Circuit of The Americas (COTA) hosted Rounds 3 and 4 of the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS this past weekend, with LAB Motorsport eager to finally kick off their 2025 season after missing the opening rounds at Sonoma Raceway.
The team received their repaired #92 Porsche 992 GT3 R on the Monday prior to the event, leaving no opportunity for pre-event testing. Despite the tight timeline, drivers Jean-Frédéric Laberge, Kyle Marcelli, and the GT Racing crew, who supports LAB Motorsport in the series, maximized Thursday’s official test day to get up to speed.
It was not without challenges. From the first laps, the team uncovered several mechanical gremlins within the Porsche, but worked tirelessly to resolve most of the issues before the weekend’s official sessions began. In addition to learning a new car, Laberge faced the added challenge of debuting at COTA, a track he had never raced before. Nonetheless, the Québec native adapted quickly to the technical 20-turn layout.
Qualifying on Saturday morning proved difficult. Laberge and Marcelli posted competitive times, but the team was relegated to the back of the grid after an unscheduled four-tire change, a move restricted by series regulations.
When the green flag dropped for Race 1, Laberge wasted no time slicing through the field, skillfully avoiding a Turn 1 incident and climbing up to seventh place early in the 90-minute race. He engaged in spirited battles, notably against Jason Bell in the Pro-Am class.
After the driver change, Marcelli kept the momentum going, ultimately crossing the finish line in ninth place. Though short of their Top 5 goal, the result allowed the team to continue diagnosing and addressing lingering issues with the car ahead of Sunday’s Race 2.
Under scorching Texas heat on Sunday afternoon, the team rolled out a stronger car. Marcelli took the start and quickly gained ground, positioning the #92 Porsche well before handing over to Laberge. However, just as the pit window opened, an untimely caution shuffled the field, and the team fell from fifth to mid-pack after the driver change.
Rejoining in eleventh, Laberge delivered a clinical and determined stint, passing three competitors in the Pro-Am class while engaging in fierce but clean battles. He had a last-lap showdown with Gray Newell in the Heart of Racing Aston Martin but remained composed and crossed the finish line eighth overall and sixth in the Pro-Am class.
“It was not an easy weekend,” said Laberge. “We were plagued by mechanical issues until the last race, so it felt like we were playing catch-up. I had fun in Race 2 as I felt more competitive than in Race 1, but we were aiming for a Top 5 finish and fell short. This weekend was good in terms of learning the car more, and now we know exactly what we need to work on.”
Marcelli echoed the sentiment. “I think we came into the event excited after the rough start at Sonoma. We were looking for a good weekend to build from, and we were able to turn quite a few laps in testing, which was positive. We struggled with the car’s behaviour early on but maximized every opportunity to try different setups. Eventually, we landed on something pretty decent, and I felt we had a good qualifying run.”
He added, “Sunday was a good day for us and a strong result to build the rest of the season on. JF was exciting to watch. He made a couple of good passes, and I think we made the most of what we had. We know where we need to improve, and that is where our focus will be heading into Sebring.”
The GT World Challenge America powered by AWS continues at Sebring International Raceway on May 16, 17, and 18, 2025.