IMSA WeatherTech

Kurtz and Fidani earn IMSA driver awards

Kurtz receives the Jim Trueman Award after taking the LMP2 title; Fidani wins his third consecutive Bob Akin Award in GTD.

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George Kurtz won the Jim Trueman Award as the championship-winning Bronze-rated driver in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class. Orey Fidani secured his third consecutive Bob Akin Award as the top-scoring Bronze-rated driver in Grand Touring Daytona (GTD).

IMSA announced the awards on October 15, 2026. The organization awards each winner an invitation to the following year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Kurtz pairs award with LMP2 championship

Kurtz drove the No. 04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA LMP2 07. The IMSA report said his 2026 season included an LMP2 win at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, an LMP2 Pro/Am win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and an LMP2 victory at Motul Petit Le Mans.

At Petit Le Mans, Kurtz finished one position ahead of his nearest championship rival, Jeremy Clarke, in the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA LMP2 07. IMSA identified Kurtz’s full-season co-driver as Alex Quinn, with Toby Sowery as a Michelin Endurance Cup driver and Malthe Jakobsen as the team’s fourth driver for the Rolex 24.

Kurtz had also received the Jim Trueman Award in 2023, but IMSA noted that the points structure used that season differed from the full WeatherTech Championship system. He finished second in the LMP2 category that year, rather than winning its title.

Fidani takes third straight Bob Akin Award

Fidani’s award recognizes him as the top-scoring Bronze-rated driver in GTD. It is his third consecutive Bob Akin Award. IMSA’s report identified Matt Bell as his full-season co-driver.

The supplied report describes Fidani’s path to the award as close but ends before giving further details. No additional margin or points total is stated here.

Awards carry Le Mans invitations

The Jim Trueman and Bob Akin awards honor Bronze-rated drivers. IMSA said the winners receive invitations to the following year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The awards are named for sportsman racers Jim Trueman and Bob Akin. IMSA’s report described Trueman as the founder of Red Roof Inns and a former owner of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and Akin as a longtime Hudson Wire Co. president and a prominent IMSA driver and entrant.