An updated entry list for the 2025 Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS was published on Friday, featuring 25 cars in three classes.
The 11-car Pro class will feature established international racing stars like Valentino Rossi (#46 Team WRT BMW) and Will Power (#75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG), Intercontinental GT Challenge title contenders Kelvin van der Linde and Raffaele Marciello in one of two WRT M4 GT3 EVOs, and the title showdown in GT World Challenge America between Random Vandals Racing and JMF Motorsports.
Conor Daly returns to Random Vandals to assist GT World America Pro championship leaders Kenton Koch and Connor De Phillippi in the #99 BMW, while Lucas Auer will join the #34 JMF Mercedes-AMG crew of Michai Stephens and Mikaël Grenier.
Random Vandals’ #51 BMW features 2023 Indy 8H winner Philipp Eng alongside Varun Choksey and Bill Auberlen. Any one of BMW’s five Pro entries could lead the way in helping BMW secure the IGTC Manufacturer’s Championship over Porsche.
After finishing first overall on the road but getting knocked down to second due to a penalty, Wright Motorsports returns to the Indy 8H with its 2024 line-up of Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, and Laurin Heinrich in the #120 Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Alessio Picariello will join 2023 GT World America Pro champions RS1 in their #18 Porsche, while Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) has Adrian D’Silva, Ricardo Feller, and newly-crowned GT World Europe Endurance Cup Champion Sven Müller in its #61 Porsche.
75 Express’ Kenny Habul will challenge for the IGTC Independent Cup from the Pro class alongside Power and Supercars Championship star Chaz Mostert, while his principal rivals, Ralf Bohn and Antares Au, will run in a strong 12-car Pro-Am class.
Au, Loek Hartog, and GT World Europe Endurance Cup Champion Patric Niederhauser reunite at Wright Motorsports, driving the #10 Porsche. Niederhauser won the pole for last year’s Indy 8H.
Bohn and Herberth Motorsport owner/driver Robert Renauer will be in the #7 Porsche, with Rolf Ineichen alongside them. Alfred Renauer, meanwhile, will be with Dustin Blattner and Dennis Marschall in the #21 Herberth Porsche.
GT World America’s Pro-Am title race comes down to a two-team battle between Turner Motorsport and DXDT Racing. Patrick Gallagher will join Justin Rothberg and Robby Foley at Turner in the #29 BMW, while DXDT Racing has Alec Udell in its #11 Corvette Z06 GT3.R to race with Blake McDonald and Matt Bell.
Other notable guest drivers include Nicky Catsburg (#50 Chouest Pooled Racing Corvette) and Klaus Bachler (#32 GMG Racing Porsche), while CrowdStrike by Riley’s #04 Mercedes-AMG returns with a strong line-up of George Kurtz, Colin Braun, and Toby Sowery.
And the Am class will feature the #6 Dollahite Racing Ford Mustang GT3 versus the #163 AF Corse USA Ferrari. Two strong Bronze drivers will assist each team’s title bid: Stefano Gattuso returns to Dollahite Racing after a cameo appearance at Sebring, while Conrad Grunewald is back with AF Corse.
The #2 Racers Edge Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo and #27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO have withdrawn from the event, though the #2 Aston Martin will still compete at Indianapolis during the GT America support races.
Feature image © SRO Motorsports Group
