Michael McCann and Zachary Vanier are taking the next step up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid in 2026 with a full-season Pro class effort in GT World Challenge America powered by Amazon Web Services.
The former Porsche Carrera Cup North America contenders will campaign the new Porsche 911 GT3 R with McCann Racing as they transition into professional GT3 endurance racing.
From rivals to co-drivers
For Vanier, the move is both a progression and a culmination.
“For 2026, I’m super excited to be joining McCann Racing with our effort in the SRO GT World Challenge North America Championship in the GT3 R,” Vanier said.
“It’s fantastic to be paired up with Michael. He was one of the guys in the paddock I managed to build a really close friendship with throughout my two years in Porsche Carrera Cup North America. An amazing family, an amazing team. For us to have nailed the program down together feels super special.”
Their partnership was not built in a boardroom. It began in the paddock.
Before they were teammates, they were rivals in Carrera Cup. They were in the same paddock at the track – conversations at the Porsche PenFed Driver’s Lounge about 2026 turned into concrete plans.
“I found a really good co-driver,” McCann said. “Before he was my teammate, he was obviously a very close friend of mine. Zachary and I always hit it off at the track. That friendship kind of developed into, ‘Hey, what are you doing next year? What are you doing in two years?’”
The answer, eventually, became clear.
Forged in Porsche’s single-make arena
Both had spent recent seasons sharpening themselves in Porsche’s single-make environment – a platform that leaves nowhere to hide. Identical machinery. Minimal variables. Forty-minute sprint races that demand total commitment from green flag to checkered.
“It’s just full-bore focus,” McCann said of Carrera Cup. “Green flag, and you’re driving like mad. There’s no strategy, no pit stops. You have to make up as much room as you can. That’s why qualifying is so important.”
Vanier views it similarly, but with a developmental lens shaped by his time in the Porsche Junior Program.
“The biggest thing was maturing within the Porsche product,” he said. “I feel very fortunate for the opportunities Porsche gave me within the Junior Program – being recognized, and representing Porsche Motorsport North America at the Porsche Global Shootout. Over the last three years, it was about emphasizing the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid and going through it as it’s designed to work. I feel like that’s exactly what I’ve been able to do.”
Those experiences reinforced the step-by-step progression the pyramid is built to create.
That structure now leads them to GT3 racing – a world of more downforce, more adjustability, longer races and, crucially, shared responsibility.
Learning the GT3 language
Vanier has not yet turned a wheel in the new GT3 R, with his first test scheduled at Sebring in early March. But he already understands the scale of the shift.
“There are some expectations related to results and outcomes that we want,” he said. “But there’s a lot to learn and overcome, both personally and as a team.
“We’re entering it with an open mindset – being a sponge, soaking in everything from the team side, from Porsche’s side, and trying to maximize the program.”
The transition from 40-minute sprints to three-hour endurance races fundamentally changes the objective.
“It’s not about outright pace for a short distance anymore,” Vanier said. “It’s about longevity. Making sure we have a car at the end of three hours – and at Indy, making sure we have a car at the end of eight hours. There’s more technique and finesse involved. It’s a different approach.”
That evolution aligns directly with his long-term ambitions.
“The ultimate goal for me is to solidify myself as an endurance driver,” he said. “Whether that’s in SRO competition or IMSA. This was the goal. Now it’s about incorporating Michael’s preferences in the car as well – working together to get the car in a window where we’re both comfortable and able to maximize it.”
A return to GT3 roots
For McCann, the GT3 return carries its own meaning.
He grew up in a racing family. His father competed in Speed World Challenge in the early 2000s before earning a Cadillac factory opportunity that was cut short during the 2009 financial crisis. Racing was always part of the household vocabulary.
“There’s no better place than being at the track,” McCann said. “I’ve always been around it. I’ve always loved it.”
McCann Racing previously competed in GT3 machinery between 2017 and 2019, before the team pivoted fully into Porsche Carrera Cup competition. Now, with a deep affinity for the brand and a trusted co-driver alongside him, the timing feels right.
“The most exciting part for us is getting back into GT3 racing,” McCann said. “And to have Zachary join the McCann Racing family – it’s honestly been a blessing that everything has come together like it has.”
Translating Cup pace to endurance consistency
Both drivers believe their years in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car will ease the transition into the GT3 R.
“The Cup Car is the best training tool to prepare for the GT3R,” said McCann. “It’s a similar chassis, similar concept. We’re hoping it actually does everything nicer than a Cup car – it turns better, stops better.”
Vanier agrees, noting that while the GT3 platform introduces more variables – including Balance of Performance and competition from multiple manufacturers – it also expands a driver’s technical understanding.
“In Carrera Cup, it’s ultimately down to the driver,” he said.
“In World Challenge we’ll be working closely with Porsche, with the team, and even with other teams in the same manufacturer to give yourself the best platform across seven rounds – that’s going to be the name of the game.”
The program will compete in the Pro class, raising the bar further. Long-run pace, tire management, traffic navigation and co-driver harmony will carry more weight than a single qualifying lap.
“I think long-term pace will be more valuable than just having a one-lap flyer,” McCann said.
“That’s one thing Carrera Cup taught me. Now it’s about sharing the car, understanding what works for both of us, and building something consistent.”
A new chapter begins at Sonoma
The car itself has already arrived at the McCann Racing shop, wrapped and prepared for its Sebring shakedown. From there, the countdown to the opening round accelerates.
Three weeks later, the green flag will fall on a new chapter at Sonoma Raceway.
Two ex-Carrera Cup aces. One Pro-class GT3 R. A friendship forged in a single-make paddock now tested in one of North America’s premier GT championships.
For both McCann and Vanier, this is more than a schedule addition. It is the next deliberate step up the Porsche ladder – from sprint specialist to endurance contender.
