche Penske Motorsport drivers Kevin Estre and Julien Andlauer plus AO Racing’s Nick Tandy and Harry King. Among the North American graduates are Laurin Heinrich, who won at Road Atlanta in 2022 in his U.S. debut and Tom Sargent, a multi-time winner who swept this year’s Carrera Cup rounds at Long Beach. Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s 2024 champion, Loek Hartog, makes his WeatherTech debut this weekend in Manthey Racing’s famous Grello in the GTD Pro class.
Class descriptions.
Mobil Pro Class.
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, with the addition of orange highlights on the front bumper splitters.
Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class.
Restricted to drivers who are 35 years old or older as of 1 January, 2026. 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, with the addition of green highlights on the front bumper splitters.
Solairus Aviation Masters Class.
This class is open to drivers who are 50 years old or older as of 1 January, 2026. 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, with the addition of yellow highlights on the front bumper splitters.
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 Porsche Carrera Cup North America races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by following Porsche Motorsport North America on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter, and by subscribing to the newsletter.
Less than two years after winning the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship with Kellymoss and one year after claiming the Porsche Cup, Loek Hartog is preparing for the next major step in his career.
It was announced today that the former Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver and current leader in the 2026 Porsche Cup standings will make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro debut at Watkins Glen International, sharing the iconic Manthey Racing ‘Grello’ Porsche 911 GT3 R with Porsche factory drivers Klaus Bachler and Michael Christensen.
For Hartog, the opportunity is the latest milestone in a career that has continued to gain momentum since arriving in North America.
After arriving in the United States as a Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup race winner, the Dutchman dominated the 2024 Carrera Cup North America season with Kellymoss, winning seven of 16 races and finishing off the podium just twice on his way to the championship.
His success extended well beyond North America. Hartog’s performances across Porsche’s global customer racing ladder earned him the 2025 Porsche Cup, awarded annually to the world’s most successful private Porsche racing driver.
By stepping into the iconic “Grello,” Hartog follows in the footsteps of some of the most decorated drivers ever to race a Porsche including Bachler, Christensen, Nick Tandy, Romain Dumas, Earl Bamber, Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet, Richard Lietz, Frédéric Makowiecki, Patrick Pilet, Thomas Preining and Ayhancan Güven, a group whose achievements include FIA World Endurance Championship titles, DTM championships and victories in some of the world’s biggest races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburgring 24 Hours and Rolex 24 At Daytona.
“It’s probably the most excited I’ve ever been,” Hartog said. “I’ve done some of the greatest races over the years, but this is for sure the biggest opportunity or biggest step. It’s GTD Pro. It’s the best GT3 drivers in the world, and to be recognized for that, it’s something special.”
While the opportunity may represent a career milestone, Hartog arrives at Watkins Glen with considerably more experience than his IMSA debut designation might suggest.
Since winning Porsche Carrera Cup North America in 2024, Hartog has raced across Europe, Asia, and North America. Last year, he competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nürburgring 24 Hours, and CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa on three consecutive weekends. This year, his programs include a GT World Challenge America campaign with Kellymoss alongside John Gilliland.
That breadth of experience is one reason Hartog believes he is ready for the challenge.
“Ever since leaving Carrera Cup, I’ve been doing some of the greatest races,” Hartog said. “To get this opportunity now feels like a natural next step. It’s obviously very cool to be recognized, but I don’t feel extra pressure because of it.”
“I’ve done so many weekends now in Pro-Am racing. I’ve had time to sharpen my tools. In essence, it’s not something completely different. It’s just very cool to be in this environment and to have this opportunity.”
The road to Watkins Glen began long before his championship-winning season with Kellymoss.
Before moving to North America, Hartog spent three seasons competing in Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Porsche’s premier international one-make championship. Racing on Formula 1 weekends, he earned a victory at Zandvoort in 2023 and established himself as one of Europe’s leading Porsche racers before joining the North American ranks in 2024.
Yet despite his success in Europe, he felt a move to North America would ultimately provide greater opportunities.
“Making the step to the U.S. was one of the most important decisions I’ve made in my career,” Hartog said. “I felt like I was at a very good level in Europe, but like in life, if you want to make a difference, sometimes you need to make bold decisions.”
