Thienes Claims Bronze Cup Victory, Extends Championship Lead
Monrovia, California (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) – Brian Thienes and co-driver Patrick Kujala continued their strong start to the 2026 VP Racing SportsCar Challenge endurance season, delivering a second consecutive overall runner-up finish in Sunday’s IMSA Airbnb Endurance Challenge round at Circuit of The Americas. The result also secured Thienes the Bronze Cup victory, allowing him to extend his lead in the class championship standings.
Following their podium result at Sebring, the Forte Racing duo once again demonstrated consistency and race craft in the No. 77 Thienes Engineering Ligier JS P325, overcoming a challenging qualifying session to fight forward through the field and secure another second-place finish.
After showing promising pace throughout practice, the team entered race day confident in their race setup despite starting sixth on the grid. With a clean opening stint, strong strategy, and consistent execution, Thienes and Kujala worked their way into podium position while securing maximum points in the Bronze Cup category.
“I’m very happy with the race results after not qualifying at the pace we know we are capable of and starting sixth on the grid,” Thienes said. “The team did a great job preparing the car for the race and executing flawless pitstops, especially our engineer Pete Jacobs, who always provides the best race car. Patrick did a great job running a flawless race. I look forward to our next race at VIR where we can continue our pursuit of the endurance championship.”
Kujala, who once again teamed up with Thienes for the endurance round, echoed the team’s confidence in race trim and highlighted the execution required to convert that pace into a podium finish.
“Really happy with the job we did this weekend,” Kujala said. “We knew that we didn’t nail qualifying to the best of our abilities, but knowing that we had a good race car underneath us, we just needed to have a clean first stint with no incidents. The pace was really good. I was very happy inside the car and extremely happy with the job again that the guys in the team have done.”
From the pit wall, Forte Racing Technical Director Peter Jacobs praised both drivers for maximizing the car’s potential while continuing to build momentum with the new Ligier platform.
“As always, Patrick never disappoints us with his performance, and the 63-year-old Brian Thienes performed outstandingly,” Jacobs said. “If we had had a yellow in either of the later stints, Patrick could have given the 95 car a run for its money. And of course, the crew did an outstanding job with perfect pit stops.”
The team’s preparation heading into the COTA weekend also played a key role in the result, with testing and data collection allowing the program to take another step forward in the evolving endurance format.
“We had a successful weekend, culminating in a second-place overall finish,” said David Cozart. “Our extensive testing and preparation for the event clearly paid off. Brian and Patrick delivered impressive performances, demonstrating the tenacity and race craft necessary to bring the car home for a podium finish. I also want to commend our engineering team and crew for their exceptional work on pit stops and strategy.”
Forte Racing Team Owner Shane Seneviratne credited the team’s continued progress and execution as key factors in securing back-to-back podium finishes to open the endurance season.
“We’re seeing this program take shape in a really positive way,” Seneviratne said. “To come away with back-to-back second-place finishes to start the endurance season says a lot about the preparation and the commitment across the entire team. Brian and Patrick did exactly what was needed in the race, staying disciplined, managing the car, and capitalizing on opportunities. The crew continues to execute at a very high level in the pit lane, and that consistency is making a difference. We’re building momentum, and we’re looking forward to carrying that into VIR.”
With two endurance rounds complete, Forte Racing now shifts its focus to the next event at Virginia International Raceway, where Thienes will look to continue his pursuit of the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Bronze Cup championship while maintaining strong contention in the overall standings.
For updates, behind-the-scenes coverage, and live action from the paddock, follow @ForteRacing on Instagram.
*Photos courtesy of Brayan Urtado
ABOUT FORTE RACING (Formerly US RaceTronics)
Founded in 2023, Forte Racing is a motorsports team based in Los Angeles and Charlotte. Under the watchful eye of Shane Seneviratne, the team competed in various racing series, including the IMSA WeatherTech GTD Championship, the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo and, in 2025, expanded by adding a single-car entry in the inaugural McLaren Trophy America Championship.
Building on the foundation of US RaceTronics, the team has quickly built a strong reputation with multiple podium finishes, race wins, and several North American and World Championships. The team will expand to a four-car McLaren Trophy America program for 2026 in addition to continuing their presence in the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge. For more information about the team, its drivers, and race operations, visit www.forteracing.com.
About O’Gara Motorsport
O’Gara Motorsport was founded in 2014 by owner Tom O’Gara and celebrated winning the 2015 North American Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver and team Championships. The team goal is to achieve victories in the Series as well as showcasing the brands of their sponsors both on and off the track. With a vertically integrated platform that starts at the dealership and accelerates to the top levels of professional sports car racing, everyone at O’Gara is dedicated to providing a comprehensive program for anyone, from the casually curious to the dedicated racer.