With the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid continuing to work as designed, it won’t be the last.
Reigning Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion and Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver Ryan Yardley is set for a triple-program Porsche season in 2026 with ACI Motorsports, Wright Motorsports, and JTR Motorsport Engineering.
The New Zealander will contest Pirelli GT4 America with ACI Motorsports alongside Damir Hot, GT World Challenge America powered by AWS with Wright Motorsports alongside Dave Musial Jr., and Porsche Endurance Challenge North America by Yokohama with JTR Motorsport Engineering alongside Dave Musial Sr.
The programs span GT4, GT3, and Porsche One-Make endurance competition – all within the Porsche ecosystem.
It is a significant expansion built directly on the momentum of his Carrera Cup title.
Carrera Cup as the stepping stone
Winning Porsche Carrera Cup North America has increasingly proven to be the ideal launch pad within the North American Porsche Motorsport Pyramid. The identical 911 Cup cars reward precision, discipline, and qualifying execution. There are no technical variables to hide behind.
For Yardley, that championship campaign was validation.
“Even once the checkered flag fell at COTA for Carrera Cup, I had some ideas of what was going to happen,” Yardley said. “But nothing was set in stone for 2026.”
The title positioned him squarely within the Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver program, opening doors to remain in the Porsche family while stepping up into multi-driver and multi-class endurance racing.
“It’s honestly a dream situation for me,” Yardley said. “To have three programs set, all on the Porsche platform, is fantastic.”
Rather than defending a single crown, Yardley will now balance three distinct programs – often competing twice in a single SRO weekend.
GT4 America – ACI Motorsports
The first pillar of the 2026 campaign comes in Pirelli GT4 America with ACI Motorsports, where Yardley will share the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with Damir Hot in Pro-Am competition.
“I’ll be double duty for SRO this year with ACI Motorsport alongside Damir Hot as a Pro-Am pairing,” Yardley said.
“I’m super excited to be part of a new championship and a new car as well, a new platform for myself.”
The partnership began midway through last season in Porsche Sprint Challenge competition before extending into a GT4 America outing at VIRginia International Raceway.
“We did VIR last year together in GT4 America with ACI and that went really well,” Yardley said.
“From that stage on, I knew Damir was putting a program together for 2026. I’m super thankful and super happy to be driving alongside him and continue our relationship.”
GT4 introduces multi-manufacturer racing, driver changes, and race strategy variables that do not exist in Carrera Cup.
“It was nice to do Virginia last year just to have some sort of idea of multi-manufacturer racing,” Yardley said.
“It’s definitely a new challenge, which makes it super exciting for me.”
ACI brings pedigree. The team won the Pro-Am championship two years ago and finished second last season.
“There’s no question the car’s quick and the team can do the job for us,” Yardley said.
“That’s exciting, knowing that going into the first race we’re going to have the car underneath us to do the job. It’s up to Damir and I to extract the most out of each other and out of the car.”
The objective is clear.
“We’re here to win. We’re here to contend for a championship.”
GT World Challenge America – Wright Motorsports
From GT4, Yardley steps into GT3 competition in GT World Challenge America powered by AWS with Wright Motorsports, sharing the Porsche 911 GT3 R with Dave Musial Jr.
“It’s super exciting to join Wright Motorsports,” Yardley said.
“They’re a household name in Porsche racing and within the Porsche family. I’m super privileged to be joining another team where their equipment is going to be top-notch.”
The relationship with the Musial family was strengthened last season through Porsche Sprint and Endurance Challenge competition and continued earlier this year at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Yardley competed with Mühlner Motorsport alongside Dave Musial Sr., Dave Musial Jr., and Peter Ludwig, gaining valuable mileage in the GT3 R on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
“To do Daytona with both senior and junior was awesome,” Yardley said.
“That endurance experience definitely helps leading into GT World Challenge.”
The step from 45-minute Carrera Cup races to three-hour GT3 contests demands a shift in mindset.
“Endurance racing has a different aspect to the sprint races we grew up doing,” Yardley said.
“But being three hours, these cars are built so strong and so reliable that it’s almost flat out for three hours. Yes, you manage things, but you’re still pushing.”
Traffic management across Pro, Pro-Am, and Am classes, tire management, and pit stop execution add complexity.
“It’s still quite a new platform for me,” he admitted. “But that’s what makes it exciting – a new paddock, a new championship.”
Porsche Endurance Challenge – JTR Motorsport Engineering
Yardley’s third program keeps him rooted in Porsche Cup machinery with Porsche Endurance Challenge North America, partnering Dave Musial Sr. with JTR Motorsport Engineering.
The series has become an increasingly important development bridge for Porsche One-Make drivers transitioning toward professional GT endurance racing.
“After the Road Atlanta four-hour in Endurance Challenge last year with myself and Junior – we won that race – that’s where the conversations got started,” Yardley said.
“They seriously looked at doing GT World Challenge, and thankfully, those plans have now come to fruition.”
Endurance Challenge events introduce driver changes, pit strategy, and long-run consistency within the Porsche One-Make environment.
“Endurance racing is about being consistent and being there at the end,” Yardley said. “Doing your role and doing your job within an endurance race. Pit stops, driver changes – it’s another element.”
“Doing that Road Atlanta race last year was a great introduction to the Endurance discipline. It really is a great stepping stone and learning opportunity for Porsche for when you are looking to move into IMSA or SRO endurance competition.”
From uncertainty to opportunity
Only a few years ago, Yardley was coaching while searching for a stable racing opportunity. He debuted in Porsche Carrera Cup North America in 2023 with TOPP Racing – three years later, he was crowned series champion.
“If someone had told me five years ago I’d be in this position now, I would have ripped their arm off for the opportunity,” he said.