“I felt like making that step to the U.S. was my calling. Looking back now, it was actually one of the biggest things I’ve done. It was really pivotal.”
The move also broadened his perspective on professional racing.
North American racing exposed Hartog to a broader side of the sport that extended beyond pure performance.
“It taught me about opportunities, relationships, and all the different elements that go into building a racing career. It gave me tools that I didn’t have before.”
Hartog credits Kellymoss with helping accelerate that development, beginning with his championship-winning Carrera Cup campaign in 2024.
“I’m very sure that making my mark in the U.S. with Kellymoss helped me make this step into IMSA,” Hartog said.
“But it is more than just the on-track success; being part of the Kellymoss “family” has taught me so much more about all aspects of our sport. I’m incredibly grateful for everything that Andy (Kilcoyne) and Victoria (Thomas) have done for me.”
For the Dutchman, the significance of the opportunity extends beyond the race itself.
“When the opportunity came up, it was one of the biggest moments I’ve ever had,” Hartog said.
“Next to being a racing driver, I’m also a big racing fan. I’ve been following this car for my whole life.”
“When I was a little kid going to the Nürburgring with my dad, this car was already racing. The coolest thing is that my heroes and my dad’s heroes raced that car. Now, to step into that role myself is a completely different perspective.”
“I still get goosebumps thinking about it.”
The outing also comes during Manthey’s first season competing in the United States, with the German team contesting the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup for the first time. Manthey has made an immediate impact in North America, winning the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring with its iconic No. 911 ‘Grello’ Porsche 911 GT3 R in just its second IMSA start.
Sharing the car with Bachler provides Hartog with a teammate he already knows and trusts – the duo drove together at Le Mans last year and were teammates in a Manthey Asian Le Mans Series entry with Antares Au.
“He’s one of the most rounded teammates I’ve witnessed. He’s incredibly calm and sees the bigger picture.”
“He’s the perfect teammate to share a weekend like this with.”
For Hartog, the Watkins Glen debut represents another step in a journey that has accelerated rapidly since arriving in North America.
What began as a decision to leave Europe has led to championships, major endurance racing opportunities and now a place on one of North America’s biggest sports car racing stages.
It is also validation that the path he chose was the right one.
“When I stepped off the plane in America, one of my biggest wishes was to understand racing better and understand where I fit into this industry,” Hartog said.
“Now, two and a half years later, I feel like I understand that much more clearly.”
For a driver who grew up watching the car from behind the fence at the Nürburgring, it is a moment that still feels almost surreal.
But it is also one he has spent years earning.
Paul Bocuse’s Miami weekend nearly unraveled before the opening lap was complete. Instead, the Kellymoss driver fought back from early damage to secure a career-best Porsche Carrera Cup North America podium at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
The race was thrown into disarray almost immediately after a major Lap 1, Turn 1 incident scattered several frontrunners and forced drivers into survival mode through the opening stages.
The Kellymoss racer was among those caught in the contact, with damage to the right rear of his Porsche significantly affecting the handling for the remainder of the race.
Despite the damage, Bocuse remained convinced he still had the pace to challenge near the front as incidents and penalties continued to reshape the order around him. After briefly grabbing the race lead for the first time in his Carrera Cup career, the Florida native believed victory was still possible.
“Turn 1 I got a pretty big shot to the right rear wheel,” Bocuse said. “It caused it to tow in pretty bad and the car was crab walking hard down the straight, and made it very difficult to get the car rotated.”
“But after I ended up in the lead, I remember saying on the radio, ‘All right, let’s go out here and win this thing,’” Bocuse said. “I felt pretty confident at that moment.”
Leading for the first time.
Bocuse found himself in a three-way fight for the lead with Callum Hedge (JDX Racing) and Jared Thomas (JTR Motorsport Engineering). Hedge and Thomas made contact at the Miami “Marina” corner, opening the door for the 18-year-old Kellymoss driver to take the lead.
“Right away it was more or less an ‘oh crap’ moment,” he admitted. “But as I kind of settled into my groove, I knew for me to do well in this race, I had to settle in, hit my marks and listen to my people on the radio.”
Although Callum Hedge and eventual race winner Tyler Maxson moved past him on track before post-race penalties reshuffled the order, Bocuse still secured a career-best second-place finish in the Mobil Pro class.
