Ryan Yardley completed a sweep at Circuit of The Americas, winning both races to secure the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America ExxonMobil Pro class championship for TOPP Racing.
The Kiwi’s back-to-back victories in Austin during Formula 1’s US Grand Prix weekend delivered the decisive blow in a title fight that went to the final round of the 16-race season.
Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and currently based in Texas,Yardley only led the point standings following two events in 2025 – after Indianapolis Motor Speedway in September, and after the finale at COTA.
However, with 14 podiums throughout the season, Yardley was consistently in the hunt for the championship. At COTA, he would outperform his closest rival and former series champion, Riley Dickinson, for top honors in the series’ fifth year of competition.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Yardley. “A massive thank you to David Baker from TCS, my car owner. I met him literally almost three years ago to the day here at COTA behind the Turn 15 grandstand, and somehow managed to convince him to let me drive his racecar for the last three years.
“Todd Oppermann from TOPP Racing Performance, without those guys, none of this would be possible. It’s unbelievable to think where we were three years ago to where we are today; it’s fantastic. I’m at a loss for words.”
Yardley and full-season teammate Tyler Maxson also helped propel TOPP Racing to the Entrant Championship by the season’s end.
Dickinson, who otherwise led the majority of the Carrera Cup Pro standings throughout 2025, finished second in the points following a third-place finish on Sunday at COTA. Dickinson was chasing Zachary Vanier for the runner-up spot and potential win, but the Canadian driver would not be overtaken after jumping from sixth to second by Turn 2 of the first lap.
Vanier finished third in the ExxonMobil Pro championship.
Alan Metni gave JP Martinez reason to sweat his position atop the Solairus Aviation Pro-Am championship standings during the weekend at COTA, but ultimately the latter held on for the title in his rookie campaign.
Metni qualified fastest for both races at his hometown track and won on Saturday, but the longtime Porsche single-make driver finished second to close the season. Before Race 2, Metni narrowed Martinez’s lead to 11 points, but could not complete the difficult feat.
With ACI Motorsports, Martinez went on for two podium finishes at COTA after six wins throughout the season, although his last came at Road America in August.
Winning in class on Sunday was Patrick Mulcahy, whose result came from a last-lap pass on Metni in the 35-minute race. It was Mulcahy’s second win of the season, and his additional five podiums throughout 2025 solidified a third-place spot for the GMG Racing driver in the final Solairus Aviation Pro-Am standings.
“I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, so I’m in front of more-or-less my home crowd,” said Mulcahy of his first win at a Formula One event. “I’ve got my parents, a bunch of people from my company, and customers, so it’s a really special time for sure.”
Scott Blind arrived at COTA already crowned the Solairus Aviation Masters class champion from Indianapolis, but targeted a top-15 overall finish in the final two races.
While that goal didn’t come to fruition, the Ruckus Racing driver still reached the famous top step of a Formula One podium on Sunday, one day after a late-race incident removed him from a potential win in Race 1.
Blind started last on the grid in Race 2 with a new Porsche 992 GT3 Cup chassis, but within 10 minutes had passed his Solairus Aviation Masters class rivals for the lead.
“It did get in my head,” admitted Blind of the overnight chassis change thanks to a fellow competitor. “Of course, I wanted to make sure I gave the car back and didn’t have to buy it! I wasn’t pushing as hard, but I did want to get up front in the Masters. Once I did, I settled in behind Alex (Pratt, Pro driver). He gave me a couple shots… but the boys reminded me, ‘No, no, no! Just quit and get it home.’
“Leaving as a champion feels great. It’s a prestigious place to do it, and I’m very proud.”
Blind’s championship predecessor – Chris Bellomo – finished second in Sunday’s race at COTA, while Race 1 winner Todd Parriott rounded out the class’s final podium of 2025 and also finished second in the season-long standings.
Of the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America rookies, encompassing all first-year drivers across the three classes, Aaron Jeansonne took home the Rookie Championship with Kellymoss. Indianapolis race two winner Jeansonne was the highest finishing rookie in more than half of the year’s races, and recorded two top-fives at COTA.
The 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup North America calendar has yet to be announced, but all Porsche Carrera Cup races from the 2025 season are available on IMSA and Porsche Motorsport North America‘s YouTube Channels.
Follow the Porsche Motorsport North America social channels on Facebook, Linkedin, Threads and X. for updates throughout the offseason.
