For the final round of the 2026 season, Mustang Challenge North America will take the championship fights to Austin, Texas. Circuit of The Americas (COTA) has become a staple on the series’ calendar, appearing in all three years of the Ford Racing one-make series but playing host to the series’ finale for the first time. This will be the third time Mustang Challenge takes on the 3.426-mile, 20-turn circuit as part of the World Endurance Championship’s Lone Star Le Mans event.
Last year at COTA, Robert Noaker won both races in the Dark Horse class on his way to winning his second championship. In Dark Horse Legends, Alfonso Diaz won race one and Zachry Lee brought home the win in race two. With all three drivers having moved on from Mustang Challenge, new winners are guaranteed this weekend.
In the penultimate round of the season at Virginia International Raceway, one driver earned his maiden Mustang Challenge victory. In race one, Cole Loftsgard successfully managed every start and restart to claim the Dark Horse win, and Oleg Gorshkov brought home the win in Dark Horse Legends after a race-long battle with Tom Tait. In race two, Will Lucas scored his first Mustang Challenge win in the Dark Horse class after a long battle with teammate Sandy Satull, and Gorshkov claimed his fourth Dark Horse Legends victory in four races.
ORDER OF EVENTS
*Times in CT
Friday September 4
- 10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Practice 1
- 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Practice 2
Saturday September 5
- 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Qualifying
- 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.: Race 1
Sunday September 6
- 9:50 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.: Race 2
