Paul Miller Racing is on the brink of achieving a milestone that has eluded them for too long: the title in the IMSA GTD Pro category. With only two races remaining in the 2026 season, the team led by Neil Verhagen and Connor De Phillippi sits in first place with a 23-point lead over the Corvette Racing team.
The next challenge will be at the Battle on the Bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the penultimate event of the season. Verhagen, 25, has had two challenging years at Indianapolis, finishing in eighth place in his class. However, he remains confident and seeks to present a new strategy in a 2-hour and 40-minute race format.
“The fight for the title is getting tighter,” asserts Verhagen, who will drive his #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO. “The GTD Pro class is very competitive, and we have to execute our best performances every weekend. The results from previous years in Indianapolis have not been what we expected, but we hope to learn from our mistakes.”
Paul Miller Racing has had notable successes with class GTD titles in 2018 and 2023, as well as the GTD Endurance Cup title in 2020. Nevertheless, the overall title of the GTD Pro class remains out of reach. Verhagen emphasizes that achieving this title would mean a lot to the team, which has invested significant efforts in improving their results in sprint races, an area they have sought to progress in this year.
“This means everything to us,” adds Verhagen. “We have had a clear goal since we made the jump from GTD to GTD Pro, and winning the title is the top priority. Our preparation has been intense, and so far we have optimized our options to maintain this lead through the end of the season.”
With an uncertain future beyond this season, the title would not only represent recognition of their efforts but could also have a significant impact on the continuity of their program. “After all the hard work put in this year, we hope that winning the championship helps secure the project for the future,” concludes Verhagen.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