The Carrera Cup championship became the perfect stepping stone – validating his pace and positioning him within Porsche’s long-term structure.
“It’s been a crazy journey here in North America, one that I’m super thankful for,” Yardley said. “There have been so many people behind the scenes who have supported me.”
It is a demanding schedule. It is also the clearest indication yet that winning Carrera Cup can serve as a direct pathway into professional GT endurance racing within Porsche’s North American ladder.
For Ryan Yardley, the title was not the destination.
It was the beginning.
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Riley Dickinson and Loek Hartog, both former Porsche Carrera Cup North America champions, are set for full-season GT World Challenge America powered by AWS campaigns in 2026 with Kellymoss, continuing their progression through the Porsche ranks.
Kellymoss will field three Porsche 911 GT3 R entries in the Pro-Am class. Dickinson partners with Carrera Cup Masters class multiple race winner Todd Parriott. Hartog returns to the team alongside Porsche Endurance Challenge Pro-Am Champion John Gilliland. The third entry features former Porsche Sprint Challenge and Porsche Endurance Challenge champion Michael Clark paired with endurance race specialist Colin Braun.
Together, the trio of entries reflects the depth of the North American Porsche Motorsport Pyramid – from Sprint Challenge and Endurance Challenge to Carrera Cup and now into top-tier GT3 competition.
Both Dickinson and Hartog are former Carrera Cup champions and Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Drivers.
Their advancement reflects the core purpose of Porsche One-Make racing in North America: develop complete drivers capable of succeeding in global GT3 endurance competition.
A clear pathway from Carrera Cup to GT3
Porsche Carrera Cup North America was built as a proving ground. Identical machinery places the emphasis squarely on driver performance – racecraft, tire management, consistency, and mental discipline.
Dickinson – the winningest driver in Porsche Carrera Cup North America history –
claimed the 2024 championship, combining outright speed with the composure required to manage a title campaign. He also built experience in multi-class competition, earning victories in Michelin Pilot Challenge at Daytona and Road Atlanta.
Hartog followed with a dominant 2025 season, securing the overall Porsche Cup – a global accolade awarded to the most successful Porsche customer racing driver worldwide.
Hartog accumulated 14,892 points across various international Porsche customer racing series to claim the 2025 Porsche Cup title, underlining both his consistency and the breadth of his competition schedule.
His 2025 season was notable not only for its results but for its intensity. Hartog competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Nürburgring 24 Hours, and the Spa 24 Hours on consecutive weekends – a demanding sequence that highlighted his endurance credentials and adaptability at the highest levels of global GT racing.
That combination of international experience and one-make dominance positions him strongly for a full-season GT World Challenge America campaign.
Dickinson partners with Parriott
One of the three Kellymoss Porsche 911 GT3 R entries pairs Dickinson with Todd Parriott.
Parriott is a multi-race Masters class winner in Porsche Carrera Cup North America and a consistent front-runner, steadily progressing through Porsche one-make competition with proven race-winning pace.
“I’m extremely excited to start this new chapter in my career, but also for Kellymoss in GT World Challenge America competition,” Dickinson said. “We have a great team assembled to take on this championship and put our best foot forward from the very start of this campaign.”
Parriott views the move to GT3 as the natural next step.
“Moving into SRO with Kellymoss is an important next step for me,” he said. “Each season has been about raising the bar, and I am ready to learn, grow, and push myself at this next level.”
Hartog returns after global success
Hartog returns to Kellymoss to partner with Porsche Endurance Cup Champion John Gilliland in a second Pro-Am Porsche 911 GT3 R entry.
Hartog’s 2025 Carrera Cup title campaign was a benchmark season. His ability to manage races, execute consistently, and maximize performance from the 911 GT3 Cup car translated into the overall Porsche Cup crown.
“I’m really excited to be back with my Kellymoss family after an incredibly successful effort with them in Porsche Carrera Cup North America,” Hartog said.
“This season, I’m stepping up to GT3 with them, a category where I’ve gained a lot of experience over the past two years. With more than 30 GT3 race weekends behind me, I’m looking forward to bringing everything I’ve learned into the team and partnering with John as he begins his first year in GT3 competition.”
Gilliland embraces the opportunity to compete at the highest GT3 level.
“Our objective is to be competing for the top step of the podium in this championship,” Gilliland said. “Thank you to everyone at Kellymoss for their ongoing support and guidance in my racing career.”
Clark and Braun complete the Pro-Am effort
The third Kellymoss Porsche 911 GT3 R will be driven by Michael Clark and Colin Braun.
Clark is a former Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and Porsche Endurance Challenge champion and returns to the track for the first time since his Endurance Challenge title-winning race at COTA in 2024. His move into GT World Challenge America represents the next stage of development after multiple one-make titles.
“I’m very excited to be racing this season with Kellymoss in SRO’s GT World Challenge America,” Clark said. “We are looking to build on our championship year and bring it to the next level.”
Colin Braun brings extensive endurance racing experience to the lineup, highlighted by overall victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“Michael has done an excellent job of adapting to the car, and his work ethic is incredible,” Braun said. “I’m confident we will achieve some great things together for Kellymoss.”
Together, the trio of Kellymoss entries demonstrates the full arc of Porsche’s customer racing structure – from Sprint Challenge and Endurance Challenge through Carrera Cup and into professional GT3 endurance competition.
The 2026 GT World Challenge America powered by AWS calendar features seven rounds, including six three-hour races before the Indianapolis 8 Hour finale. Each Kellymoss entry will add a third driver for the Indianapolis 8 Hour, with those names to be announced at a later date.
For Porsche Motorsport North America, the pathway remains clear.
