Jack Aitken is the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP champion after beginning the twenty ninth Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Street Atlanta.
Aitken had already put himself in a commanding place with fourth place in qualifying, gaining 4 factors on his solely remaining championship rival, Laurin Heinrich, who certified seventh within the #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963.
That meant Aitken solely wanted to take the begin to safe the championship. By rolling off the grid within the #31 Cadillac Whelen V-Sequence.R, he additionally secured the GTP crew championship for Motion Categorical Racing and the producers’ championship for Cadillac.
“It’s been an extended 12 months and appears like we’ve received it performed barely early, which is a bit surreal after such a tough battle,” Aitken informed Sportscar365 after qualifying. “I imply, I can solely say I’m large thanks to all of the girls and boys right here at Whelen Cadillac. And Cadillac put an superior automobile out from the phrase go. We’ve had lots of enjoyable, and it means we will exit and race correctly tomorrow, so going to take pleasure in that one too.”
The championship could also be determined, however the 10-hour Petit Le Mans continues to be underway. Aitken ran sixth on the finish of the opening hour, immediately behind Heinrich in fifth. With the strain of the championship now off his shoulders, Aitken can concentrate on attempting so as to add a Petit Le Mans victory to his title-winning season.
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