AO in LMP2, Vasser Sullivan w/Dreyer & Reinbold Lexus, Heart of Racing Aston Martin Lead Other Classes
By Tony DiZinno
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Earl Bamber leads as the 2026 Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen hits the halfway mark, with three hours complete under clear, sunny skies and in front of a great crowd at Watkins Glen International. The remaining three hours of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s late June endurance race classic can be streamed live on Peacock, IMSA’s Official YouTube channel and IMSA.TV.
The No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R has led the majority of the first three hours from Jack Aitken’s pole position. Aitken, Bamber and Frederik Vesti have rotated through the No. 31 car with Vesti’s stint sandwiched in-between the two full-season drivers.
The No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06 has posed the most consistent threat, in the hands of Renger van der Zande for the opening two-plus hours before the rapid Dutchman turned the car over to Kaku Ohta for the middle portion of the race, with Nick Yelloly due to take over later.
Another Cadillac from Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing (No. 40 entry of Jordan Taylor and Louis Deletraz) was third ahead of the first Porsche 963 and BMW M Hybrid V8, respectively.
The Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) field was in the middle of a pit cycle during the three-hour mark. Though it appeared first the No. 73 Pratt Miller Motorsports ORECA LMP2 07, then No. 99 AO Racing ORECA was due to lead, the No. 04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA was classified first at the three-hour mark. Toby Sowery took over the No. 04 car from George Kurtz with Alex Quinn due to finish. Both United Autosports USA cars slotted up to second and third.
The LMP2 field rotated through all its Bronze-rated drivers to start, all eclipsing their 90-minute minimum drive time before the field pitted and handed their cars off to their Silver-rated drivers. Their Gold- or Platinum-rated drivers will all finish the race.
In Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO, No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Racing w/Dreyer & Reinbold Lexus RC F GT3, No. 65 Ford Racing Ford Mustang GT3 and No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R all made it into the pits mere moments before the fourth full-course caution and propelled themselves forward in class upon the rest of their rivals pitting.
Following the most recent restart, Connor De Phillippi’s leading BMW had a moment through the Bus Stop chicane, thus promoting Ben Barnicoat’s No. 14 Lexus to the lead ahead of Frederic Vervisch in the No. 65 Ford. De Phillippi slotted in third, just ahead of Corvette, the first Ferrari and Porsche.
The Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) championship leading No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, which started from pole as the GTD grid was set by team championship points, led at the halfway mark in the hands of Eduardo “Dudu” Barrichello. His two teammates, Tom Gamble and Zacharie Robichon, won here last year in the No. 27 car. The No. 12 Vasser Sullivan w/Dreyer & Reinbold Lexus was second ahead of the No. 34 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO third. From 20th and last on the GTD grid after moving to the rear of the field for causing a red flag that prematurely ended GTD qualifying, the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 rebounded to sixth.
Five full-course cautions slowed the opening three hours, with a multi-car incident under caution at the top of the Esses involving Car Nos. 23, 60 and 81 taking two GTP contenders out and significantly delaying the No. 81 car.
The No. 911 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)’s hopes of adding a second straight IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup victory in its first WeatherTech Championship start since winning the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March ended in the third hour following contact exiting Turn 6.
Additionally, the first IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup points are awarded at the three-hour mark with the top three scorers in each class achieving five, four and three points, respectively. The entries that led each class (No. 7 Porsche 963 in GTP, No. 99 ORECA in LMP2, No. 1 BMW in GTD PRO and No. 21 Af Corse USA Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO in GTD) entering the race still unofficially lead after Hour 3 here, although the No. 04 ORECA has closed significantly in LMP2.