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A full-season Porsche Carrera Cup North America campaign, a new-generation 911 Cup (Type 992.2) car, and a clear focus on race wins define Jared Thomas’s outlook heading into the 2026 season..
After stepping up from Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, Thomas entered Porsche Carrera Cup North America last season knowing exactly what awaited him.
The car itself was familiar, but the competitive environment quickly underscored just how unforgiving the series can be.
“It’s always a big step when you come into a new series,” Thomas said.
“I don’t care what level you’re at – you’re coming into somebody else’s championship that’s been around for a few years. Those guys know all the little tricks.”
“It was definitely a big learning curve coming from Sprint Challenge to Carrera Cup. But I felt like it was the right jump. You know the basics, you’re comfortable in the car, but the guys you’re racing against are top-notch.”
For Thomas, the defining difference wasn’t pace alone, but density.
“In the beginning of the season, we were close,” he said.
“But there are a lot of guys living in that last five-tenths of a second. That was the biggest jump for me – just how many people were that tight at the front.”
That reality reshaped expectations quickly. In Carrera Cup, progress is measured in details, and consistency is often as valuable as outright speed.
Resetting for 2026
Thomas’ full-season commitment for 2026 arrives alongside a major technical shift with the introduction of the new Porsche 911 Cup (Type 992.2). For a driver who stepped into the series racing against competitors with multiple seasons of experience in the outgoing 992.1, the timing matters.
“We put in a lot of work at the end of 2025 looking into ’26 with the new 992.2,” Thomas said.
“Our goal is to win races and finish on the podium. We’ll take it one step at a time, but that’s ultimately where we want to be.”
The new car represents both opportunity and challenge.
“I’m super excited about it,” he said. “I stepped up into Carrera Cup racing against guys that had been in the same car for two or three years. Now it’s a bit of a reset.”
“After the test last week, there are some new bits on the car that I’m really excited about. Especially on the front aero.”
While the updated GT3 Cup car remains closely related to its predecessor, Thomas believes the changes are significant enough to force teams to rethink established approaches.
“From a development standpoint, it’s a reset for everybody,” he said. “Even though the cars are similar, they’re different enough that everyone has work to do.”
That work has already become the focus of Thomas’ offseason.
Choosing a different path
In a paddock filled with long-established Porsche operations, Thomas continues to take a less conventional route. Rather than aligning with an outside powerhouse team, he has committed to building his program internally, expanding staff, engineering capability, and technical resources over time.
“We continue to build our resources here in the shop,” Thomas said. “Our knowledge base, our engineers – all of that.
“I look at it as a great challenge. I’m really engineering-driven, and that’s how we approach everything.”
That mindset shapes how Thomas views performance.
“We’re always turning over every rock,” he said. “We’re always asking where we can get speed.
“It’s been a lot of hard work testing and consulting with industry professionals who have been around the sport a long time. That’s helped us expand our notebook.”
One of the defining traits of the program, Thomas believes, is its willingness to experiment.
“We’re very open-minded,” he said. “We’re never the ones that say, ‘That can’t work.’ You don’t know until you go out and try it.
“As far as we’re concerned, you have to prove to yourself whether something works or it doesn’t.”
Two roles, one weekend
Race weekends demand a careful balance for Thomas, who carries the responsibilities of both driver and team owner. Learning to separate those roles took time.
“That’s something I’ve been perfecting over the last six or seven years,” he said. “It definitely wasn’t easy when I first started.
“I’d say early on, when I had a lot of other responsibilities, I probably suffered a little bit,” Thomas admitted. “But you learn how to get better at it.”
Today, the separation is intentional.
“When I’m in the car, I’m 100 percent focused on my car and the performance,” he said. “I’m working with the engineers and mechanics to get it the best we can.
“When I’m out of the car, I’m in the paddock with the rest of the team. Talking with the other drivers. Asking how their car feels. Seeing what we can do better.”
That often means putting team needs ahead of his own.
“Sometimes I put myself last,” Thomas said. “But that’s just how it has to be.”
Shared success
That perspective extends to how Thomas defines success. While personal results matter, he places equal value on his drivers’ achievements.
“I’ve found a lot of joy in it,” he said. “It just goes to show that all the hard work is paying off.”
“I’m in the shop every day. I’m working with every guy on this team, trying to give our drivers the best product we can.
“So when another driver on our team wins, it feels just as good as a win myself.”
As Porsche Carrera Cup North America enters a new era, Jared Thomas does so with clear intent. The learning phase has sharpened his perspective. The technical reset offers an opportunity. And the expectations are no longer abstract.
With a full season ahead and a program built around engineering, adaptability, and effort, Thomas is no longer simply measuring the challenge.
He’s preparing to meet it head-on.
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With Tyler Maxson entering year two of Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Cole Kleck stepping up full-time after a breakout rise through the Porsche ladder, Topp Racing launches its 2026 campaign as the team everyone is chasing.
Led by team boss Todd Oppermann, Topp Racing won the 2025 teams’ championship, with Ryan Yardley securing the drivers’ title. While Yardley has graduated up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid (making his IMSA debut at Daytona), the team retains much of the structure and personnel that contributed to its title-winning season.
Maxson returns following a debut Carrera Cup campaign that included two race wins and steady improvement across the second half of the year. After starting the season focused on learning the category, Maxson made gains in both qualifying and race execution as the year progressed.
“I think the biggest thing for me last year was learning how to really extract everything out of the car,” Maxson said.
“We got a much better handle on that in the second half of the year, so that’s something we’re definitely looking to build on. Especially in qualifying — I feel like we took a pretty major step forward there about halfway through the season.”
Maxson scored his first Carrera Cup podium at Miami before earning his first win at Road America. A second victory followed later in the season at Road Atlanta. He also points to the Montreal round as an important weekend in terms of pace and overall performance.
