Indianapolis, Indiana – Two decades after his last production-based sports car race, Will Power is returning to a familiar battleground, eager to rediscover the thrills of GT racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Power, a two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, last raced a production sports car in the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour in a Porsche 996, but now he’s setting his sights on the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS this Saturday, October 18.
Power’s connection to the Indianapolis track is undeniable. Over the years, he has racked up an impressive resume at the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS road course, with five wins and six poles in 17 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races. In 2018, he claimed victory in the iconic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, and just this year, he finished third in the Sonsio Grand Prix. This familiarity gives him a unique advantage as he returns to sports car racing, a discipline he has long wanted to explore more seriously.
“I have been meaning to do, and wanting to do, some GT racing for some time,” Power said, reflecting on a racing opportunity in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2023 that had to be postponed due to his wife Liz’s illness. “It’s different, and I’ve wanted to feel it and see how I go. This is a good start at a track I know, and if I do a good job and if I like it, I’d like to do some more.”
This weekend, Power will be paired with fellow Australians Kenny Habul and Chaz Mostert in the 75 Express Mercedes-AMG. The trio will compete in the Pro class of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, which features GT3 sports cars in an eight-hour endurance format. The green flag for the race is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. on Saturday, and while Power isn’t yet certain how driving duties will be shared, he has already logged practice laps on Wednesday to acclimate to the car.
Fellow NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Conor Daly will also be on the track, adding another layer of excitement for IndyCar fans watching the event. Gates for the Indianapolis 8 Hour open at 8 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday, providing fans with ample opportunity to witness the action up close.
Power noted that he had to secure permission from Team Penske, which holds his racing rights through the end of the year, to participate in the event. Beginning next year, he will officially join Andretti Global alongside Kyle Kirkwood and 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, driving the No. 26 Honda in all 17 races of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
Beyond the technical and logistical preparations, Power expressed enthusiasm for racing alongside familiar faces. He has a long history with Habul, dating back to their competition in the Queensland Formula Ford Championship in the late 1990s. In 2000, the pair even shared a podium at a support race during the INDYCAR event at Surfers Paradise.
Power also knows Mostert, a star of Australian Supercars who drives for Walkinshaw Andretti United. While their relationship is not as deep as Power’s with Habul, the shared history with the team—albeit under a different name—adds comfort and familiarity as Power reacclimates to sports car racing. This is the same organization he attempted to race with at the Rolex 24, giving him additional insight into team operations and car performance.
Familiarity with the IMS road course, Power said, is a major asset, but so is the guidance from his teammates. “There’s a reasonable amount of practice time, too, so I should be able to get some good laps in before the race,” he noted. “It’s not like qualifying matters a lot in one of these (endurance) races, so it’s not about absolute speed. I should be able to get a lot of time in the car in the race, and that’s enough time to figure it out. If I like it, I’ll do more of it in the future.”
The Australian driver is clearly excited about the challenge, embracing the differences between endurance GT racing and the sprint-style intensity of IndyCar. Endurance events demand a mix of consistency, strategy, and teamwork, and Power is confident that his experience and adaptability will allow him to contribute meaningfully to his team. The chance to blend speed with strategy, all on a track he knows like the back of his hand, has him eager for the weekend.
Fans attending the Indianapolis 8 Hour will witness a blend of international talent and local expertise, as Power, Habul, and Mostert navigate the demanding GT3 machines over the course of eight hours. The event promises action-packed racing, pit stop strategy, and endurance challenges that test both driver and machine.
For Power, this return to sports car racing is more than just another race. It represents a long-awaited chance to reconnect with a form of motorsport he has admired and sought to compete in for years. Whether it’s the thrill of the open road course, the camaraderie with fellow Australians, or the strategic demands of endurance racing, Power is ready to embrace it all.
As the weekend approaches, excitement is building among fans and the racing community alike. Tickets and more information for the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS are available to the public, promising an unforgettable motorsport experience that bridges the past achievements of Power’s career with the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in sports car racing.
This return to GT racing not only allows Power to explore new dimensions of his driving career but also highlights the dynamic nature of modern motorsport, where versatility, adaptability, and passion converge on the track. For Will Power, Saturday’s race is not just about laps and speed—it’s about rediscovering the joy of racing on familiar turf and charting a new chapter in a storied career.
