Carrera Cup Back in Action This Weekend at Watkins Glen

Photo: Jessica Johnk/Porsche

After a nearly two-month break, Porsche Carrera Cup North America resumes action this weekend at Watkins Glen International, with a total of 22 Porsche 911 Cup cars on the entry list for Rounds 7 and 8 of the season and second ANDIAL Cup event of the year.

With Porsche’s new-for-2026 race car and Pirelli P Zero DHG tire, the IMSA-sanctioned single-make series’ trip to upstate New York will mark several novelties.

Tyler Maxson leads the Pro class standings, thanks to three wins in five races so far in his No. 77 Topp Racing entry, with Tom Sargent, the only other winner so far this season in the top category, not present after his one-off weekend in Long Beach subbing for Kyle Washington, who remains suspended by IMSA for his actions in a Ferrari Challenge North America race.

Maxson holds a 30-point advantage over second-placed Aaron Jeansonne of Kellymoss, with JDX Racing Callum Hedge third in the standings.

In Pro-Am ACI Motorsports driver Patrick Mulcahy will look to extend his undefeated win record this year, with Marco Cirone on top in the Masters class, 27 points ahead of Ruckus Racing’s Scott Blind, who came out on top last time out at the one-and-only race at the Miami International Autodrome.

A potential replacement round for the second Miami round, which was canceled due to a weather-induced Formula 1 scheduling change, has yet to be determined by series officials.

Track action at the 3.4-mile Watkins Glen circuit kicks off on Thursday with a pair of practice sessions, followed by qualifying on Friday morning and the first 40-minute race of the weekend at 3 p.m. EST. Race 2 is scheduled for Saturday at 9:05 a.m. EST.

Both races will be streamed live on Peacock, as well as both IMSA and Porsche Motorsport North America’s YouTube channels.

Pre-Event News & Notes:

***Watkins Glen, which has been on the Carrera Cup calendar every year since its launch in 2021, marks a return to a classic, permanent road course for the first time since the opening round at Sebring International Raceway. Following the Sebring opener, the field moved to the temporary circuit at Long Beach and the hybrid track at Miami International Autodrome.

***Paul Bocuse (Kellymoss) earned his first career Carrera Cup North America podium at Miami, finishing second. The 18-year-old recent high school graduate has also been driving the Kellymoss Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in Pirelli GT4 America with fellow Porsche Sprint Challenge North America alumnus Erika Hoffmann.

***While Maxson holds an early lead in the championship, the action has been tight. Only four drivers have scored points in all five races – Maxson, Hedge (third in points), Bocuse (fifth) and Alan Metni (ninth). Metni’s run is more impressive because the Kellymoss driver is mathematically eligible for the Masters class, but has elected to race in Pro this season.

***Carrera Cup North America’s weekend at Watkins Glen may end with Saturday’s race, but the story continues into Sunday. The WeatherTech SportsCar Championship field is loaded with drivers that have competed in Porsche single-make racing around the world, including Porsche Penske Motorsport drivers Kevin Estre and Julien Andlauer plus AO Racing’s Nick Tandy and Harry King.

***Among the North American graduates are Laurin Heinrich, who won at Road Atlanta in 2022 in his U.S. debut and Tom Sargent, a multi-time winner who swept this year’s rounds at Long Beach. Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s 2024 champion, Loek Hartog, makes his WeatherTech Championship debut this weekend in Manthey Racing’s famous ‘Grello’ in the GTD Pro class.

Source: Sports Car 365