“Montreal was also a really important moment for me, especially in terms of pace and qualifying — that felt like a big step forward,” he said.
“That whole stretch of races helped me get more comfortable with the car.”
For 2026, Maxson enters the season as the more experienced driver within the line-up, following Yardley’s departure and Kleck’s move into his first full Carrera Cup season.
“There’s definitely a little added pressure being the defending team champions, but it doesn’t really change how we approach anything,” Maxson said.
“We’re still just as hungry as ever. We’re not naive to how competitive this championship is — you have to be on top of your game every single weekend.”
Kleck joins Maxson full-time after winning the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama championship and contesting the final two rounds of Carrera Cup last season. His Carrera Cup debut came at Road Atlanta, where he showed competitive pace immediately.
“We entered the final two rounds of Carrera Cup last year, with the first one being Road Atlanta,” Kleck said.
“Atlanta went really well for us. Topp Racing really put together a great car and gave me something that was capable of winning. We had all the tools to do it — it just came down to experience and execution on my end.”
Kleck said his Sprint Challenge season provided a strong foundation for the step up, though the intensity of Carrera Cup was immediately apparent.
“Sprint Challenge was a great way for me to really understand and learn the car over the course of a year,” he said.
“I knew the competition was going to be tougher, and it definitely was. The racing is more intense, there’s more beating and banging, but we rose to the occasion and came out pretty well — aside from qualifying at COTA.”
Qualifying quickly emerged as a priority area for Kleck, given the depth of the Carrera Cup field.
“It’s huge,” he said. “The guys I’m racing against are some of the best in the country, and even a few from outside the country. Three or four tenths can separate the top five.
“You really have to put your laps together and hit your marks. If you can’t rise to the occasion and get it done in those two laps, you’re suddenly sitting deeper in the field.”
Kleck’s late-season participation also allowed him to work closely with both Maxson and Yardley, gaining insight into the team’s approach and data-sharing philosophy.
“When we got to Carrera Cup at Atlanta, we all shared data and worked together,” Kleck said.
“Maybe Ryan was faster in one sector, Tyler in another, and I was faster somewhere else. We put it all together. It’s not a case of hiding data or competing internally — it’s a team sport at the end of the day.”
Maxson said that collaboration will be important as the series transitions to the new Porsche 911 Cup car, which resets development across the paddock.
“It definitely levels the playing field,” Maxson said.
“Early in the year, it’s going to be a lot of work developing setups and getting everything in the right window. But we’ve got a really strong team behind us, and Todd’s very good at getting the cars where they need to be.”
Kleck had his first opportunity to see the new car when he attended the Porsche Night of Champions after his Sprint Challenge championship win.
“I got to see the car in Germany, and it’s a really cool piece,” Kleck said. “It looks awesome, and it looks fast. With it being a new car, we’ll have to relearn a few things and make some adjustments during testing and the opening rounds of Carrera Cup. But I’m super grateful and really happy to have this opportunity.”
Both drivers also referenced the broader Porsche development pathway as a factor in their motivation, with Carrera Cup continuing to serve as a key step within the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid.
“It really shows how invested Porsche is in developing young talent,” Maxson said.
“I’m not naive to how narrow and challenging the path is, but just knowing that those opportunities are out there is really motivating. That was a big reason why I chose this championship and why I wanted to come back for a second year.”
Kleck echoed that sentiment after watching drivers progress through the Porsche ladder and succeed at the top level, pointing to Laurin Heinrich’s and Julien Andlauer’s recent Rolex 24 at Daytona victory as a clear example of the pathway working as intended.
“Seeing drivers who came from Carrera Cup go on to win at the top level shows that the ladder works,” Kleck said.
“If you perform and get results, they’ll take care of you and keep moving you up.”
Topp Racing and the rest of the 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup North America line-up will run for the first time at the pre-season test on February 16–17 at Sebring International Raceway ahead of the opening round of the championship – also at Sebring – on March 18–20.
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Porsche Carrera Cup North America will enter a new chapter in 2026 with Pirelli confirmed as the championship’s official tire supplier under a multi-year agreement.
The partnership marks the first time in the six-year history of the series that it will compete on Pirelli rubber, aligning a new technical era for the championship with one of the most recognizable names in global motorsport.
The debut of Pirelli in the series coincides with the arrival of the new Porsche 911 Cup car (Type 992.2). Both the car and tire will make their first appearance together at the series-wide test at Sebring International Raceway in mid-February, offering teams their first opportunity to evaluate the package ahead of the season opener at the same circuit in March.
P Zero technology meets the new 911 Cup.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America will utilize the Pirelli P Zero DHG tire, which debuted across all Pirelli-served GT championships worldwide in 2025. The Pirelli P Zero tire on each Porsche 911 Cup car underscores the technological link between track performance and road-going excellence.
The collaboration also follows the recent introduction of bespoke Pirelli P Zero R and Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS fitments for the road-going Porsche 911 GT3, further demonstrating how race-inspired development translates directly to road car capability.
Should wet weather conditions arise during the season, the field will rely on the Pirelli Cinturato WHB, the standard wet-weather tire used across GT classes since 2025.
The new Pirelli P Zero tire features the Forest Stewardship Council™ logo, signifying that all FSC™ certified natural rubber used in the tire originates from responsibly managed cultivation areas that preserve biodiversity and support local communities. The FSC™ certification process ensures certified materials remain fully traceable and separate from non-certified material throughout the supply chain.
“Porsche and Pirelli share a deep motorsport heritage and a commitment to innovation that carries from the track to the road,” Volker Holzmeyer, PMNA President and CEO, said. “We’re excited to welcome Pirelli to our premier Porsche One-Make series as we usher in a new era with the 911 Cup and new Pirelli tires beginning in 2026.”
