Porsche secured a triumphant double victory in the GT categories at the inaugural six-hour TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with AO Racing clinching their third GTD PRO victory of the season and Wright Motorsports taking the GTD win. This marked a remarkable day for the German manufacturer, despite facing challenges in the GTP class.
After a tough start to the weekend, Laurin Heinrich and Michael Christensen in the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R overcame a post-qualifying penalty that sent them to the back of the grid. Despite the setback, the duo steadily climbed through the field and claimed a 12.527-second victory over the No. 64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3 of Mike Rockenfeller and Harry Tincknell.
“I knew it was a long race, so I took it one car at a time,” said Heinrich, reflecting on his methodical approach to advancing through the field. His patience and pace proved vital as the team navigated the six-hour endurance event.
Tincknell and Rockenfeller fought hard to keep the Mustang in contention, with strategic decisions during changing weather conditions playing a crucial role. Despite their strong performance, a final pit stop saw them fall behind Christensen, who made the most of the clear track ahead.
Meanwhile, the GTD class saw Wright Motorsports’ No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, and Jan Heylen, secure their first win of the season. The trio put on a dominant performance, leading 140 of the 207 laps. Starting from 15th in a competitive 22-car GTD field, Adelson drove a stellar opening stint before handing over to Heylen and Skeer, who managed the race through shifting conditions to take the victory.
“We didn’t have the right setup in qualifying, but the team made the right adjustments, and it worked perfectly in the race,” said Adelson, praising his team’s efforts to overcome early struggles.
The No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3, driven by Robby Foley, Patrick Gallagher, and Jake Walker, finished second, trailing Heylen by just 2.465 seconds. The No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes AMG rounded out the podium, securing a third-place finish after a hard-fought race.
The results at Indianapolis were a major boost for AO Racing, which extended its championship lead in GTD PRO, while Wright Motorsports finally found success after a season filled with ups and downs. As the teams now head towards the final round at Petit Le Mans, the stakes are higher than ever, with championships on the line and every point crucial in this fiercely competitive series.
