Indy 8 Hour Weekend Opens With 25-Car GT3 Field as BMW, Mercedes-AMG Split Test Session Pacesetting

Early rulings plus support-race results are already reshaping lineups and title math.

Overview

Event organizers confirmed 25 GT3 entries for Saturday’s Indianapolis 8 Hour after withdrawals by the No. 2 Racers Edge Aston Martin and No. 27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG.
Philipp Eng led a BMW 1-2 in the opening test with a 1:23.636 for Random Vandals, edging Team WRT’s Kelvin van der Linde.
Mercedes-AMG swept the second test as Lone Star Racing’s Lin Hodenius set a 1:23.156, with JMF’s Lucas Auer second and the SunEnergy1 entry featuring Will Power third.
McLaren Trophy qualifying delivered overall poles for James Sofronas and Tommy Pintos, after Pro points leader Casey Dennis stopped with a technical issue and failed to record a Q2 time.
Post-race penalties in McLaren Trophy Race 1 handed overall victory to Patrick Liddy and Tanner Harvey, while Casey Dennis and James Li clinched the Pro class title; separate stewards suspended Jenson Sofronas from the Toyota GR Cup finale for unsportsmanlike conduct.