A collaborative livery inspired by heritage.
The partnership is further expressed through a dedicated promotional livery unveiled alongside the announcement. Rooted in the 911 Cup #Raceborn launch design that anchors the 2026 Carrera Cup North America visual identity, the concept has been reinterpreted in black and yellow, the unmistakable colors synonymous with Pirelli’s racing heritage.
While remaining true to the established #Raceborn design language, the updated look naturally aligns with the partnership. Its graphic pattern resembles a stylized tire tread motif, subtly connecting the car’s visual identity with Pirelli’s core product and reinforcing the shared narrative of performance, innovation, and evolution.
That thread-inspired element also serves as visual storytelling, reflecting Pirelli’s heritage and the concept of “memory that becomes future” – the idea that decades of racing knowledge are carried forward into the next generation of innovation.
The result is a cohesive statement that connects both brands visually and philosophically, mirroring the shared values of precision, performance, and technical excellence that define Porsche and Pirelli.
Pirelli strengthens its North American presence.
With motorsport continuing to gain momentum across North America, Pirelli’s new role in Porsche Carrera Cup North America further expands its footprint in one of the world’s most competitive racing markets.
As the championship enters a new era with the Porsche 911 Cup car (Type 992.2), the partnership reinforces Pirelli’s long-standing commitment to top-level GT competition while aligning with a series that serves as a key platform for emerging professional talent.
In 2026, the 911 Cup car will compete in just four single-make championships worldwide: Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
“Pirelli is thrilled to partner with Porsche Motorsport North America as the tire supplier for the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, adding to our extensive portfolio of top-level championships supported worldwide,” Claudio Zanardo, President and CEO of Pirelli North America, said. “This collaboration demonstrates Pirelli’s dedication to performance and innovation, bringing race-proven technology from the track to the road. Just as Porsche vehicles set the standard for driving excellence, our P Zero tires define precision, handling, and performance in both competition and everyday driving.
With motorsport rapidly expanding across North America, attracting more fans and creating new opportunities to showcase high-performance engineering, we are excited to strengthen our presence and support this momentum. Taking on this challenge alongside Porsche, its teams, drivers, and the iconic 911 Cup cars is an opportunity for continuous innovation, collaboration, and growth throughout the season.”
Sebring up next.
The 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup North America season officially begins at the series-wide test at Sebring International Raceway in mid-February, followed by Round 1 at the same circuit alongside the IMSA WeatherTech Championship’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, March 18 to 20.
All Porsche Carrera Cup North America races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America & IMSA YouTube channels. 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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The newest generation of Porsche 911 Cup (Type 992.2) race cars has officially arrived on American soil and are set to hit the track for the first time next week at the pre-season test for the sixth season of Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
The new Porsche One-Make machines were delivered by DSV from Germany to the United States in time for their Sebring debut on February 16 and 17.
All of the brand new Porsche 911 Cup cars made the 4,482-mile journey across the Atlantic, marking a significant logistical milestone ahead of the championship’s sixth season.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America is one of only four series worldwide to campaign the new 992.2 generation in 2026, alongside Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Carrera Cup Germany, and Carrera Cup Asia.
The safe and timely arrival of the cars ensures customer teams can prepare properly for a season that will once again showcase identical, factory-built GT race cars competing at the pinnacle of one-make competition on the continent.
A 60-ton transatlantic operation.
Behind the scenes, the delivery was a complex, precision-driven operation. The shipment included all of the high-performance race cars weighing more than 60 tons in total, transported inside 21 shipping containers.
The multimodal route combined enclosed car carriers for European road transport with dedicated vessel space for the ocean crossing before final distribution to teams in the United States.
DSV’s Vehicle Competency Centers in Stuttgart and Atlanta coordinated the move, bridging time zones and overseeing each phase of the journey. By selecting sea freight over air transport, the operation reduced carbon emissions by 97 percent, producing approximately 8 tons of CO2 compared to an estimated 280 tons via traditional air methods.
The approach underlined how sustainability and time-critical motorsport logistics can operate hand in hand when carefully planned.
New partnership powers the paddock.
The successful delivery of the new 911 Cup cars also marks the beginning of an expanded partnership between Porsche Motorsport North America and DSV, which has been named the Official Logistics Partner of PMNA for the 2026 season.
“We can’t thank DSV enough for their work to safely deliver our new Porsche 911 Cup race cars in the new year,” Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America, said. “Aligning PMNA with DSV provides an opportunity, not only for us, but for our customers who race around the world.”
DSV branding will appear on all Porsche Carrera Cup North America race cars throughout the year, reinforcing its presence in the premier North American Porsche one-make series.
With nearly 150,000 employees across 90 countries, DSV brings extensive global freight forwarding expertise to the partnership. The collaboration builds on work that began in 2023 and now formalizes DSV’s role in supporting PMNA’s transport and logistics needs.
“Timing and planning are just as important in motorsports as they are in logistics,” Sven Diefenbacher, Vice President of Automotive Americas from DSV, said. “We’re proud to combine our global efforts with Porsche Motorsport North America to work together on all of their logistical and transport needs and be a part of the upcoming Porsche Carrera Cup North America season.”
For a championship that relies on precision timing, international coordination, and the flawless movement of high-value race equipment, the alignment reflects the growing importance of specialist logistics providers in modern motorsport.
Sebring next week.
The newly arrived Porsche 911 Cup cars will take to the track for the first time in North America at the official Porsche Carrera Cup North America series-wide test at Sebring International Raceway on February 16 and 17. The test sets the stage for the season-opening rounds at the Florida circuit on March 18 to 20, where the 992.2 era will officially begin.
