Porsche Works Driver Patrick Long started Round 1 at Circuit of the Americas in the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge series GT class race on pole after an impressive qualifying session the day prior. After a heated battle with the No. 5 Nissan GT-R of Bryan Heitkotter, Long would go on to take the win in Race 1 in the #31 Porsche 911 GT3 R, just a week after the team had taken delivery of the new car.