Tyler Maxson and TOPP Racing have added another victory to their 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup North America campaign, claiming the Race 1 win at the Miami International Autodrome in dramatic fashion during the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix weekend. The result marks Maxson’s third win of the season and further extends his lead at the top of the Pro class championship standings.
Maxson wasted no time asserting himself at the 3.363-mile Miami International Autodrome circuit built around Hard Rock Stadium. The TOPP Racing driver topped the time charts in practice, signaling that his #77 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup was fast and ready for the weekend. In qualifying, Maxson turned the fourth fastest lap to line up on the outside of row two for the first wheel-to-wheel action of the weekend.
Race 1 erupted into chaos at the very first corner as multiple cars made contact at turn one on the opening lap, reshuffling the running order and leaving several competitors with damaged Porsche machines, including Maxson. With damage to his front splitter, he fell to tenth after the carnage was cleared and was motivated to drive his way back to the front. Showing composure and racecraft to press on and work his way through the field, the TOPP Racing driver drove to the front, ultimately crossing the finish line in second place. However, the drama was not over — following a post-race review, the race winner was assessed a penalty, officially elevating Maxson to the top step of the podium and giving TOPP Racing their third victory of the 2026 season.
Maxson opened the 2026 season with a pair of wins at Sebring International Raceway, sweeping the opening weekend to establish himself as the championship favorite. A pair of fourth-place finishes in both Long Beach races allowed his rivals to close the gap to just five points entering Miami, making the Race 1 result at the Miami International Autodrome a timely and crucial response.
“Miami is never easy — that Turn 1 battle at the start made things interesting in a hurry,” explained Maxson. “The TOPP crew gave me a great car all weekend long. Topping practice and showing the outright speed we had gives me a lot of confidence. We didn’t get the qualifying result we wanted, but we kept our heads down, stayed out of trouble when things went sideways, and got the result we deserved. Three wins in the books, and we’re pushing hard to keep this championship lead. The season is long but we’re in a great spot.”
With the weather moving into the Miami area on Sunday and the FIA and Formula One Management rearranging the remaining weekend schedule, Race 2 for the Porsche Carrera Cup was canceled.
Maxson added, “It’s disappointing that we could not race again in Miami, but understanding the scenario, I was happy to leave the weekend with another win and will shift my focus to the next one.”
Photo Credit: Porsche Motorsports North America / RTD Media