Tunjo, Workman Can Clinch LMP3, GSX Titles in First of Two Sprint Races
By Tony DiZinno
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge concludes its 2026 season with the last two 45-minute sprint races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. It also signs off the sprint format as in 2027, the championship transitions fully to a multi-class, all endurance race format across seven race weekends.
LMP3: Tunjo One Race Away from Locking Up Crown
Oscar Tunjo lost a chance to sweep both the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and Airbnb Endurance Challenge titles owing to a mechanical issue at the two-hour Road America endurance race in August. However, the Colombian in the No. 1 Gebhardt Motorsport USA Inc. Duqueine D09 can secure the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge title in race one of two in Braselton, Georgia provided he takes the start.
Tunjo leads Gebhardt teammate Danny Soufi, in the No. 11 PINAXIS-ZONE 4 Racing Duqueine D09, by 470 points leaving Road America. A win is 350 points and the maximum to be gained in a single race is 130 (ninth scores 220 points) in a nine-car field. Tunjo would mirror Valentino Catalano from last year in wrapping up the title a race early in Georgia with the start Thursday.
Toney Driver Development, however, enters on a high of a 1-2 finish at Road America and the most recent sprint race win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Wyatt Brichacek has been behind the wheel for both of those races in the team’s No. 95 Ligier JS P325 and has five total wins this year, split three sprint and two endurance races. The sister car No. 30 of Garett Grist and Ari Balogh captured the endurance crown at Road America. Balogh makes his first sprint start of 2026 at the Michelin Raceway finale this weekend.
One other young driver to watch at Michelin Raceway is French teenager Jules Caranta, who will make his first sprint race starts in the No. 18 Forbush Performance Duqueine D09. He and Matt Forbush finished third overall, second in Bronze, at Road America. The Duqueine Academy driver has proven a quick study in his first two U.S. races and set the fastest race lap at Circuit of The Americas in May.
The Bronze Cup battle is also on the line with Brian Thienes (No. 77 Forte Racing Ligier JS P325) and Travis Hill (No. 2 Shopify Racing Ligier JS P325) tied after the 12 combined sprint and endurance races. Simply put, whichever of the two finishes ahead this weekend will secure that crown.
GSX: Workman Poised to Wrap a Race Early as Well
Like Tunjo in LMP3, Westin Workman can also put the finishing touches on his championship a race early provided he takes the start in Grand Sport X (GSX). The driver of the No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 leads Courtney Crone (No. 35 CarBahn Motorsports BMW M4 GT4 EVO) by 480 points after VIRginia International Raceway.
With that gap, the same story applies for Workman who only needs to start race one to ensure he’ll have enough of a gap to mathematically clinch the title a race early. He’s got nine wins from 10 starts this season, with a mechanical issue at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park the only thing in the way of a perfect season.
The Bronze Cup battle in GSX is down to two drivers following VIR. Jon Brel’s weekend sweep there in the No. 81 Kingpin Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 moved him 110 points clear of Rafa Martinez in his No. 68 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2. A third full-season contender, Dan Ammann in his No. 91 VRC Motorsports Group LLC Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS, fell back after failing to start the second VIR race.
VP Racing Challenge teams practice and qualify Wednesday, September 30. Race one is Thursday, October 1, at 1:10 p.m. ET with race two Friday morning, October 2, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Races stream via Peacock and the IMSA Official YouTube channel.
Fast Facts
IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta – Braselton, Georgia
September 30-October 2, 2026
Race Days/Times: Thursday, Oct. 1, 1:10 p.m. ET, Friday, Oct. 2, 8:30 a.m. ET
Peacock Streaming Coverage: LIVE – Flag-to-flag beginning at 12:55 p.m. Thursday, 8:25 a.m. Friday (available outside the U.S. on IMSA.tv and IMSA’s Official YouTube channel)
Circuit Type: 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course
Classes Competing: Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3), Grand Sport X (GSX)
Race Lengths: 45 minutes
VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Track Records
- P3: Jagger Jones, Duqueine D08, 1:16.522 / 119.494 mph, October 2024 (Qualifying)
- GSX: Kiko Porto, Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, 1:26.545 / 105.655 mph, October 2025 (Qualifying)
2025 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 1 Winners:
- P3: Oscar Tunjo, No. 31 Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports Duqueine D08
- GTDX: Jake Walker, No. 6 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3
- GSX: Kiko Porto, No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2
2025 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 2 Winners:
- P3: Valentino Catalano, No. 30 Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports Duqueine D08
- GTDX: Jake Walker, No. 6 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3
- GSX: Kiko Porto, No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2