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Built through years of Porsche One-Make racing across two continents, Madeline Stewart’s journey reaches its next milestone in 2026 as she graduates from Porsche Carrera Cup North America to IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge.
After two seasons in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, the New Zealand racer will graduate into multi-class endurance competition with the Indianapolis-based Czabok-Simpson Motorsport (CSM).
Stewart got her first taste of IMSA competition at the Roar Before the Rolex 24, using the event to learn a new car, team, and the intensity of multi-class racing at Daytona. Sharing driving duties with experienced teammates Gordon Scully and Morgan Burkart, she leaned on their knowledge of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport while building confidence and preparation for her move to Michelin Pilot Challenge.
“I’m really excited to be racing Michelin Pilot Challenge this year with CSM,” Stewart said.
“We’ve been working on this deal for the past few months, and it’s now a three-year deal. So I feel really excited about being in a team that has big goals, and we have a long-term plan together.”
That sense of progression has defined Stewart’s career. Her Porsche journey began in Australia before she crossed the Pacific and immediately made an impression in North America.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be with Porsche for quite a few years now,” she explained.
“I started in Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia. From there, I moved across to the US into Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama – arriving in Sebring not knowing a whole lot about the tracks or anything about racing in the US, but I put it on pole at the first race weekend, and we had a really strong campaign for the 2023 season.”
That debut year with JDX Racing ended with third in the championship, followed by two seasons in Carrera Cup – a series Stewart credits as being pivotal to her readiness for the next level.
“Carrera Cup North America is easily known as one of the most competitive Carrera Cup championships around the world,” she said.
“Racing in a one-make series really leaves no room to hide. You really have to work on your driving, and every single one percent counts because you’re in the same car as everybody else with the same opportunity.
“I think racing Carrera Cup has really put me in a position where I can progress into this opportunity. I feel really grateful to have gotten to race in that championship and learn all the ins and outs of US motorsport. I’ve got to go to all the tracks, and I feel really prepared to take this next step now.”
That preparation has already been put to use as Stewart begins life in the Michelin Pilot Challenge paddock, where the scale and depth of competition is immediately apparent.
“Michelin Pilot Challenge is full of really, really fantastic drivers. It’s a strong field with a lot of cars,” she said. There’s been a lot to take in and a lot to learn.
“A new track, a new team, a new car – there’s lots going on. But we had a really successful test, so I think the race is going to be fantastic.”
Sharing driving duties with experienced teammates Scully and Burkart, Stewart believes this will give her a key advantage as she adapts to longer races, traffic management, and strategy.
“I’m racing with Gordon Scully and Morgan Burkart, and they’ve done this race previously,” she said.
“I worked with them a lot at the Roar test to get lots of experience and information moving into the race. That’s been really important for me.”
Underlying Stewart’s progression has been the backing of Porsche Motorsport North America and the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program, support she is quick to acknowledge as career-defining.
“Having the support from Porsche Motorsport North America, along with Mobil 1 and being a part of the Mobil 1 Female Driver Program, has really been crucial to my performance and my opportunities here in North America,” Stewart said.
“Without their support, I wouldn’t have been on the grid in Carrera Cup, so I’m really grateful to be a part of the program.
“I’ve also had the opportunity through that program to learn so much about being a good racing driver – being well-rounded inside the race car and outside of it. That’s been crucial to my development and really put me in this position.”
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Ryan Yardley and Tom Sargent have been named Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Drivers for 2026, earning factory support as they continue to climb through the North American Porsche Motorsport Pyramid. For both, the recognition is less about a single season and more about the trajectory of their careers – careers shaped through Porsche One-Make racing.
The Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver program is designed with a clear purpose: to identify, develop, and ultimately produce the next Porsche Factory Driver from within the North American ladder. Yardley and Sargent represent the latest step in that long-term vision.
“We’ve watched both of these talented drivers improve their craft through Porsche single-make racing here in North America and each has earned this honor,” said Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America. “We’re proud of Ryan and Tom and look forward to watching their careers develop in the United States and around the world as PMNA Selected Drivers.”
For Yardley, the selection follows a breakout 2025 season that culminated in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship. The New Zealander delivered three wins and 14 podium finishes across 16 races, building a consistent campaign that showcased both pace and race craft. His title-winning year marked the final rung of the Carrera Cup ladder, and 2026 represents the next phase.
That next chapter begins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where Yardley will make his GTD debut in a Porsche 911 GT3 R with Mühlner Motorsport. Additional plans are expected to include GT World Challenge America and GT4 America competition, expanding his experience across sprint and endurance formats.
“It’s super special to continue my relationship with Porsche and officially join the Porsche family here in North America,” Yardley said. “I feel privileged and honored. Last year was an amazing year for me inside the race car and now to start this year at Daytona is very special. To be named as a Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver just before the race is special. I’m super excited for the season ahead and thankful to everyone involved, not only in making this decision but my career in North America to make this all happen.”
Sargent’s journey through the Pyramid began earlier, arriving in the United States in 2023 and immediately making an impact. He finished second in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship as a rookie, earned race wins in SRO GT World Challenge competition, and transitioned into top-level endurance racing with Wright Motorsports in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
After serving as a Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver in 2025, Sargent returns to the program for a second year, continuing his development with Wright Motorsports in IMSA Endurance Cup events while contesting additional SRO championships in Porsche machinery.
“It’s very exciting,” Sargent said. “Last year was a big step, being affiliated officially with the brand, and to be able to continue that again this year is very special. It’s a step in the right direction for where I want to be. I’ve been with Porsche since 2022 and to be recognized is very, very cool. I’ve got a lot of opportunities this year to drive a lot of Porsche cars, so it’s helpful to be a part of this. The mentoring that comes with it is very important, and the relationships as well.”
