Austin Hatcher Foundation Children Serve as Petit Le Mans Grand Marshals While Partner Teams Win Two Championships
BRASELTON, Ga. (Oct. 5, 2026) — Seven children and teenagers served by the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer (AHF) gave the command that started the 29th Motul Petit Le Mans on Saturday, Oct. 3: "Drivers, start your engines!" By the checkered flag, AHF's name was on two championship-winning cars, a first-time GTD Pro race winner and a bright-orange Porsche running toward a €25,000 (about $29,000) donation.
Off the track, 190 AHF children and family members spent the day at the same event that became the Foundation's very first program.
As the official charity partner of both IMSA and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, AHF closed the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season with its most impactful Road Atlanta weekend yet. Together, auctions, partner activations and team and fan donations raised enough to provide an entire month of comprehensive support to 875 children and family members, at no cost to them, from mental health counseling and academic support to industrial arts therapy and more.
On Track: Four Teams, One Cause
Winward Racing took the GTD class victory at Petit Le Mans and secured the 2026 GTD Championship in the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, which ran a fully custom black-and-green livery in support of AHF. The car that crossed the line first also carried the Foundation's name to the season's biggest stage.
Paul Miller Racing clinched the 2026 GTD Pro Championship with the AHF logo on board, capping its second consecutive season carrying the Foundation's name at every round. Beyond the track, Paul Miller Racing is a major supporter and year-round partner of AHF, using its platform to build national awareness of the long-term effects pediatric cancer has on an entire family, and of AHF's free, lifelong support for those families.
Car Blanche scored a maiden IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship victory in GTD Pro on Saturday, carrying the name of the Foundation's namesake, Austin Hatcher "Hatch" Osborn. The tribute continued IMSA’s 2026 Resilient Racers program, which returned for its second year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Battle on the Bricks.
Manthey Racing answered that momentum with a special livery for the season finale. Its No. 911 Porsche 911 GT3 R combined the team's 30-year special design with the signature orange of partner Viessmann, supporting the "Race Against Cancer" initiative, through which Viessmann donated €25,000 to the Austin Hatcher Foundation.
"Our Porsche 911 GT3 R wore orange for the racing weekend, not to draw attention to ourselves, but to a topic that is far more important," Manthey Racing said. "Together, we want to use the motorsport platform to raise awareness for a topic that affects millions of people worldwide."
In the Paddock: Fans, Families and Fundraising
Four live auctions featured original paintings created on site by artist Bill Patterson and drew two of the highest bids in the event's history, both in the Cadillac corral.
Race fans and partners also came together through the FanZone silent auction, making this year its most impactful yet and helping AHF continue supporting families for free, for life.
The weekend continued one of AHF's longest-standing family traditions. Since 2006, the Foundation has hosted families it serves at the track for a day of fun and respite. This year, the Foundation hosted 190 individuals impacted by pediatric cancer.
It was also the first year AHF children served as the race's Grand Marshals, sharing the honor with longtime partner Bib, the Michelin Man.
"For 20 years, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta has given our families a weekend just to be a family - full of connection, joy, and time together," said Amy Jo Osborn, Co-Founder and CEO of the Austin Hatcher Foundation. "This year, some of our children got to lead the way as Grand Marshals, alongside our friend Bib. It was the perfect way to mark two decades of this iconic track helping our families feel like a family again."
Looking Ahead: The Foundation's 20th Anniversary
As the Foundation heads into its 20th anniversary year, new partnerships and programs are already in motion to reach even more families in 2027. Among them is a season-long initiative that fans will be able to support from anywhere. Details will be shared in the coming months.
About the Austin Hatcher Foundation
The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer is a nationally recognized leader in psycho-oncology care, providing innovative, evidence-based services for children with cancer, their siblings and parents, at no cost to families, for life. Through a holistic approach, the Foundation supports the emotional, mental and social well-being of the entire family, ensuring they have the resources to heal and thrive during and after treatment. AHF is the official charity partner of IMSA and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Learn more at hatcherfoundation.org.
Media Contact:
Katey Koon, Director of Marketing + Communications
