GT World Challenge America begins a new era in 2026, with 20 cars set to compete in the opening round at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday.
The Sonoma round is the first race with GT World America’s new race format, consisting of a single three-hour race instead of two 90-minute sprints. Of the 20 entries that are currently listed, there are five Pro cars and 14 Pro-Am cars, and many new team and driver combinations.
Since the series released its provisional entry list for 2026, the remaining gaps have been filled at some teams who’d yet to confirm their drivers.
That includes Dollahite Racing, which steps up from Am to Pro with a new line-up featuring former RS1 driver Alex Sedgwick, and two-time Trans Am champion Cameron Lawrence, driving the #6 Ford Mustang GT3 Evo. Reigning Am champion Scott Dollahite will now take on a management role within the team this year.
Sedgwick is also one of nine drivers competing for the 2026 SRO GT Academy, who are full-time, Silver-graded drivers under the age of 30 aiming to win the top prize of a fully-funded seat in the 2027 24 Hours of Spa.
From within the Pro class, two-time Pro-Am champion Justin Rothberg (#29 Turner Motorsport BMW), Porsche Carrera Cup North America graduate Zachary Vanier (#8 McCann Racing Porsche), and second-generation driver Matias Pérez Companc (#12 AF Corse USA Ferrari) are also SRO GT Academy drivers.
They’ll be joined by past PCCNA champions Riley Dickinson (#13 Kellymoss Porsche) and Ryan Yardley (#31 Wright Motorsports Porsche), fellow PCCNA alumni Tom Sargent (#32 GMG Racing Porsche), reigning Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America champion Hampus Ericsson (#99 Random Vandals Racing BMW), and ELMS standout Lorcan Hanifin (#27 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG).
Sargent returns to GMG Racing’s #32 Porsche 911 GT3 R alongside longtime customer Kyle Washington, and RS1’s Pro-Am line-up in the #28 Porsche consists of past series champion Jan Heylen and former GT4 America driver Juan Martinez.
Chicago Performance and Tuning’s #64 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 has moved down to Pro-Am with driver Nicolai Elghanayan applying to race as a “derogated Bronze”, pending the approval of the SRO Sporting Board.
One notable absence is Rebel Rock Racing, whose #71 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo won’t be at Sonoma after announcing plans for a full-season entry in January.
Feature image © SRO Motorsports America