Beyond financial backing, the Porsche Selected Driver Program North America provides structured mentorship from former Porsche Factory driver Patrick Long, manufacturer insight, and expanded racing opportunities – elements designed to prepare drivers for sustained success at the professional level.
Sargent’s rise through the Porsche ranks included competition in both Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia and Porsche Carrera Cup North America, building a foundation across multiple levels of Porsche One-Make racing before stepping into top-tier GT and endurance programs. Yardley’s path was markedly different – after transitioning from open-wheel competition, he made his sports car debut in Porsche Carrera Cup North America in 2023, adapting quickly and accelerating his development within the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid.
That global approach is evident this weekend at Daytona, where nearly 90 drivers on the Rolex 24 entry list have competed in Porsche One-Make racing somewhere in the world. From national Carrera Cup championships to regional Sprint Challenge series, the Porsche system continues to feed the sport’s biggest stages.
For Yardley and Sargent, 2026 is another step forward, but not the final destination. As Porsche Motorsport North America continues its search for the next factory driver to emerge from the North American ranks, both drivers now carry the backing – and expectations – that come with wearing Porsche support at the highest level.
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Ryan Yardley’s Porsche ladder climb reaches its biggest milestone yet in January, as the reigning Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion prepares to make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Fresh off a title-winning season that went down to the wire, the 27-year-old New Zealander will step into GT3 competition for the first time, contesting one of the world’s most famous endurance race in a Porsche 911 GT3 R.
For Yardley, the opportunity represents far more than a one-off start–it is the realization of a long-term goal that began when he first entered Carrera Cup three years ago.
“For me, it’s obviously a dream to graduate to not only doing the Daytona 24 Hour, but also the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,” Yardley said.
“It’s just a one-off race right now, but I’m incredibly excited to get to Daytona next month for the Roar and then leading into the race. To continue my relationship with Porsche after three years of Carrera Cup, and to make my first GT3 start in a Porsche, is pretty special.”
Yardley’s Daytona debut with Muehlner Motorsports America will come immediately after the most successful season of his career.
In 2025, he captured the Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship in dramatic fashion, sealing the title at Circuit of The Americas with pole position and two race wins for TOPP Racing in a finale that showcased his composure under pressure.
“To win the championship was massive,” Yardley said.
“But to do it the way we did–beating Riley [Dickinson], a past champion, and beating Kellymoss, which has been the dominant team in Porsche racing in North America for so long–that’s what made it even more special.”
The title marked the culmination of a three-year plan for Yardley, who joined the one-make series with a clear objective: to use Carrera Cup as a springboard to top-level GT racing. Making the jump straight into GT3 machinery, the season after winning the championship was always the target.
“That was a huge goal of mine–making sure I went straight from Carrera Cup into GT3,” he said. “To have my GT3 debut at Daytona is going to be pretty special.”
The path to the Rolex 24 came together quickly–and unexpectedly. Yardley revealed that the Daytona deal was finalized in a matter of days, the result of relationships built through coaching and endurance racing outside the Carrera Cup paddock.
“It all happened within almost 48 hours,” Yardley explained. “I had a few different options on the table for Daytona, but I’ve been coaching Dave Musial Jr. in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama. This race will be with Dave senior and junior, as well as Peter Ludwig, who’s senior’s coach. It’s wild how it all worked out.”
That connection has already produced results. Yardley and Musial Jr. previously teamed up to win the final round of Porsche Endurance Challenge North America at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta this year, strengthening a partnership that now carries into one of the toughest events in global motorsport.
“We already had a win together, which makes it pretty special,” Yardley said. “To do his debut endurance race and get a win showed we had a strong partnership. Now we’re taking on one of the biggest endurance races in the world together.”
Daytona will present a very different challenge from the sprint racing environment that defined Yardley’s Carrera Cup success. Instead of 40 minutes of flat-out intensity, the Rolex 24 demands patience, traffic management, and long-run consistency–skills Yardley is eager to refine.
“Carrera Cup was 40 minutes of all-out sprint racing,” he said. “Endurance racing is different. We’ll need to manage fuel, look after the tires, and deal with traffic–both passing and being passed by LMDh and LMP2 cars. It’s a massive change in dynamic.”
Preparation will begin with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 – multiple days of testing leading into race week. While Yardley’s teammates has previous Daytona International Speedway experience, the race his first at the famous Florida venue.
“We’ve got plenty of time to get adjusted and learn the car,” Yardley said. “It’s the first race at Daytona for most of us, so the focus is on learning, ticking the boxes at the Roar, and putting our best foot forward for the 24.”
The Daytona opportunity comes on the heels of another career highlight: Porsche’s Night of Champions in Germany, where Yardley celebrated his Carrera Cup title alongside champions from across the global Porsche Motorsport Pyramid.
“To experience that for the first time was really cool,” he said.
“Being in a room with drivers I’ve looked up to for years, doing the museum tour and the factory tour–it’s something not many people get to do. The group of North American champions this year was awesome, and the atmosphere was really special.”
While the celebrations marked the end of a successful chapter, Yardley’s focus quickly shifted forward.
“I’m 27 now, and after that night it was straight back to focusing on the future,” he said. “Carrera Cup will always be special, and my time there means a lot, but now it’s about the next chapter.”
That next chapter begins under the lights at Daytona, where Yardley will take on the Rolex 24 with the confidence of a champion and the mindset of a driver still hungry to learn.
“I’m under no illusions about how tough Daytona is going to be,” Yardley said. “You’ve got the best sports car drivers in the world all coming together in January. We just need to prepare as best we can, stay out of trouble, and see what happens.”
For Ryan Yardley, the jump from Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition is exactly where the road was always meant to lead–and Daytona is the perfect place to start the next climb.
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