US based Kiwi driver Ryan Yardley has secured his place on 2027’s 24 Hours of Spa grid after being crowned the SRO GT Academy winner in GT World Challenge America powered by AWS during the championship’s season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The New Zealander emerged victorious in the inaugural American edition of the expanded SRO GT Academy, earning a fully funded drive at the world’s biggest GT3 race on June 24-27 next year.
Yardley, who competed with Wright Motorsports throughout the 2026 GT World Challenge America season, secured the coveted prize following a competitive year in which eligible young drivers were evaluated on individual performance, speed and consistency rather than race results alone.
Sharing driving duties with Dave Musial Jr. in the Pro-Am class, Yardley enjoyed a strong season with Wright Motorsports. The duo opened their campaign with a second place at Sonoma Raceway before claiming a victory at Circuit of The Americas.
They went on to secure another podium with third place at Road America before closing out the season with a third-place finish at the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour. Their consistent performances throughout the year also earned them second place in the Pro-Am championship standings.
The 28-year-old now joins British GT’s SRO GT Academy winner Jarrod Waberski in a Team Motopark-run Mercedes-AMG GT3. They’ll share the car with fellow Academy winners from GT World Challenge Asia and Australia, forming an international line up of emerging GT racing talent.
The SRO GT Academy was established to identify and promote the next generation of professional GT drivers, providing a platform for FIA Silver-rated competitors under the age of 30 to showcase their abilities on an international stage.
Unlike traditional championship standings, the Academy places particular emphasis on individual driving performance, assessing factors such as outright pace and consistency in order to recognise talent beyond the final race classification.
The American contest remained competitive heading into the season-ending DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour, with Yardley holding a nine-point advantage over fellow contender Zachary Vanier. Yardley ultimately emerged as the winner, securing one of the four available seats for next year’s endurance classic.
“It’s an incredible feeling to come away from the Indianapolis 8 Hour as the SRO GT Academy winner,” said Yardley. “SRO has put together a fantastic programme, and I’m thrilled to have come out on top.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting the other GT Academy winners from around the world as we join forces next year to take on one of the biggest sports car races in the world, the 24 Hours of Spa.”
The 2027 24 Hours of Spa opportunity represents a significant milestone in Yardley’s career, offering the chance to compete against some of the world’s leading GT drivers at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
The Academy’s expansion in 2026 marks another step in SRO Motorsports Group’s commitment to developing the next generation of professional drivers. Originally introduced in the Championnat de France FFSA GT, the initiative has grown into an international programme spanning multiple championships and continents.
With Yardley and Waberski now confirmed, attention turns to the remaining SRO GT Academy contests in Asia and Australia where the final two members of the 2027 24 Hours of Spa line up will be determined. Yu Kuai tops Asia’s standings ahead of his home event in Shanghai on October 31-November 1 before Australia’s leading contender, Oscar Targett, rubber stamps his presence in Adelaide on November 28/29.
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