The podium carried extra meaning given the event’s Florida location.
“Super excited to come away with a second-place finish at Miami, which is so close to home, just like Sebring for me,” Bocuse said. “It was good to have another chance racing in Florida.”
The result also reinforced the progress Bocuse believes he is making during his second season in Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
“We qualified sixth and we knew recently in these races I’ve been shining a lot more in the race rather than just qualifying pace,” he said. “It definitely gives me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the Carrera Cup championship.”
Surprise GT4 opportunity.
That momentum now rolls directly into a surprise opportunity in Pirelli GT4 America this weekend at Sebring International Raceway, where Bocuse will make his debut in the category alongside Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program racer, Erika Hoffman.
The opportunity came together quickly.
“It was really just super random,” Bocuse said. “Andy Kilcoyne (Kellymoss boss) talked to me about it as kind of an idea floating around during the Miami weekend.”
The event will mark Bocuse’s first major step into open GT competition after building his recent experience within Porsche’s one-make ladder.
“My first real open competition race,” he said. “There’s a super high level in GT4 America. You have past Carrera Cup winners competing, past Carrera Cup drivers and really, really good drivers as a whole.”
Bocuse believes the experience will accelerate his development as he continues climbing Porsche’s ladder system.
“I’m really excited to just grow and develop in my driving and hopefully be able to transfer what I learn back to Carrera Cup and vice versa.”
Returning to a familiar platform.
The GT4 machinery itself will not be entirely unfamiliar territory. Bocuse previously won the Cayman championship in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama and expects the transition back into the platform to come naturally.
With the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport now used as Porsche’s GT4 platform – the new car features a horsepower boost from the “non-RS” version of the Cayman that Bocuse previously raced.
“It’s been almost four years since I’ve driven a Cayman,” Bocuse said. “Hopefully, I can shake the rust off quickly. It definitely helps my confidence knowing I’ve driven this car before and been fast in the Cayman previously.”
He is also looking forward to working alongside Hoffman for the first time.
“Erika has a couple of races under her belt in this championship already and I’m looking forward to working with her,” Bocuse said.“She was a race winner in Porsche Sprint Challenge, and we met during the Porsche Junior/Female workshop in Charlotte last year. So I hope I can learn a lot from her and what she knows going into this weekend.”
Balancing racing and school.
Away from the race track, Bocuse is balancing another major life transition.
The 18-year-old this week completed his final days of high school while simultaneously juggling Carrera Cup competition, college admissions, and preparations for his GT4 debut.
“My plate’s definitely been full,” Bocuse said. “College admissions, prom, homecoming, final exams, and racing all at the same time.”
Rather than moving entirely to homeschooling during his racing career, Bocuse remained in traditional school throughout his teenage years after making his Porsche debut as a 15-year-old, something he now appreciates.
“It was a super fun experience being able to actually go to high school and manage racing at the same time,” he said. “I’m super thankful to my parents for actually making me stay in school.”
Bocuse will attend Florida Atlantic University, where he plans to study hospitality management while continuing his racing career.
The decision also ties into his famous family name that is world-renowned in global cuisine. Bocuse is the grandson of legendary French chef Paul Bocuse, whose influence helped shape modern French gastronomy, while his father operates several restaurants in Orlando, continuing the family’s culinary legacy.
“My plan would be to take over from Dad one day, hopefully, and do what he does,” Bocuse said. “Hopefully, even when I’m his age, I can still be driving race cars.”
Despite coming from one of the world’s most famous culinary families, Bocuse admits his own cooking skills still need work.
“Oh, I’m horrible,” he laughed. “I’m a lot more interested in the business side of the restaurant rather than being in the kitchen.”
For now, though, racing remains the priority – and Miami may ultimately prove to be the weekend that changed the momentum of his Carrera Cup season.
Sunday’s Porsche Carrera Cup North America race at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix has been cancelled after officials moved the Formula 1 race start time forward due to the threat of severe weather.
The Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome will now start at 1:00pm local time (ET) – three hours earlier than the originally scheduled 4:00pm.
The decision leaves this year’s Miami weekend as a single-race event for Porsche Carrera Cup North America following Saturday’s Race 1.
The next round of Porsche Carrera Cup North America is scheduled for Watkins Glen International from June 25 to 27.
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