Laura Ely sweeps Laguna Seca finale to secure Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West Masters title
Laura Ely and Black Sheep Racing closed out the 2026 Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West season in dominant fashion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, with the team owner and driver completing a perfect finale weekend to secure the GT3 Cup 992 Masters championship.
Laura Ely and Black Sheep Racing closed out the 2026 Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West season in dominant fashion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, with the team owner and driver completing a perfect finale weekend to secure the GT3 Cup 992 Masters championship.
Entering the final round with the championship lead already in hand, Ely arrived at the iconic Californian circuit focused on converting a strong season into another title for Black Sheep Racing. The 2.238-mile, 11-turn Laguna Seca layout, best known for its iconic Corkscrew and significant elevation changes, provided the backdrop for the final two races of the championship, with Ely once again representing the team as its sole entry in the GT3 Cup 992 Masters class.
Ely secured pole position for both of the season's final races, placing the Black Sheep Racing Porsche at the front of the Masters field for each contest, before converting both qualifying performances into victories in class. The double triumph completed a clean sweep of the finale and ensured that Ely would leave Laguna Seca as the 2026 GT3 Cup 992 Masters champion.
The title adds another major achievement to Ely's career, having previously won the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West championship in 2022. Her 2026 campaign was particularly dominant, with Ely winning three of the final four races and adding another three victories earlier in the season. Her season-ending tally of 574 points not only secured the Masters championship by more than 200 points, but also made her the highest-scoring driver since the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West was established in 2022.
For Black Sheep Racing, the championship represents the culmination of a season in which the team consistently delivered competitive machinery despite operating with a single-car entry. Ely combined her responsibilities behind the wheel with those of Team Principal, overseeing the team's campaign while continuing to develop the Black Sheep Racing operation.
"It is hard to put into words what this weekend and this championship mean to me," said Ely. "To come into the finale, earn both poles, win both races, and come away with the championship is an incredible way to finish the season. I am so proud of everyone who has been part of Black Sheep Racing this year."
“There have been a lot of long days, hard work, and challenges along the way, and to see it all come together at Laguna Seca makes it even more special. I cannot thank everyone who supported us enough, and I am excited to celebrate this one before we start thinking about what comes next.”
The championship campaign had initially been planned on a much smaller scale, with Ely originally expecting to contest only three events. However, she ultimately found a way to finance a full-season programme, with the exception of the COTA round, allowing the team to fight for the championship across the year.
"At the beginning of the season, I only planned on running three events," Ely explained. "I figured out a way to budget the whole year except for COTA. It's been a great season, and I've had a lot of fun over the years."
That balance between competition and enjoyment has remained central to Ely's approach as she continues to build Black Sheep Racing as both a racing team and a wider brand.
"Part of this is competitive and part of this is to have fun. We have a great group of people, our logo and everything," she added, while also emphasizing her ambition to continue developing the Black Sheep Racing name in the coming years.
With the 2026 campaign now complete, Black Sheep Racing will take a short break before beginning preparations for the 2027 season, with Ely aiming to carry the momentum of her championship-winning year into another successful chapter for the team.
