Sargent Ruled Out of SRO GT Academy Prize

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Tom Sargent, as well as two other drivers, have been ruled out of the SRO GT Academy in GT World Challenge America powered by AWS due to missing a round of the championship.

The Porsche Motorsport North America Selected driver, who held a commanding 61-point lead heading into this weekend’s final round of the season, has been deemed ineligible because he will not be taking part in the Desder Indianapolis 8 Hour.

Sargent, who along with GMG Racing co-driver Kyle Washington currently lead the GTWC America Pro-Am standings, is instead racing in this weekend’s European Le Mans Series season finale in Barcelona in a Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo.

It has resulted in the U.S.-based Australian being ineligible for the winning prize, which awards an all-paid seat in next year’s 24 Hours of Spa, comprised of a lineup of GT Academy winners from GTWC Asia and GTWC Australia, as well as the British GT Championship.

Confirmation of this decision, from the SRO sporting board, was made on late Tuesday.

“Under Article 2 – Eligibility, the following is stated: ‘Drivers are expected to be competing in the series on a full-season basis, taking part in all rounds with the exception of cases of force majeure accepted as such by the Sporting Board.

“Drivers joining a Series in the second round but continuing to compete for the remainder of the season may be granted eligibility by the Sporting Board,'” the decision read.

“The Sporting Board has been informed that three drivers, competing in the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, have missed rounds or will not be competing in the final 2026 round at Indianapolis, meaning they will not have completed a full season.

“No reasons have been given to allow this to be considered as force majeure.

“Therefore, the Sporting Board decides that Tom Sargent, Alex Sedgwick and Lorcan Hanafin are no longer eligible for the SRO GT Academy and will be removed from the 2026 points.

“No redistribution of points will take place. This decision is final and is not subject to appeal.”

It has handed the lead of GT Academy to Ryan Yardley, another PMNA Selected Driver, who now holds a narrow nine-point lead over Zachary Vanier entering Saturday’s eight-hour enduro at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The battle for the GT Academy title in GTWC Asia is unclear, as second-placed Atsushi Miyake missed the Mandalika round due a clashing SUPER GT weekend, with the GT Academy sporting board yet to rule on a decision.

Yu Kuai currently leads the GTWC Asia GT Academy standings with two races to go, while Oscar Target is on track to win the prize in GTWC Australia, which also has one event remaining on its calendar.

British GT’s Jarrod Waberski became the first confirmed driver for the Silver class Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo entry, to be run by Team Motopark, in the Belgian endurance classic on June 24-27.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John