INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (September 7, 2024) – Wright Motorsports made their triumphant return to victory lane on Saturday evening, clinching the Indianapolis 8 Hour race win and securing the GT World Challenge PRO championship. Drivers Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, and Laurin Heinrich delivered a near-flawless performance in the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R, earning the first championship title for full-season drivers Adelson and Skeer in dramatic style. The GT World Challenge race victory was the second endurance win in a row for the Wright team. The first came here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 22 capturing the Battle on the Bricks IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class race win.
“We’ve worked tirelessly all season, and this is the perfect culmination of that effort,” said John Wright, team owner. “The entire team came together today, and every driver played their role to perfection. Winning at Indy is always special, but to take home a championship here is truly unforgettable.”
Adelson started the race from pole position in the GT World Challenge (GTWCA) PRO class, third overall. With the long race ahead, he maintained a measured approach, leading the team through a calm and controlled double stint. His precision kept the Porsche in prime condition in the heat of the day, setting the stage for a strategic push later in the event.
Skeer took over after a faultless pit stop from the Wright crew, rejoining the race in third, two spots behind the championship-contending No. 63 Corvette. The Corvette built an early 28-second lead, but Skeer wisely focused on keeping his race clean, knowing the Porsche would come into its own as the hours ticked by.
When Laurin Heinrich took over just past the three-hour mark, the team faced a 27-second gap to the leading Corvette. As the sun set and temperatures dropped, the Porsche came alive. Heinrich began chipping away at the Corvette’s lead, gaining nearly a second per lap. The momentum was temporarily halted by a full-course caution, but the battle was far from over.
Skeer rejoined the fray after the restart, going head-to-head with the experienced Tommy Milner in a tense and thrilling battle. Skeer seized the advantage, showcasing the Porsche’s strength and the team’s consistency. From that moment on, the green and yellow Wright Motorsports Porsche was in control, asserting their championship pedigree.
Through seamless pit stops and consistently strong stints, Wright Motorsports regained the overall lead with two hours remaining. Despite a five-second penalty for a rare pit stop infringement, which dropped them to second place overall by a mere 0.260 seconds, the team still claimed the PRO class win and secured the championship by a commanding 27-point margin. With 10 podiums in 13 races, it was a hard-fought and well-deserved victory for the team.
As Wright Motorsports looks toward the future, they will announce their 2025 plans at a later date. But for now, the focus shifts to this weekend’s finale of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Petit Le Mans. Wright Motorsports looks to the 10-hour Road Atlanta classic to finish the GTD season strong. For more information, visit imsa.com.
DRIVER QUOTES
Adam Adelson
I’m so insanely proud of this result. I’m really happy with my drive. Elliott drove incredibly, making the pass that needed to happen, and so did Laurin. This is a culmination of the last four years of dedication and hard work. I couldn’t be more proud. This is the most incredible accomplishment to be able to win at Indy two times in a row, two weeks a part. To be able to go and kiss the bricks again is the most special thing.
Elliott Skeer
What an incredible season this has been in GT World Challenge America. Ultimately, the start was such a high at Sonoma, and then we went into a period where we were always fighting for wins but just couldn’t get it. Then the Corvette showed up and they played the game incredibly well. For the eight times they beat us, we only needed to beat them once. Boy, did we finish that off. I’m incredibly proud of this whole team. We finished the season on a high. Adam is driving like a super star, and I’m just going out there having fun. That’s what it takes. It’s an unbelievable feeling to finally win a championship with Adam on the fourth try.
Laurin Heinrich
I was very happy to join Wright for the Indy 8 Hour, the last round of the GT World Challenge Championship. The goal coming into the weekend was to obviously win the championship for Adam and Elliott. Early in the race we realized we have a good package and a good car. There were more full course cautions than we expected, but the team had a great strategy to get us through those well. In the end, it was a race on pace. We crossed the line first overall, which was mega and won Adam and Elliott the championship. I‘m over the moon with the result and super happy for Wright Motorsports.
Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.
