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Preview: Championship rivalry intensifies at Petit Le Mans

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Carrera Cup North America
Porsche Motorsport North America

With just four races remaining in the 2026 season, Porsche Carrera Cup North America's championship battle heads to Road Atlanta and Petit Le Mans, where every point could prove decisive in the fight for the title.

Porsche Carrera Cup North America returns to Road Atlanta and Petit Le Mans for round seven of the eight round season. Road Atlanta is a regular on the championship schedule, having made an appearance each season except for 2023. The finale takes place at Circuit of the Americas in support of the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix.

At Indianapolis, Aaron Jeansonne of Kellymoss earned his first victory since the same track a year ago to close the championship gap. Jeansonne trails leader Tyler Maxson (TOPP Racing) by just 11 points overall and in the Mobil Pro Class. Maxson won the first race at Road Atlanta a year ago, but Jeansonne earned a pole and finished second twice, making the match-up essentially even heading into the Petit Le Mans weekend.

Marco Cirone (ACI Motorsports) has a 52-point lead over defending champion Scott Blind (Ruckus Racing) in the Solairus Aviation Masters class. Cirone has 10 class wins in his Carrera Cup career, including one at Indianapolis the last time out, but is trying to secure his first Championship. Patrick Mulcahy (ACI Motorsports) clinched the Solairus Aviation Pro-Am title at Indianapolis.

Two new faces are on the entry list for Road Atlanta. Dan Drohan and Charlie Hayes Racing make their Carrera Cup North America debuts after a full season competing in Porsche Sprint & Endurance Challenge North America. Joel Johnson (JDX Racing) is a Sprint Challenge competitor and the inaugural Porsche Sprint Trophy Porsche Club of America champion. Both will compete in the Solairus Aviation Masters Class at Road Atlanta.

Petit Le Mans fast facts.

Field.

22 Porsche 911 Cup race cars are entered for Round 7 at Road Atlanta

  • Mobil Pro Class. 10

  • Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class. 1

  • Solairus Aviation Masters Class. 11

  • Teams. Eight race teams across all three classes

Track record.

1:20.089, 2022, Laurin Heinrich, 311RS Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992.1)

2025 Race winners.

  • Mobil Pro Class.

    Race 1, Tyler Maxson, TOPP Racing

    Race 2, Riley Dickinson, Kellymoss

  • Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class.

    Races 1 & 2, Alan Metni, Kellymoss

  • Solairus Aviation Masters Class.

    Races 1 & 2, Scott Blind, Ruckus Racing

2026 championship leaders.

  • Mobil Pro Class.

    Tyler Maxson, TOPP Racing

  • Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class.

    Patrick Mulcahy, ACI Motorsports

  • Solairus Aviation Masters Class.

    Marco Cirone, ACI Motorsports

  • Rookie.

    Cole Kleck, TOPP Racing

  • Team.

    TOPP Racing

Schedule.

All times Eastern

  • Wednesday, 30 September.

    10:55 – 11:25am | Practice 1 3:30 – 4:10pm | Practice 2

  • Thursday, 1 October.

    9:50 – 10:20am | Qualifying 5:25 – 6:05pm | Race 1 (40 minutes)

  • Friday, 2 October.

    3:55 – 4:35pm | Race 2 (40 minutes)

Road Atlanta flashback.

In 2022, a relatively unknown young German arrived for his first race in the United States and, in his Porsche Carrera Cup North America debut, captured a track record and a Race 2 win for 311RS Motorsport. Since then, Laurin Heinrich, who is now a factory Porsche driver, has earned a GTD Pro title for AO Racing in a Porsche 911 GT3 R, and is currently alive for the GTP driver championship this weekend for Porsche Penske Motorsport in a Porsche 963. Then 21-years-old, Heinrich finished 8.855 seconds ahead of the field – a precursor of things to come.

A rivalry renewed.

Not only are Maxson and Jeansonne battling for the overall championship this season, but their fight at the front is a continuation of a rivalry that has been building for more than a year. The pair spent all of last season going toe-to-toe for Rookie Championship honors, with Jeansonne ultimately claiming the title by just 21 points. Now, with the overall crown at stake and only a slim margin separating them, the duo once again finds themselves at the center of the season's most compelling championship battles.

Iron man.

Alan Metni continues to set career marks in Porsche Carrera Cup North America. The career leader in starts, Metni will take his 84th and 85th career green flag at Road Atlanta. Despite being eligible for the Masters class, Metni is racing in the Mobil Pro Class this season and is currently eighth in points with Kellymoss.

Podium power.

Two podium finishes at Indianapolis gave Aaron Jeansonne a total of 15 in his Porsche Carrera Cup North America career. One more will move him to a tie with Zachary Vanier for fifth all time, and a pair moves him to fifth alone. Everyone is chasing Riley Dickinson, who has 43 career podiums in the top class and overall.

The classes.

Mobil Pro Class. The highest level of competition in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America. The class is recognized through its orange color scheme. The car entry number will be delineated in orange on the doors, the windshield and rear glass. Headlight covers will be clear with orange cross-marks, with the addition of orange highlights on the front bumper splitters.

Solairus Aviation Pro-Am Class. Restricted to drivers who are 35 years old or older as of 1 January, 2026. The class is recognized through its green color scheme. The car entry number will be delineated in green on the doors, the windshield and rear glass. Headlight covers will be clear with green cross-marks, with the addition of green highlights on the front bumper splitters.

Solairus Aviation Masters Class. This class is open to drivers who are 50 years old or older as of 1 January, 2026. The class is recognized through its yellow color scheme. The car entry number will be delineated in yellow on the doors, the windshield and rear glass. Headlight covers will be clear with yellow cross-marks, with the addition of yellow highlights on the front bumper splitters.

Entry list.

The full Porsche Carrera Cup North America entry list can be found by clicking here.

Points & results.

Event results and current points for Porsche Carrera Cup North America can be found by clicking here.

Broadcast.

All Porsche Carrera Cup North America races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by following Porsche Motorsport North America on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter, and by subscribing to the PMNA newsletter.

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