AXR goes back-to-back giving Cadillac its first six hours at The Glen win in IMSA's GTP era. Jack Aiken and Earl Bamber extend their podium streak to eight races, following up their Detroit victory with their first Michelin Endurance Cup win of the season.
The No. 31 Action Express Cadillac of Earl Bamber, Jack Aiken, and Fred Vesti won their first Michelin Endurance Cup race of the 2026 season by dominating the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen Sunday afternoon. This marks Cadillac’s first win at Watkins Glen since the Dpi era in 2017.
On Saturday, Aiken set a new track record with his pole lap of 1:31.284, which is approximately 109.7 mph. Aiken pulled away to an early lead that was held through the first driver change when Vesti got into the V-Series R. during the second caution in the first hour.
View Price on AmazonThe race ended under caution when Christopher Mies in the GTD Pro Class’ No. 65 Ford Mustang crashed on the final lap, bringing out the yellow. He was fighting with Nicky Catsburg in the No. 4 Corvette for fifth.
This win for Cadillac extended Aiken and Bamber’s podium streak to eight races dating back to the Battle of the Bricks, the penultimate round of the 2025 IMSA season. Laurin Heinrich in the No. 5 Porsche and Nick Yelloly in the No. 93 Acura ARX-06 were in a battle for second in the final laps.
When Bamber was in the car for his final stint, slight contact with the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari of Simon Mann sent the GTD car flying off course, losing a wheel and a door from the contact. Bamber drove off without any real damage.
With 80 minutes remaining, the No. 24 BMW M Team WRT Hybrid V8 passed Bamber for the lead of the race momentarily before the seventh yellow of the race. Sheldon van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor ultimately finished one spot shy of a podium.
The No. 7 Porsh Penske Motorsports 963 of Julian Andlauer and Felipe Nasr finished fifth ahead of their garage mates in the No. 6 Lauren Vanthoor and Kevin Estre.
The No. 60 Acura was looking to defend its 2025 victory before Colin Braun was run into under caution by Roman De Angelis in the Aston Martin Valkyrie, who was not informed of the car checking up the hill.
Dane Cameron, Jonny Edgar, and PJ Hyatt won the LMP2 class in the No. 99 AO Racing Oreca for their first win and first podium of the season. This was AO Racing’s first win in the LMP2 class since Road America last year as the defending champion team struggles at the start of 2026.
Vasser Sullivan found redemption after running out of gas from the lead last year to record their first GTD Pro win since 2024. Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicaot started on pole in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 after Hawksworth also set a track record in qualifying for the GTD class.
The No. 912 Manthey Porsche won in the GTD class ahead of Callum Ilott in the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R.
Source: roadandtrack.com
